Stories of Hope

Fitting In Logan's Story

Every parent dreams of the perfect child.Well some are born just a little more perfect than others.We were just kids when we got married .We were married 16 years before we had our son. We had suffered two miscarriages and was giving up hope. But on January 8,1992 ,we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy .Eight pounds two ounces..He was perfect.He hit all his milestone up to the age of 18 months ,That's when things began to change.No talking,no eye contact.We had lost him.So began all the therapy.Anything we could do to try to bring him back..He started kindergarten with all the other children his age,yet he was so far behind them.Although her would say a word or two, they rarely made sense.Then we noticed he was fond of letters and realized her could read and spell.His first day of kindergarten he came home and spelled astronaut and encyclopedia.Keep in mind he still could not talk in conversation but could spell and read.He has always been a hummer.Always that was his self stem.He seemed to hum songs along with the radio.I ask our school music teacher Kim Sutton if he could set in on an afternoon music chorus class she had just formed.He loved it,but when she would have to stop to work with the other children on the music,Logan would scream and run out of the room.But being a wonderful teacher that she is,She would not let me pull him out.
After being in that program for years.Logan is now a solo singer with perfect pitch.He was just given the opportunity to go to Nashville and cut his very first cd.Logan now sings at several venues in our community and churches.Although he still cannot carry on a conversation his music speaks for him.
Darlene Blade "Logan's mom"

Darlene Blade
Culleoka, TN

Power for Good

Unnoticed No More

Jett was a textbook spinning, rocking, stacking, non-verbal, no eye contact, fits of endless rage kinda kid. This happened, just like the research predicts, after 20 ‘typical’ months of having a happy, smiling, dancing, loving child. With devastation came realization. Acceptance brought therapy, and lots of it.

Two years passed and each day got better. We hunkered down. We did the work. Jett progressed but his odd tendencies remained. He would focus on something SO HARD that it was an obsession. I kept thinking, “If only that power could be used for good.” I knew, one day, it would.

By the time Jett hit kindergarten he began taking an interest in what his family was doing and wanted to be a part of things, a part of us. As a filmmaker and parent of two special needs children I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

I had begged Jett to be in all of my films. He refused me for two years. But, one night, he asked me if he could make a movie of his own. I gave him a quick, two-minute tutorial on stop motion filming. An hour later, a very excited Jett came rushing into the kitchen, cell phone in hand, and declared that he had made a film, PEOPLE WHO BURY ANIMALS.

I reluctantly grabbed the phone and there it was - a film, an actual film! It wasn’t perfect but it was a film. Teary eyed, I showed my husband, and said “Edit this, now!” Jett watched excitedly as Daddy downloaded his ‘footage’ into our editing software.

A few months later he premiered at a film festival in Australia.

He’s even agreed to act in my next film. Something tells me, one day, I’ll be asking to be in his.

Julie Ufema
Lewistown, PA

My little dude, Kevin!

My son, Kevin, was born May 26, 2006. The moment he was born I knew in my heart God had blessed with a special child. Out and about a week after he was born a woman came up to me, looked at Kevin and told me he was going to change the world. That woman couldn't of been more right because he has surely changed my world. These last few years have been far from easy. It took 3 years for my son to finally be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. I promised him that I would always be his advocate, I will always fight for him and I will be by his side on every journey he takes. He's a very happy, healthy, energetic little boy. He's a lover, not a fighter. He makes friends wherever he goes, he's great in school, doing things that some didn't think possible. Autsim hasn't changed me, Kevin has changed me. He's taught me what true love is, he also taught me that with a little patience and understanding that even the toughest of days can be a blessing. I know that we have a long road ahead of us but Kevin and I, we make a great team and together we can do great things. :)

Erica Paxson
San Gabriel, CA

James

How has autism touched my life? By the birth of my son, James. He's the most amazing boy: sweet, loving, a bit nuts, picky, and can build absolutely *anything* out of the simplest parts. He is everything to me.

Katherine Johnson
Salisbury, MD

My Nicholas

My Nicholas is a sweet and loving 7 year old with Autism....Many questions were asked and none were given. We love Nicholas in every way, he is such a good boy...love his, grammy!

