This is my son Kaiden. He is the love of my life. From birth we knew there was a problem. The doctors asked me if i wanted to have an abortion or there was always adoption because I was 19 when I was pregnant with him. When he was born he was diagnosed with 22q13 deletion. The hospital I was taking him to said they had seen some autistic characteristics in him but it would take years to sort the 2 disorders out. At age 3 he was diagnosed with autism. He's now 8 years old. He is still non verbal working on getting him to use his iPad as a communication system. A couple months ago the autism clinic he goes to helped potty train him. He's still in diapers at night and still has accidents but we're working on it. He is so smart in so many ways. People ask me if I could do it all over again and change my decision would I. My answer no he's mine for a reason. Regardless of the beating his head on the floor and pulling my hair out when he's having a fit. NO I love him with all my heart he's beautiful. He lights up a room when he walks in. Lol! He keeps getting better and better everyday. Thanks for letting me share our story with you.

Erika Rea
Lafayette, IN