Nothing Exciting : Our journey with traumatic brain injury and severe autism across three countries

In 1997, a drunk driver slammed into Emil and Fran’s car, leaving their nine-week-old son Timmy with a traumatic brain injury that led to severe autism, visual impairment, left hemiplegia, and the need for 24-hour care. Fran overcame her own severe injuries to fuel Timmy’s joyful progress.

From the chaos of the ICU, they launched into an unforeseen three-decade odyssey of special-needs parenting across three countries. Raising Timmy alongside their younger children Emma and Luke, they faced medical crises, exhaustion, ignorance, and plenty of idiots along the way — yet discovered hope, community, love, laughter, and unexpected joy.

Nothing Exciting is an unflinching dad’s memoir and practical guide. With his signature heartfelt voice and humour, Emil shares raw, vivid stories of resilience, family fun, and laugh-out-loud moments that prove even the toughest days can hold unexpected comedy — while delivering hard-won “top tips” in every chapter.

Organised around ten essential themes - Community, Adaptation, Resilience, Joy, Self-Care and more - the book weaves moving anecdotes and cultural insight with immediately usable advice.

Whether you’re raising a child with special needs or supporting someone who is, this book delivers the wisdom, tools, and hope you need — with heart, humour, and the realisation that nothing exciting can still be truly epic.