Stories of Hope

Adam's journey

Adam was born in 2009 he was 6 weeks early, by 15 mo he still was not walking or talking, I was concerned the pediatrician told me about early intervention and that is when he got his diagnosis, it truly was the end of the world to me. No one in my family even knew what autism was, because it's a stereo type that "Caucasians" get, WRONG, it happens to anyone.

At that time Adam made no eye contact or respond to his name on Mother's Day Adam said the word flower, it was so special to me, now I know he is capable of saying words, Adam has an older brother Marcos who Adam adores so much, he is such a good brother to Adam.

By the time Adam was 3 he was eligible in an autistic preschool, that was a life saver he learned so much, just being with other kids, when I visit him at school I get so emotional that Adam can do all these things, by August 2012 Adam got a bay brother names Chris, now life is about to change, Adam had a really hard time accepting his brother for a good year, he was starting to regress it was hard balancing a baby and spending time with Adam and my older son Marcos.

Adam is 4 now and is speaking in 4 word sentences he tells me what he wants he makes eye contact he says hi to other kids, I am truly blessed to have all my children and Adam has taught me so much over the years, I raise awareness for autism and embrace it.

Lupita
Aurora, IL

One child's pile is another hild's smile

My son Jonathan who is 11 and on the Spectrum has gone through a few obsessions in his life. None bigger then Thomas the tank engine. We accumulated quite a collection of trains over the years. His latest obsession however is "Video Games" and poor Thomas has been rendered to the boiler room. So one night he and I decided to give his Thomas trains away to other children on the Spectrum. We started a cause on Facebook called Toys AUcross America. We now mail toys to children on the Spectrum all over the US. Hundreds of people have got involved from all corners of the US. Offering donations to help us with shipping and toys to ship. To see the ASD community rise up around us offering support has been truly inspirational. Recently a five year old boy who's sister we mailed a couple of trains too sent us over 100 toys. I am not sure this story will qualify for your page but it has been amazing for us. Through the pictures of the kids we have received, from the parents, we have realized how special something so simple as receiving mail can be to a child.

Best regards,

Jonathan and Michael Miller

Michael Miller
Melrose, MA

Matters of the Heart

Matters of the heart pertains to our family's growth and adventures, growing up with a child diagnosed with PDDNOS. It is a form of autism that is not severe and not Asperger's. At an early age of 4 months old, my Matthew couldn't use the left side of his body, mostly I noticed a limp arm. At first I thought the doctor may have pulled it out of the socket during the C-Section but I wondered why he never cried. I also realized that this baby just gazed at things and had little eye contact. He was very late in talking, the experts told me he may never speak more than 20 words (age 4). At this time, we were knee deep into therapy. I did 4.5 yrs of speech, 1 yr occupational and physical therapies. I also tried claybaths to remove toxins and vitamins (greens, B complex, multi, probiotics). All of which really helped. However, I changed my mindset dramatically and noticed dramatic results!!

At age 6.5, I now participate in his schooling, and met with his IEP dept, Principal and teacher to discuss getting him integrated into regular classes. I also pulled him out of therapy. I hired a NUN, friend of the family who is now 80 yrs old and his Godmother to do things with him. She takes him to his favorite restaurants, on the AMTRAX train, to the playground, to church, etc. All of the things that I am too chicken to try. I now have the confidence to try some of these activities. I am willing to accept that some people may stare or question my choices. To that, I say, God please let them see that he is a person. I also have encouraged myself and kids to laugh along with funny things Matthew does. Instead of yelling at him and almost losing my composure, we just shrub it off as "silly Matthew doing silly things". Change your attitude and mindset, and I promise life will get better...Also, I encourage you to read as much as possible! Get educated. The answers will come.

Stacey Antinarella
Celebration, FL

What my son Joshua has taught me

I became aware of the good, the bad, the ugly & the incredible of Autism when my now 13 year old son was classified as having PDD, which falls under the Autism spectrum. He had delays in crawling, ( didn't till he was almost a year) & then didn't walk until he was almost 15 months old. His speech was unclear & didn't really speak much until he was about 7. He's always been sensitive to loud noise, doesn't like crowds & is still gets a bit anxious when going to new places or his "routine" gets disrupted. But now that all the public tantrums (melt downs) have passed, he has changed, or rather I have. He is now, thanks to his wonderful teachers & therapists, true angels on earth, matured into an extremely articulate, quite friendly, mature teenager. I have learned to understand that it is the behavior & attitude of others that must change, not so much my son's. Autism is both difficult & incredible; what Josh lacks in academics, he masters in interests & common sense. He has memorized over 200 flags that range from states & countries to military & religious to historical flags. He truly is amazing & I wouldn't change a thing about him <3

Melissa H.
Staten Island, NY

Backwards Diagnosis

Like many adults I discovered that I had aspergers from observing an autistic child in the family. However, it isn't my own child. It is my niece that has autism. Nobody else in the family understood her, but I did. While trying to be autism aware in April, I came across several diagnostic tests. I took them mostly because I realize I have understood every meltdown that she has had. I scored between 40 and 43 when mid thirties may indicate an autism spectrum disorder. I also have a low emotional IQ. I discussed it with my physician, and he agreed with it. However, there has been no formal diagnosis. My physician saw no point because it wouldn't change my treatments. I am 41, and I am just now aware that I have autism. It is a great relief to understand why I have never fit in.

