Stories of Hope

Enrichment...

Autism has been many things to my child and I from me defending her to people who do not know what it is to have special needs to wanting to wear a shirt that says hey my child is special leave her alone,If only people would get to know these lovely children we can learn so much from them.My Daughter has showed us how to smile and give us the chance to know how lovely she really is and while she may delay with some things she excells in others she can run circles around me on the computer and electronics yet she can not read or write or hold a pencle but she is my world my strength to go trew the life I have,you see children like my little Bell may have autism but to me she is just a wonderful little girl with so much to offer and so much love to give ,I could not imagin my world with out her,You see I have a illness that almost made me wanna give up but because of her and the love i see in her eyes and the need she has to be happy an just the joy she has given me has made me come to fight to get well myself she to me is my life saver and now I will be hers,Never under estimate children with and special need because they can truly teach us how to live an be happy and bring so much joy into our lifes !!I do not see it as a chore or hard work I see it as a blessing that I was given to know such a wonderful child Thank you Lord for a wonderful little girlto me she is PERFECT!

Anonymous
Lakeland, FL

Subtle Autism

Asperger's Syndrome can be devastating in its subtlety. How can this kid who doesn't rock or flap, who carries on conversations with adults, be autistic?

Well, this is the kid who at age two couldn't go to bed unless his toy cars were lined up according to color and size. This is the kid who at six still looked for pets when told it was raining cats and dogs. This is the kid who, at age 14, didn't understand why I couldn't get his meds right away because the pharmacy counter was "swamped." This is the kid who, when asked in second grade to write down as many words as he could think of in a minute, named military bases - in alphabetical order. This is a kid who threw chairs in school and banged his head because he couldn't write fast enough to do a timed math test, because his perfectionism wouldn't let him leave an imperfect number alone. This is the kid who needed a "translator" to watch whatever he watched, so someone would know what he was quoting and therefore help determine what he was trying to communicate, especially when he was stressed.

Thanks to amazing teachers, a wonderful principal, and using every waking moment as "teachable moments", he learned to ask instead of react when he doesn't understand something, or when something upset his world, or when change stressed or worried him. Success beyond our wildest dreams followed.

He found music, his voice, and his soul. He now plays three instruments, sings, and dances. His head is now in a place where he wears a shirt like this with pride during Autism Awareness Month. To high school. Next fall he will be dismissed from SPED services.

This mom couldn't be more proud.

Jen Erhart
Aberdeen, SD

She loves the water

This is Rachael, and she loves water. But for years and years we was so afraid to let her near the water due to her lack of knowing how to swim. But by pure luck we live in a community that has a indoor swimming pool that is right next to her school and she was able to take swimming as part of her regular school schedule~ she has amazed us all at her swimming abilities. She can swim under water, tread water for up to 15 mins. and can do a breast stroke all thou she tends to use her legs more than her arms, and I no longer worry if she's going to drowned in a normal situation of a average pool. Rachael is non-verbal but the smile on her face while swimming speaks volumes about how happy this has made her. I think we need to let "our" kids do what makes them happy and you'll be amazed at what they can do if just given the chance. We've also managed to get her a communication device that has helped her so much from her frustrations due to her lack of verbal abilities. And to some of the parents just starting this VERY long journey~Please don't give up, never stop trying because for "our" kids we are all they have...and once you see your child respond no matter how small the task is, it makes it all worth it. I know I'm not using my typing skills properly, but I'm trying to use the space given. And I wish I had someone telling me this 18 yrs. ago so I'm gonna use up every space~ NEVER let someone tell you something about your child that you know isn't true...they are bright and they CAN DO IT...with patience/love.

Serrina Slay
Blackfoot, ID

Moments with Our Autistic Son...

I will always remember the moment when we found out we were expecting a baby. Walmart bathroom in Eau Claire, WI....yeah, not the most ideal or romantic spot to take a test. But I had to know. David and I had just drove up the night before to visit his family and the "fluttering" I had felt the past couple days could not be ignored. I cried.. David consoled..
I will always remember the moment I saw Trey's little face for the first time the day he was born. I was so in love that moment and I saw the same love in David's eyes..
I will always remember the moment at his 12 months check-up with the pediatrician. He asked us to fill out answers to a list of questions about Trey's development. By the time David and I got to the end of the list.. we knew we had concerns..

I will always remember the moment on April 5, 2012 when the doctor at Thompson Center for Autism said he was Autistic. David said he stopped breathing for a moment. I was suddenly filled with sadness.. like grief. We have now heard it out loud. It's official. Now we can move on and get the help Trey needed but why did I feel like crying?!

I will always remember the moments when Trey when he holds my face and gives me a big wet kiss...when he looks at me with pure love in his eyes. I then realize he is not the labeled "Autistic child". He is Trey, our smart little boy.

Life is full of these moments. I know there will be many more.. good and bad. Easy and challenging. Big and little. But they are all important and worth noting. I know I am not alone.

