The morning I received the news my daughter was autistic was extremely difficult. She had developed ahead of her peers and then regressed. Her dad and I just thought it was a phase. With the news, I grieved what I thought my daughter would have been...all the hopes and dreams we had for her. The speech therapist gave us a gloomy vision of what she would do in her life. She would never know us as her mother and father. She would never love us or have a real relationship with us. To say we were devastated doesn't even come close to describing how we felt. We then met with a psychologist and speech pathologist in an early intervention program. They told me to never put limitations on her. She has all the potential in the world and to just stand back and watch the miracle unfold. And that is exactly what we have done. Megan was non-verbal and is now extremely verbal. She used to not notice any of her peers and now she has a lot of friends her love her for exactly who she is. She used to have lots of sensory issues and has learned how to navigate through those difficult moments. She reminds me daily of what is important and how not to complicate my life. She is truly a joy in my life. I adore her quirkiness and uniqueness. I love her honesty and sincerity. I am so grateful to be her mother and feel honored to have this privilege. I have learned to never underestimate her. She astonished me often on her capabilities and her drive to succeed I any task she is given. I look in awe as she navigates her life and enjoy all the victories she has every day. Her life has already made an impact on so many and I know she has more work of healing an teaching left to do in her life. She has taught how to love unconditionally. She sees the possibility in all of us and loves us through all our imperfections.

Melissa Allen
Bend, OR