I have twin boys, Aidan and Cian. They were born at 28 weeks, due to complications from TTTS. While Aidan has physical and mental handicaps (moderate to severe spastic quad CP), Cian just showed outward developmental delays. As the weeks and months of therapy after therapy passed, something was still "just not quite right" with my little man. We tried every diagnosis we could think of, that might fit the overly-hyperactive, yet smart-as-a-whip little boy. ADHD didn't quite seem to fit, so as a last resort (and more just so it could be "ruled out") we had Cian tested for Autism. His "typical" two and a half year old little sister went with us to the testing. Right away as the doc began working with Cian and he was not giving two hoots what the doc was doing, yet little sis was joining in as a "typical" toddler should be, I began to see where Cian's deficits were. Tears stung my eyes as the diagnosis was declared, because "Autism" was a very scary word, and certainly not one I had prepared myself for. However, I quickly realized that this was the answer I had been searching for, a REASON why he was so impulsive, and had no awareness of dangers, and why he was so overly sensory. THIS was exactly what I had needed, thus began the search for anything and everything that just might help Cian succeed. My little man and his brother just turned 4 last month, and have a LONG road ahead of them, but the fact that they are even here is a miracle in and of itself, and we look forward to helping them both every step of the way!

Nicole Gilbert
Greenville, SC