Anonymous
Kernersville, NC

my son

I'm a single mom with the boy that has high functioning autism he is my life for a reason by myself for 7 years I've been a mother and a father to him the way I see things God doesn't send anything to anybody to hear that they cannot handle my son is been and I opening for me I've learned so much I've learned to help other people give information to other people and sure all the experience that I have so far with learning about my sons autism he's been a blessing to me and my family and I can't thank God enough for sending me one of his angels to love to take care of he's my life and I love my son

jessenia saldana
MIAMI, FL

Why We Walk

For every beat of every heart of people walking by,
I feel their pain, their strength, their hope, the tears they must have cried.

Autism is a mysterious thing some just don't understand or try,
and that's how come it's so important as to when we walk and why.

We can do this, we can beat this. We have to it effects more and more each day.
We must spread hope, love, knowledge and awareness in each and every way.

My son is Autistic, He's different but beautiful, He is the smartest person I know.
My nephew is also. But let me tell you, their hearts are sooo big they just glow.

So right now I'm kindly asking only one thing from you. It really isn't much.
Please come walk with us next year, or donate, and you wouldn't believe all the lives
you'd touch.

This is Jonathan and Nathaniel's Team and this is why we walk.

~Heidi D. Park~

Heidi Park
Columbus, OH

Michael's Story

We had a pretty easy pregnancy. No morning sickness but toward the end I had high blood pressure and went into premature labor twice. When Michael was born he wasn't breathing. He had his cord wrapped around his neck twice and a thick mucus in his lungs that had to be suctioned out. 1 minute APGAR was a 2. We realized something was wrong at about 2 1/2 when he wouldn't look at us or talk normally (he had his own babble-language that we had to interpret). He was finally diagnosed with a PDD at 3 1/2. By 8 his neurologist had refined it to Asperger's Syndrome. While in the 2nd grade (finally able to talk in small sentences after being in therapy) he was reading on a middle school level blowing his pre-school teachers prediction of "He'll never be in a normal class or get above a C." He is now 16, a mainstreamed sophomore in high school, and in all advanced classes as well as taking 2 online courses getting A's and B's. He still has problems understanding and expressing his emotions. He can't put someone else first without thinking about it or having someone tell him to. But he has ambitions.....he wants to be a pilot in the Air Force. He's in AFJROTC (he really found his place with it) and the rigidity and order of the program has really helped him. He has friends but only because he is really good at mimicking peoples emotions and traits. All in all I wouldn't change a thing about my son because for all of the things that people see wrong there is a lot I see right. He will not knowingly hurt someone or allow someone to be hurt in his presence. He is fiercely protective of his family and goes above and beyond the normal teenage chores in order to help out around the house. He even cooks! We had a rough start but a great result in a young man I am proud to call son.

Anonymous
Panama City, FL

AVERY ANN

My daughter, Avery Ann, was born on April 17, 2009. I noticed very early on when she was about 2 months old that something wasn't right. She was unable to hold her head up and her muscles just weren't as strong as should of been. I approached our pediatrician with this and we started therapy at 6 mths old. We also did CTs, MRIs and bloodwork and all showed nothing. My daughter started clapping very early on and continues to clap for almost everything. She started crawling at almost 2 and shortly after started walking. She has bad anxiety at times, stomps her feet and waves her arms up and down when mad. She is also a smart, beautiful, loving young girl. She has been nothing but a complete blessing in my entire family. Everytime she does something new, it's a celebration in our home! Her sister and brother understand she is different but special and they protect her in the sweetest little ways! She is the perfect addition to our complete family! She is almost five now and has recently started Pre-K, which was a HUGE step for me. She only goes a few times a week and only in the mornings. She has a private aid that stays with her at all times. She loves school and playing with the kids. She is still completely nonverbal. I dream of the day when I hear her say mommy. It is the only thing I can say that concerns me. All of the other stories on here, most of the children are speaking by her age. Avery is more like a baby in a way than a grown toddler. She's still in diapers and does not feed herself well and chokes very easy. I'm hoping by sharing our story, that there are some others with the same that can relate. She does Pysical, speech and occupational therapy weekly and has made great progress. We love Avery as big as the moon and I believe God gave her to us for a reason and I am forever thankful that he did!

Nikki Hebert
Jennings, LA

just lucy

When we got told that our daughter Lucy had Autisum, at the aged of 3 years old, we never knew what it was.
We had to look it up on the internet and read books ect.
We were told that she would not beable to ride a bike or swim, she did both. She had no eye to eye contact and she is nonvebel.
Lucy is now 22 years old and is living with us at home , she has just resently started to go to the gym 3 times a week, which she seems to enjoy and also looks forward to.
When she was growing up she never really had any isumms she would go anywhere with us, and she has been to Disney World, and Universal also Discovery Cove to swim with the Dolphins. We have put Lucy on gulten free diets and nothing as worked. As a child she was happy and contented, but since she 19 yrs old she had very bad mood swings, and we have hardly been able to take her anywhere, apart from that Lucy undstands everything you say to her and is a beautiful and woderful young woman.
We just want to know what the next step with Lucy is going to be....

Martine vasey
Chula Vista, CA