I cried
Jonathan was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 1.5. For a year, various therapists came to our apartment to work with him. 'At least he doesn't have autism' I comforted myself.
At 2.5, we had him evaluated by a more professional team at Columbia Prebyterian Hospital. That was a very very thorough evaluation that lasted 4 or 5 hours over two days.
A few weeks later, we came in in for the conference that detailed the findings. The psychiatrist's first sentence 'your son has autism' was the only thing I heard for the next 45 minutes. I have no idea what the neurologist said. My wife took notes while I cried silently under the brim of my hat.
Earlier that day, fearing the worst, I started searching the Internet, and learned about Deafeat Autism Now medical protocols that supposedly cured some kids. At the end of the meeting I stopped crying and asked the neurologist if they had seen any positive results and cures. She said 'no'.
The next day was the start of my curing my son - damn the neurologist. And damn the torpedoes. I went full steam ahead with DAN medical interventions. My son was going to learn to talk and lead a normal, independent adult life.
My marriage was never good to begin with. And J's mother never had any motherly instincts. I realized that with J's autism, he didn't have any emotions to care if she moved out. So that's what happened. 6 months after the diagnosis.
Jonathan is turning 11 soon. He's in a regular 5th grade class with a para professional looking over his shoulder. He talks fairly well, though his use of tenses is extremely basic. He's never used the subjunctive. He's been taking tap, ballet, and hip-hop classes for 3 years. It's his passion. Last year I started him on piano, more for the finger dexterity therapy than the musical education.
By his appearance and behavior, Jonathan seems very normal. But I see where he is not. But he is always improving.
I thnk he's going to be an okay, independent adult.
