Stories of Hope

My 7 Year old With Autism....

We have a great little boy with Autism. He is 7 years old and i found out early that he had Aspergers Autism.. He has over come so much but the one thing we fight with everyday is his speech, Reading and Spelling.. Its gotten to the point that some kids in school think its ok to pick on him, Well call it Bulling but the school calls it kids not getting along. Lets call it what it is when my son goes to school and one boy singles him out and calls him names and makes fun of him cause he cant read and write like others in his class, I asked the school to let us talk to the kids and explain to them my sons Autism, NO they said that is not right to lable my son with Autism, Hell, the kid that picks on him is doing the same thing. So at least my way is trying to explain why my son is different.. But now it took months for my son to learn that the next time it happens now he say, ALL PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT< AND IM DIFFERENT SO DONT PICK ON ME.. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT, TO BAD> IM ME AND ALOT OF OTHERS LOVE ME.. I DONT NEED YOU BEING MEAN TO ME, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU CANT BRING ME DOWN.. What words to live by coming out of a 7 years olds mouth, And he is my Blessing.. So PROUD of you SON...

Joni
Dalton, GA

It's an 'Au' some life....

Autism has taught me to be thankful for the little things, eye contact, no major meltdowns and so on. It has also taught me that I am stronger than I ever thought possible. My strength comes from my son. Watching him grow and over come obstacles and still (for the most part) be a happy child has taught me that it doesn't matter what life throws our way, together we will get through it. We take each day as it comes, and seeing his little smile every morning lets me know that together, we can do this :)

Courtney
Wysox, PA

There is hope after the diagnosis of Autism...

I sat thinking how grim my life seemed 11 years ago when I received my sons autism diagnosis but that wasn't the case at all...a new life just began. It took lots of hard work, giving up my career and a divorce from my sons father but all of it was more than worth it. I attended therapy sessions and volunteered at school so I could learn how to teach my son at home as well. Our perseverance paid off. Although he is not 100% inclusive the opportunities that have come our way over the past 2 years are mind blowing. Socially he has improved tenfold. He has been a team manager for the middle school/high school football team and received a letter in football. He has learned sign language and has expressed his desire to use it as a tool for college. And last week he was invited to the prom. He will be wearing a tuxedo, presenting his date with flowers, and riding to the prom in a limo. Devon Thomas will be 16 in July and I couldn't be more proud of him. I had someone try to tell me once that he would never be able to accomplish anything but I didn't listen. I have people say that he will always live with me and I won't accept that. This summer he will be getting his first job with the help of a job coach. Never think these things aren't possible because they are and another thing...we aren't finished yet!

Susan Ruiz
Saint Clairsville, OH

Our story as it is today

I married a beautiful woman with whom I had children with and we had a good life. When my children were ages 2 and 3 my wife and I separated. Things became messy which ended in me and my family being denied access to my children.
I believe the words were "well you see your Honor Kinark became involved because the youngest has an Autism spectrum disorder." Outside the courtroom I said "what disorder what the hell are they talking about." "she has Autism," was the response.
I do know that the children's aid society has been covering up the mistreatment of my daughters from me thanks to the kids mother telling them I abused the kids. Even tho I did a lie detector test and passed.
As I was trying to recover from a second relationship (failing thanks to the fallout from the first one) while trying to learn and understand my daughters Disorder (I realized she had Aspergers to which they finally "diagnosed" her) I get told my kids were apprehended by CAS in another region.
So now I am in court fighting for custody from a woman who has no prayer of being able to care for the kids and an agency that seems hell bent on keeping them with her, in a court room where even the judge is in disbelief of how idiotic the whole thing is.
But now if I can find a job in this deplorable economy and get the two bedroom apartment I need to get that will put my daughters in the right school so that both of them can get the education and direction that they need.
Wish me luck!!

joe robinson
oshawa, Canada

I am one of 110... and I made it

When I was 13 (back in the early eighties) I was diagnosed as "borderline schizophrenic". It took until my eldest was 12 to find out what that meant: I am autistic, and like my son I am high functioning. No one told me why acted the way I did, why I couldn't handle crowds, noises bothering me, why I cried easily, why I was the way I was.

Today I am employed by a fortune 500 company, once owned a house, successfully helped raise one Audie and am helping raise the other one I made. My eldest is going to complete college and move into the medical field.

I have come to understand I am not broken, I am DIFFERENT. I am helping a friend who has a low functioning daughter by being able to help her understand what is going on in her daughters head based upon my own experiences.

We will never be normal, but we CAN become good parents, good citizens, good people. Please if nothing else please help those poor kids who couldn't figure it out, didn't and don't get the help they need, be an advocate.

From a child who got left out in the cold, left to die and somehow survived please for the love of all that is Holy, don't let a another child suffer my fate. I know I am doing what I can to help.

