My daughter was born at only 32 weeks gestation by emergency c-section. She was so healthy and perfect. At 9 months old I noticed she stopped crawling, pulling herself up on the coffee table. Doctors said its cause she was a preemie but i didn't see why that would make her stop. At 1 year they said o she's delayed. At 2 they said she had autistic tendencies, and at 3 they said she was autistic. I was told commit her, give her up. She'd be a rocking non verbal vegetable. I couldn't imagine giving her up. I got her into headstart, speech therapy, physical therapy, and everything else the school would provide. I never found any programs to help except special education at school. Now my beautiful girl is 17 and a senior. Things will never be easy or so called normal but she has taught me the true meaning of strength and perseverance. She does speak, walk, is starting to read and loves to hang out at the mall with her younger sisters. She shows me everyday can't ain't in her vocabulary. But most of all she has taught all of us doctors can be wrong and to never give up.

Rebecca Hall
mooresburg, TN