Stories of Hope

Sammy's Badge of Honor

When Sammy was younger he talked, walked, and lined things up. He developed, but slower than his older sister Abby. I kept telling myself that he was just slower and that I shouldn't compare the two. My mom who is in this picture with my son knew something was wrong. She kept telling me to take him to be checked for autism but I didn't want to believe that it was true. I had limited knowledge of autism and was very scared and a little embarrassed that my child wasn't "perfect". I took him to the dr and to specialist and he indeed was autistic. He has PDD NOS. He wasn't talking much and it was hard for him to learn things. We enrolled him in Head Start at his school east heights. There he became part of a wonderfull class experience with wonderful teachers in the TEACH classroom. He is going on his fifth year! He talks and talks now and if i ever get frustrated with him talking so much I stop close my eyes and smile and remember when I didn't think he'd be able to communicate with us at all. I am thankful and blessed with my "perfect" son and my daughter and family. He is such a blessing. He knows he is special needs and tells everyone he can that he is special. He wears that label as a badge of honor not a badge of shame. He knows that God made him the way he is and that he indeed is a blessing to all of us!

Billie Jo Davies
Henderson, KY

A 9 yr old boy with Autism

I would like to tell how a 9 year old boy, Dorian as enriched my life. His vision has helped so many people bridge the gap from one continent to another. You see he has set out his stuffed polar bear out in the world to go on vacations with people and then on way home he goes with another person/family. He has been travelling from one end of the continent to another (circling the globe more than once) and Tikko has been helping with Dorian's vision/mission on raising awareness for Autism. He is doing his part, so I thought I would do my part. I have been helping as much as I can to help fulfill his wish. I am hoping whoever reads this ends up being touched like I was and carries on Dorian and Tikko's work. Most of all, we all need to join Tikko's Facebook page (see attached picture). Let's help Dorian and Tikko raise awareness for Autism.

Gary Latendresse
Ottawa, Canada

My oldest, my Trenton

Trenton is my oldest son who is closing in on seven years old now. He has high functioning autism. He developed just fine and met most of his milestones on time and walked just past one. We did notice early on that he didn't like loud noises and as a baby he had to be swaddled very tight. He also very attached to toys. After he turned two we noticed his speech was not developing very much. We then become pregnant with our second son and he showed little to no interest when the baby was born and we started to notice that he was having lots of meltdowns very frequently. Some days can still be tough on him, but we are learning to manage. He is going to start first grade soon in a mainstream school with a para-pro at the beginning of the year along with other supports. He likes to follow his own little routines every day and does not always like to spend time inside. His conversations are getting better and better with us and he is starting to play with his little brother from time to time. I'm hoping for more improvement over the years as he ages, and hopefully when he's an adult he'll be able to live an independent life.

Jenna
Wyoming, MI

From Despair to Proud Mama

December, 1996, a week before my Dre's second birthday, I felt like he was given a life sentence by his neurologist. "He'll never live alone, he'll never form any significant relationships, he will always live with you or in a group home..." etc. I came home, told my mother, "He has autism," and locked myself in my bedroom for a week.

Drew was diagnosed as moderate to severe 16 years ago. He was the "classic" self-injurious, aggressive, non-verbal until 4.5 years of age and severely disabled from a social standpoint. "You have a violent child," I was told by numerous strangers.

After the fog lifted, I threw myself into research and knew early intervention was key. He began ECSE right away, entered a CIP (Communication Intervention Program) from K-8, was enrolled in the YMCA SACC and was expected to behave - having autism was NEVER used as an excuse for behavior affecting others. My favorite form of therapy, though, was the Give a Hundred-Hugs-a-Day (whether he wanted them or not).

Fast forward after years and years of long, hard work by an entire village of professionals, a loving PCA and me, and Drew became a beloved, respected individual at his school. He managed varsity football, basketball and baseball during his time at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN. He was darn good at his role. He graduated from Eastivew in June and will be attending Mankato State University in the fall majoring in Sports Management! How is he doing socially you ask? He went to prom, has a ton of followers on Twitter, and had about 200 people attend his graduation party - most of them kids!

When asked why his progressed to the point he did, my answer is that it takes a village - TRULY. And, it takes a very special, driven, nothing-will-get-in-my-way attitude young man. A young man that, when he has a goal, he attains it through hard work and character. I love my son to the ends of the earth and am so very proud of him. Here's to DREW!!!

Susan Larson
Apple Valley, MN

The day I knew God chose me for an important job.

When Luke was a baby he didn't like to be held. He didn't sit up till 9 months we spoke to our Dr who sent us to a specialist. We were told when he was 2 yr old he had autism. It wasn't a sad day. It was a day that we knew that we would face challenges but it never changed our love for our son. God made him perfect. God will give us the strength and wisdom to be able to help our precious child. Yes, in the last 4 months since he was diagnosed we have ran into roadblocks. Days that were very difficult. He has severe texture issues so feeding is a challenge. He doesn't communicate so this causes frustration for him. We are teaching him sign language and have been somewhat successful.We continue to to work with his therapist to learn how to help him when the therapist aren't here. Things can be hard because our insurance doesn't cover developmental delays. We had 4 therapist but now only 1 due to the very high cost. But there are resources out there to help and I continue to search for them and apply. There are many challenging days but we grow and learn from them.
I want to bring awareness to the fact that many insurance companies don't cover it. I appeared on our local news to discuss this. I will continue to advocate for all children who have autism in order for them to get the help that deserve. Don't get discouraged. Just look into your child's face and it will always bring a smile to your face.

