After I turned one years old, I was lining up balls size by size in a NEAT, PRECISE line. For an example, golf ball, rubber handball, a football, a bouncy ball, and a basketball in that order. If one ball rolled away from the line, I would get frustrated. My mom smiled and said, "Poor little Rain Man." A light bulb just popped out of her head, "Maybe he is like Rain Man." (Rain Man is a 1988 film starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.) About thirteen or fourteen months old, I was diagnosed with autism. My mom knew work needed to be done. She told many people and most of them didn't know what it was or they said, "Sometimes boys are delayed." My dad believed there was nothing wrong with me, while my mom knew there was something wrong. They both were in court, and my mom won custody over me.
In school, I received therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other special instructions. I didn't like to be touched nor I gave eye contact till I was a little older. After I was diagnosed, I didn't talk till I was about four years old.
My mom knew this wasn't a one-person job, so she needed plenty of help. My Auntie Kate, Aunt Laura, Uncle Tom, cousin Lauren, nanny, and even my dad helped my mom out. Occasionally, Uncle Eddie helped too. I considered Auntie Kate, Lauren, and nanny as my second mothers.
If I didn't get my way, I would throw tantrums, especially if I lost in a game. Because of that, I didn't have any friends.
When I was almost eight years old, I was put in a hospital for better medicine. Meanwhile, my mom found a doctor who knew something about autism than most professionals. Eventually, I was taken out of the hospital. I went to see this doctor. He put me on the right medicine.
Two years later when I turned ten, I blossomed into a whole new person. I became better with my friends, better with family, and deal things a lot better.
monroe, NY