Anonymous
Saint Charles, MO

My sons journey with autism.....

my son had a hard time getting into this world he and i both had a fever of 101 when born after 17 hrs of pain i finally got a c section at 18 mths and his shots that day he had a fever of 106 had a febrile seizure and before that he was potty trained except at night and off the cup talked and even learned to read some after that he went back to what was a 6 mth old back on the bottle and diapers and what not he regressed in to head banging and throwing junk and screaming he couldn't communicate like he needed to ... then again at 24 mths he had a staring seizure he was like gone off into space nothing could bring him around for 3 min the doc in the er said no danger had been done he went back to being a 6 mth old again all this time i was told to keep him in the same routine he had before his first sez i did and now hes 12 and still has the same routine hes so smart he has sensory issues and repetitive things but he is in this yr honors classes his iq is off the charts he will be in 7 rd grade.he an play the drums and guitar from ear and is soooo good ..he has been diagnosed with add and pddnos and i am getting him tested in aug.. everything points to high function aspbergers autism .. and im hoping from lookin at all these posts and people with autism in there lives im glad that i have my boy who even with his quirks he is one thing MY BOY ....

NeNe
bossier, LA

Our Little Man, Eric Scott.

When the Doctor walked into the room and said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you that your son has Autism," we didn't know what to think. Was he going to live? What was Autism? We had never heard of it before. We had two other children at the time of his diagnosis, one the age of 14 years old and the other the age of 10, both perfectly normal. It was not until that day in the Doctor's office when we were there for Eric's 2 year check-up that Autism had ever come up in conversation. Eric is now 11 years old, and although Eric has his good and bad days, he is an amazing little man. He fights the stereotypes of Autism everyday.

Our family has a wonderful connection with Eric. We choose to treat Eric just as any other eleven year old boy. Eric is different, but it is what makes him who he is. He has such a wonderful and enticing personality. Eric is getting ready to graduate from Elementary school this year and will be moving to Middle school in the Fall. We are so proud of him for everything that he has overcome thus far. We encourage Eric to work hard in school, so that someday he too can go to college. He is a blessing to our family and we are so lucky that God has picked us to be his parents, big brother, big sister, and niece.

Shirley & Dave Kreppel
Belmont Hills, PA

My Messenger Angel

I didn't know that when I had my son, Gabriel, that he would fill his biblical name to the fullest. When he was first born, I knew immediately that he was different. He never slept a full nap or a nights sleep, he took little cat naps. He screamed all the time. He hated bright lights and loud noises. And he almost never makes eye contact. His meltdowns are so severe that the security officers in stores would surround anyone that was brave enough to shop with Gabriel and to tell him no when he asked for something. I knew that he was smart and vocal, but I could also tell that Gabriel had problems saying what he needed to say. I took him to the pediatrician several times, asking him to please look into the Autism Spectrum. We were referred to an Autism Specialist in July of 2008, where he was immediately diagnosed with Aspergers/Autism. Then the pieces all started to fall into place. Now, he see's a behavior specialist, a psychiatrist, school counselor and he is learning how to communicate his needs better. He is also teaching everyone around him HIS message. Gabriel defines his Autism, his Autism does NOT define him... I thank god every day that he was able to share THIS messenger Angel with me. Because now Gabriel is sharing his message of Autism Awareness with those around him!

Randi Schneider
Yakima, WA

Never Lose Hope

When my twins, Ballerina and Music Man, were diagnosed with "Severe Autism" in August 2009 (30 months old), my entire world collapsed around me. "With that kind of diagnosis, how can they live full independent lives?". Then I realized that the future isn't written in stone. We did what was suggested. Ballerina began ABA, Music Man began PT, they both continued to take classes to help them, we worked with Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists.....and we hoped.

They are now 5 years old. They both talk. They are both potty trained. And in September, they will begin kindergarten. Both of them will be with their typical peers. Ballerina may even be in a typical classroom. And it's likely that Music Man will be joining her after a year or two.

If someone told me that we would be here in August, 2009, I wouldn't have believed them. I would have feared they were filling me with "false hope". But there is no such thing. And we are living proof that, even a seemingly-catastrophic diagnosis doesn't mean that it's over.

Just keep working!

Ilene
Germantown, MD

Gift from Heaven

She was born 5/07 and was given the name Lani Makana. The translation of her name is Gift from Heaven. She seemed to be progressing as any other 2 year old but at her check up her doctor noticed her doing something that I thought was "normal". When excited she would posture and shake and sometimes pace. I had seen other kids do this and I just thought it was her way of expressing her excitement. Her doctor was concerned and sent us to a specialist and she suspected Autism. We had her evaluated through the CDSA and after 8 months of deliberations and ADOS testing her official diagnosis was Atypical Autism. Lani was just about to turn 3. During this time she began to pace and posture more which we call "processing". It comes after a long stimulating day and it is almost as if she is downloading everything that has happened. She has a hard time with eye contact, using scripted speech at times and some aggression issues. Lani began getting OT and eventually added speech therapy. She got accepted to the local elementary Pre-K at age 3. She is now almost 5. She is about to complete her second year of Pre-K and due to her amazing therapists, teachers and family support she is scheduled to start kindergarten on time. She attends dancing and is going to be performing in her first recital. We can't say its been easy but it has been the most amazing experience. She is the most fascinating person I have ever met and most people who meet her feel the same way. I think about what her life would be without Autism but she would not be the perfect person she is today. Lani Makana you are truly our Gift from Heaven.............

Amy Lutchman
Valdese, NC

Our little Superhero

God Blessed us with our little angel, my baby brother<3 He has taught us patience, kindness, love, faith, and hope. Our love for him grows more and more everyday, hes our little superhero :)

Big Sis
Coachella Valley, CA