Marsha Daniels
medina, OH

help raise awareness

my brother was 4 when we found out he had autism. We knew he was always diffrent from the other children but i though it was cute and loved his unique abillity to love and care for anyone, but me being 10 at the time didnt really recognise his autism. Sadly my brothers dad did not get the saport he needed when he was younger and found out at the same time as my brother that he had atism aswell (aged 27) he had grow up his whole life not knowing a thing about atism or him even having it. This has caused him latter life issues as he has turned into an alcoholic meaning that he can only see my brother when someone else is with him to supervise the situation and my brother cant stay at his house,sadly my mother left him meany years ago due to his behaviours and drinking problem, and he is stewing in a life that could of been helped if only it had been noticed when he was yonger. Luckly my brother has a lot of saport and me being his full time carer and playing the part as a father model seen as he doesnt see his dad, means that he tells me more thing even somethings he will tell me but not my mum eg bulies,his problems. Anyway what i am trying to say is that atleast my brother has some one to talk to, even if he bring it up3/4 weeks after it even happend he still tells and i still ask, where as his dad didnt have any saport. Its great that now adays kids and adults with atism are getting all the saport they need and hope that people become aware of atism

Honey whiteside
scotland, United Kingdom

Joey El-Ayazra

My nephew Joey is now four years of age and was diagnosed as an autistic baby from birth. Joey needs more attention, patience and love then any of us. Joey's immediate family, grandparents, aunt's, uncle's and cousins are caring for his needs of become a much better and wiser person then today. Joey is not a talkative little guy but can show or sign what he wants or need. He is a happy little boy with a carefree attitude and unconditional love.
I love spending every minute of my time with Joey and in return I am gaining some bonding experiences. I am trying to teach him some basic two to four letter words for his lifestyle. We like to play games, interact with toys, youtubing videos and watch TV. The understanding of Joey's know how will take time and energy from anyone who is involved in his life.
Joey is undergoing some dietary supplements, speech therapy, occupational therapy and some outside interactions right now. He is a hyper little boy who is filled up with so much pent up excitements and does not know how to release it wisely. I know that someday Joey will leave his mark on the world and become a pioneer in the history book.

Uncle Ronnie
Fayette, PA

There's Hope

My son, Christian, exhibited one of the classic early signs of autism. At 18 months he completely stopped saying words. At age 2, I began making his pediatrician aware of the situation. Everyone told me to wait and by age four lif he wasn't talking then we would do more tests.
Long story short, I paid for my own speech pathologist to diagnose him at 2 and once he was diagnosed with a speech problem, the State of Texas took over his education and at 3 he was allowed to start school. He still wasn't diagnosed until with Autism until I went to his school and had them test him at age 7.
Now at age 12 he has a very mild form of autism (Aspbergers). As a nurse I have educated myself on Autism and constantly keep him involved in sports and around other children. I work with him on eye contact and conversations. He still has some problems, but they are so mild compared to what could have happened had interventions not started before age 4.
Autism was still so new and confusing to doctors when Christian stopped talking that it wasn't being diagnosed properly. I work with several people who children weren't diagnosed early enough before age 4 and they have more serious forms of autism. The earlier the learning interventions for autism are started before 4, the better the chances of recovery. Christian wasn't even properly diagnosed with Autism at 2, but the cognitive interventions still helped him get better.
I wasn't didn't become a nurse until after Christian was diagnosed. Back then I was just a mother who instincts told her something was wrong. I am thankful I followed them. My son makes me feel so blessed.

Michelle
Houston, TX

A child care centre grows

I had the honour of sharing care of an autistic lad some years ago at our child care centre, what we all gained by working together with him, his awesome family and others was incredible as we all contributed and grew together. His parents in particular, blew me away as they had two other children and devoted an amazing amount of time helping others in similar situation. Much love and respect to the Smart family, thank you so much for sharing your family
a few seconds ago ·

Jo
Morphett Vale, Australia

The Face of Autisim

My son is 24 with autisim he is the most wonderful young man he gets picked of hurt by idiots he is smart polite somewhat independent he makes me laugh cry worry he loves me.When i first found out i was scared guilty and worried but now all i can say is i would never change him and raising him as a single mom is the best thing i ever did his name is Nathan he is the joy of my life and the most loving caring young man a mom could ever hope for. Its been a long road hard at times but the best road i have ever taken

Thank you
Donna

Donna Granger
Lindsay, Canada