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Posted by werock0709
Darren and I are devastated.We cried in the Dr.s office, andit just seems like nothing is going our way. I haven't been here much, and haven't been the most most friendliest, but please say a quick prayer.Thanks.
Melanie
I am praying for you. My nephew has autism and my niece is also on the spectrum so if you want to talk - please feel free to FM me. I know it is SO hard but with the proper education - he can really achieve a lot!
Posted by hayleyandsteve![]()
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Have you read the Welcome to Holland story?
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, 'Welcome to Holland.'
'Holland?!?' you say. 'What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy.'
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say 'Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned.'
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
Hang in there Melanie - the other girls are right, with therapy and schooling your son can lead a relatively normal life. We are going through this with my nephew (who is also 2). He was just diagnosed a month or so ago and he has been doing speech therapy and behavorial therapy and I have to tell you, that after just a month there is such a difference in him - it's like the teachers have unlocked his little mind. He's talking better and his eye contact is soooo much better too. There is hope - don't fret. I know that it's hard.... I am only an aunt so I can only imagine what it would be like for a mom. My heart goes out to you and your hubby and your little one. FM if you want to chat or need some info - my nephew lives out east so if you're out there, I can refer you to some really great therapists.
I wanted to thank all of you for your input and prayers.Some how I think it's my fault. And it really isn't. Both of us ( DARREN AND I ) feel like we're at fault. There is just sooooo much and sooo many appointments that need to be made. Neurologist's, Audioligist, Speeh Pathologist's,the list goes on. There is just sooooo much involved. My mommy is leaving work early cause I'm an emotional wreck!! But no matter what, I will never see my son as any different. Call it what you will, but he will always be special. I've heard that some children with Autism are extremely smart and articulate. I hope that for Blake, and if not......we'll take it day by day, hour by hour,and use all the patience we have. I really just don't understand, WHY ME?