Gerald Ogden
Tacoma, WA

The love for a son!

I have a 12 year old son that means the world to me! He was diagnosed with aspergers 2 1/2 years ago. He is so strong and is my hero! His life has been difficult not knowing why he is and acts the way he does but even with all the outburst and meltdowns. Even though things are hard and I may not always know what to do he still hugs me and kisses me and tell me how much he loves me. He has chosen me to be his leaning post and confidant. We keep an open line of communications and work thru everything together. Even though things are tough I love him with all my heart and will advocate for him as long as I live!!!

Summer
Tacoma, WA

Dr. Ong's Story of Success for His Little Girl

https://lindaritlinger.reliv.com/ Here's one of two success stories, see these brief videos:

http://youtu.be/R5MmQWHXU-w

http://youtu.be/R5MmQWHXU-w

These are just two of our clients where there are many stories of miraculous results. If you would like more information or you would like to obtain your Reliv products to help your loved ones, contact me at lritlinger30@gmail.com and entitle the email: Reliv Inquiry or you can contact me on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=100000670870332#!/?sk=h_chr

Or, you can go to my website and purchase The Classic, The Inergizer, & One Shot a day of 24K for big kids and Kids Now for smaller ones. I'll be glad to help you, especially being an RN, anyway I can to help you and your loved ones live wealthier, healthier, and happier! So contact me today and let's get started?

Linda Ritlinger RN
Raleigh, NC

No Words Needed

Our daughter Macayla who is now 20 years old was diagnosed at the young age of 18 months old. We knew there was something not quite right when although she was a happy baby, she would hum and babble but the normal words parents are use to hearing as their babies hit those milestones never came.
Though she is Non Verbal, she does understand what you say to her, as you can ask her to do something and she does it, she just is unable to respond through language. We have come to learn that sometimes "Spoken Words" can be so over rated. Macayla shows us so much with just what she does, her actions speak loud--- a giggle when she finds something amusing on the computer or when shes laying in her bed at night with her squekums dollbaby, her humming to her favorite song that she watches on youtube or a smile when we ask her who our pretty girl is, or when she comes sits on your lap (yes at 20 years old, she still does this and as we all know as parents, when our "regular kids" get to that certain age, things like this stop but not with our Macayla and we love it!) Its simple things like this mean so much more than a single word!
Our son who is 19yrs old, and away at College, did something very special for his sister. He got a Tattoo with Macaylas name and 3 elephants across his back. He said he wanted to have his Big Sister with him where ever his future takes him. He knows how she LOVES elephants and he said like Macayla, the elephant shows true Strength though they are so gentle and quiet.

Rick and Michele Skoog
Radcliff, KY

4-1-11 "Reagan's Wish"

I'm blessed with 3 amazing daughters. 4/1/11 is a day I will never forget. On this day my youngest daughter Reagan was diagnosed autistic/sensory processing disorder. She's 2 1/2 yrs old and is nonverbal. She doesn't respond to her name or point to let you know what she wants but the joy she gives me fills my heart. She's learning to use the sign for more and open and her favorite things are to be outside swinging and playing in the ocean or wave pool. Bath time, feeding, communicating and many things others take for granted are a struggle but I learn from her everyday. When a song comes on that she wants me to sing she puts her little hands on my face and pulls on my mouth and smiles. It is in those precious moments that I know autism truly speaks. I pray to hear her say "I love you mommy" someday until then I thank God for my 3 girls everyday.

Kim
Matthews, NC

My Life With Autism

My son Dylan Just turned six & was diagnosed w/ASD in May of last year so my life with Autism means there are still those days when I want nothing more than to run and hide,when everything is crazy and the world seems to be crashing in on me,when it seems as if I can't handle one more thing,and then there is.I struggle to find a balance for both my children while also trying to fit myself somewhere in there.I celebrate the small things,these are the things that get me through each day,things that appear to be so simple,such as licking a carrot,buckling his seat belt,or giving a hug. Things so many parents take for granted,things I never thought I would be so blessed to experience!I celebrate a victory every time he does something that for most would be typical,but for him is so hard,I celebrate him!I celebrate so that he knows I understand the difficulty behind each task.I celebrate to remind myself of the difficulty behind each task,because it is easier than you may think to forget how hard these things can be for him!I take it on myself to learn.That co-parenting is important and my opinion isn't the only one that matters even if the majority of the task falls to me!I move forward!I move forward for him,for her,and for me!I do this by taking it a second at a time,minute by minute.I do this even when the light at the end of the tunnel seems so dim it could be non existent,I move forward because there is no going back,there is only now!My son hasn't just changed my life!He's changed my entire way of thinking because sometimes just feeding a goat can mean bending your mind in a new direction!!

Stephanie Wood
Nampa, ID