Gwen Miller is a woman who is approaching the independence of middle age as the last of her children completes college. Suddenly, faced with the most difficult decision of her life, she is forced to choose between her own freedom and saving three neglected and abused young children. With their lives at the mercy of the foster adoption system, the choice was made and Gwen's moment of parental liberty vanished as she and her husband, Charley, took custody of her niece s children. Gwen unfolds a story of hope and heartache as she attempts to connect with her drug addicted niece, Melissa, to help her find her way back to her babies. As time passes, more and more discoveries are made of the horrors and abuse inflicted upon her children. Hope turns to despair as Gwen is overwhelmed by the task of healing these traumatized youngsters. Her appeals to the mother fall on deaf ears as the words come tumbling back leaving nothing but Echoes of Silence.