Anonymous
Grovetown, GA

My Middle Child Is Autism

http://mrjeff2000.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-middle-child-is-autism.html

My story was deemed too long for the specs, and I really can't edit it down for these purposes.

Jeffrey Cohen
Flushing, NY

Hey Sun {Son}

July 9, 1977 A wonderful day to be born. My life changed , Another child born . I was already a Mother of 2 other children . I knew what to look for . I knew what to expect . Autisim was not in my vocabulary. As my son was best baby ever , hardly cryed , I would wake him to feed him and change him . He would lay in his crib and flutter his little fingers in front of his little face. Oh how cute . My first sign .He was alittle chunky . He had 2 siblings that did a lot for him . So when is was late sitting up , walking , Most of all talking , I started to have a light bulb go off . 2nd sign . By time he was 18 months . We went Dr, Obese and retarded . He may never be a average child . TEARS came down my face . Disbelieve on our face,
By time he was 18 months we had right Dr. He was then diagnosed. Now we can find a cure . That is what I thought .It was almost unheard of back in late 70s My son is high functioning . He didn't talk much until he was 3 1/2 years old , I read to him even when I thought his blank look was not listening . Another sign. . My Son Graduated High School , Not at top of class but so very bright in so many ways . Telling time at age 3. so many stories to tell .He figured out password Teachers computer , He heard a radio that was not dialed in to station one floor above him in High School . Drove him Crazy , They found radio . class could then carry on . A another sign, They do not look at things way we do , KEEP IT SIMPLE , Never give up , Early Childhood teaching , Pre School , Head Start , Unconditional love , They are exceptional. A rare gift .

Sharon Obanion
Trenton, MO

KEITH RICHARDS MY ROCK STAR

Im a single mom and even when I was pregnant before I knew the sex of my child I knew he was a boy.
I named him Keith Richards being a huge Stones fan. As Keith started missing milestones
I told the pediatrician which shooed the idea away saying just wait and see, I began speech therapy out of pocket
And sent the assessment letter to my sons pediatrician which then sent a referral letter to a
Developmental pediatrician. My son never spoke, but gave good eye contact he was loving then as he
Is loving now, he was diagnosed on March 19th 2013 at 27 months, with moderate autism, and I was put on every wait list In the city which was about 2yrs. Early intervention is not always the case when you have to wait till your child is four. So I enrolled him in some free programs inThe city where he can play with other kids, while he did his speech therapy. I also read about biomedical therapy Which I thought I'd give a go, I had nothing to lose, the doctor said he had a gluten and casen absorption problems based on blood work. Keith hated food he had texture issues
And he hated everything but he would drink milk like crazy, so I removed the milk slowly it took me 3 months and slowly Keith started eating, and guess what? He started talking everyday saying new things, he knows his alphabet
And how to count to ten, he knows over 100 words short sentences. I'm not saying this will work for everyone but it did for me. I named Keith Richards because I'm Stones a fan, but it has a different meaning now, my son is a shining star he's beating the odds. And I'm proud of him, my little Rock Star.

Angelina
Toronto, Canada

Jacob...

Jacob has always been a wonderful child and when you first meet him he seems like all the other kids, until you spend a lot of time with him you wouldn't know he has Aspergers. When people ask me to compare Jacob or describe what he is like all I can say is Jacob is Jacob. He's happy, always concerned about other people's feelings, likes to do for others. My biggest worry about Jacob is his inability to differentiate between how he treats family, friends, aquaintences and strangers, I'm afraid it will get him hurt and he won't understand what he did wrong to be hurt.

I have always known there was something different about Jacob, but that has never changed how I feel about him. When Jacob was 18 months old his Father and I separated and divorced, Jacob was in kindergarten (5 yrs) when he put it together and it was very traumatic for him. Jacob was diagnosed at 4 yrs old with Aspergers. I was just happy to know we had answers and now could move forward with doing what was right for Jacob, his Dad and StepMom just want him fixed. I wouldn't change who Jacob is for the world!!!!

Jacob is now 8 and going into grade 3 in the fall. He has a StepFather who would go to the moon for him and considers his StepFather his Dad over his Father. He is in Cub Scouts and love it. This year he went to camp without a parent there, went zip lining, over came his fear of the dark, and went horseback riding. He has also become an avid reader after struggling with reading until fairly recently.

Through everything I have learned that as a parent you need to be involved, you are part of the solution. You can't expect someone to fix your child. You can work with your child to make them the best person they an be.

Kerri Hallman
Calgary, Canada

Ben...what a wonder

Ben is my grandson and he is moderately autistic and non-verbal. I have been praying for him since before he was born. He is a sweet boy- non-aggressive and loving. He goes to church with us every Sunday and one Sunday when the pastor gave the alter call, Ben's eyes started tearing and he kept pointing to the front of the church. He and his mom (my daughter) went down for the alter call. That day Ben accepted Jesus as His personal Lord and Savior. I want all of you praying parents/guardians/grandparents to never give up. There is not one disability that God cannot work through and His salvation is for all.
The peace that surrounds Ben is unbelievable to those who don't understand God's Peace. I can't thank God enough for all He has done. If he has done it for Ben, He will do it for all those who believe.

Debi
Deltona, FL