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Autism Hope and Healing
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by Susan Perry
TheSyndicatedNews columnist
Susan Lynn Perry is a freelance writer and best-selling author of Procrastination Elimination. In her new book, Mother Cub, Ms. Perry shares the challenges and joys of helping her young son emerge from autism.
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Hope & Healing
By Susan Lynn Perry
I’d like to paint a picture for you. Let me set the scene. Try to imagine, if you will, that you are the mother of a beautiful little baby boy. This baby is such a blessing to you, because you didn’t believe that you were able to get pregnant. You and your husband had tried and tried in the past, but to no avail.
Then, lo and behold when you least expect it, you are indeed pregnant. Your pregnancy is wonderful and you are lucky enough to be robust and healthy throughout the entire nine months. Your baby is born perfectly healthy with ten little fingers and ten little toes. Everyone in your family is overjoyed at your perfect little bundle.
His APGAR scores are close to perfect. He smiles, rolls over, sits up, walks and talks – all on time with his peers. He is an absolute angel and a joy to be around. Everything seems to be going along as you had always dreamed it would.
Now, imagine that your baby gets sick. In fact, he’s suddenly sick all of the time with ear infections, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, vomiting, diarrhea, allergies, eczema, unexplained fevers and colds. Every week, it’s another sickness. His doctor isn’t concerned, so you try not to be either.
Then, imagine that his vocabulary and language, which had increased to several words, stops progressing all together. Imagine that your perfect little boy stops putting his hands out when he falls at home and on the playground. He seems dizzy, distracted and disoriented most of the time. Imagine that he stops responding to his name or responding to you, his mother, at all.
His doctor says he’s just fine, but you know better. You start asking around and reading and researching. You have your suspicions, but hope to God they are not true. Then finally, several months or even years later, you are given the devastating diagnosis of autism. And not only that, but you are then faced with some even more horrifying news.
There is no cure for autism.
This is what I was faced with during the first four years of my son’s life. This is my story and the story of countless other families who are getting that same diagnosis every minute of every day with this growing worldwide epidemic. Statistics are now showing that every one in ninety-four boys are being diagnosed with autism. Sounds pretty grim, doesn’t it?
But, wait a minute. What is that?
There’s something beginning to flicker on the horizon. It’s growing brighter and brighter. It’s gaining momentum with its incredible strength and power. It’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
There may not be a cure for autism, yet, but there is definitely hope in the air. Don’t let anybody tell you any differently. There are things you can do, today, to help your child. You just have to take one step…and then another….and then another.
Published: Jul 11,2008 20:45
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Andy Cowan
Andy Cowan, an award-winning writer, whose credits include Cheers and Seinfeld, regularly contributes humor pieces to the Los Angeles Times and the CBS Jack FM Radio Network.
Paul M. J. Suchecki
Paul M. J. Suchecki has more than 30 years of experience as an award winning writer, producer, and cameraman. He's written numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Currently he writes, produces and shoots for LA CityView Channel 35 and his more than 250 articles for Ehow.com are approaching half a million readers.
Coby Kindles
Coby Kindles is a freelance journalist, screenplay writer and essayist. She has been a staff writer at Knight Ridder and a regular contributor to The Associated Press.
Debbie Milam
Debbie Milam is a syndicated columnist for United Press International, an occupational therapist, family success consultant, and motivational speaker with more than 20 years experience. Her work on stress management, spirituality, parenting, and special-needs children has been featured in over 300 media outlets including First for Women, The Miami Herald, Elle, Ladies Home Journal, The Hallmark Channel, PBS and WebMD.
Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter has covered the residential real estate industry for more than 15 years. He has contributed real estate stories to the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Business 2.0 Magazine, Home Magazine, Smart HomeOwner Magazine and many others.
Jack Nargundkar
Jack Nargundkar has been repeatedly published in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. He is also an author of "The Bush Diaries" published in July 2005.
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