This is why I fight so hard

 



In 1995 God graced me with this face you see here my baby boy Eric. In 1996 we almost lost him to Asthma that we didnt know he had but was brought on by a simple ear infection and a bottle of Benydrel. I woke up one morning to get the older girls ready for school and to get his younger sister ready for the day. We lived in Virginia at the time and was about to move back to California the kids and I were in the middle of packing our things and hubby had already left to start his new job.

When I went to turn off the alarm I could hear him gasping for air and his little face was blue, I tried not to panic I had my oldest to run down stairs to get the neighbor who was a nurse and called my mom who lived in CT 911 didnt cross my mind but my mom did. You see she is preacher anointed by God and I know I needed to get some reassurence she could hear him gasping for air he was like 7-8 months at the time. She said hang up call 911 we got the prayers on this end and call me back.

The neighbor finally arrived and she got the girls ready as the ambulance came, they had to take him to the VA Hospital which was right in back of where we lived, they asked all kinds of questions like what did he eat? What time did it happend I tried to answer them all but them something said "Tell them to check for Asthma" why do you ask well it runs on both sides of the family and that came to my mind. In the mean time I called hubby and told him J as we call him was in the hospital he was having a hard time breathing.


Well he was on the next thing smoking back to VA. Well we stayed at the VA hospital for about two hours then they transported us to the childrens hospital where the questions began again, I told them to please check for Asthma but they all looked at me like I was crazy, finally hubby arrived and the world seem calmer. After about 8 hours the results came back ASTHMA my heart sank but I was glad I was right and it wasnt anything worse then that.

Two years later my world was rocked again we began to notice something was wrong when he spoke his first sentence at the age of one which was "Hey chuckle head" and from then on nothing more was said except for mommy and daddy, so in speaking to other people they just said that is normal for boys mature slower then girls and not to worry so we didnt.

On a normal visit to his see his physician Dr Myrah Kahn she began to notice things in Eric like his speech not talking in full sentences, or when he wanted something he would grab you by the finger and lead you to it and point or just grunt.

So she suggested we or when you would ask him a question he would just repeat it so we suggested we take him to have his hearing checked so off to Olive View Medical we went, the hearing test came out fine.

Where they gave a series of other test and thats when we were given the news that Eric had Autism and it felt like my world came crumbling down.

I mean all I felt was anger, frustration, sadness for about two weeks I was on a fog, but then I had to get it together so I could get

Eric the help he needed for we started to see how this was effecting him how he would become frustrated when you could not understand him so he would become angry and fight, his attention span was very short and he would cry for no reason. Well after all of the test and probing he was diagnosed with AUTISM sigh now came the crying, the questioning of "what did I do wrong" What could I have done differently.


Then I remembered hubbys cousin has Autism as well but he is lower functioning where as Eric was diagnosed with Autism/ PDD a higher functioning case. So after all of the Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy, and finding the correct schools the journey began.

But as time went by we finally found the proper care from a school like Horaceman especially Brigette. She would keep the parents abreast of the day to day activities of our children via notebook, she would be able to make us see our children steps in a visual way for and example. She made us notice the way Eric walked up the steps using one foot at time she gave us a date by when he would be able to walk the steps like regular kids and my damn if she wasnts on point.


Providencia and Miller and all the wonderful teachers and assistants that worked with him. The things that came with it the long IEP's sometimes being put into the wrong classe rooms which still to this day frustrates him to no end. Some teachers that just dont get it, some adults that dont get it as well, dealing with kids who dont know better and dealing with kids that think he is the coolest things since pants with pockets lol and will defend his honor. The potty training which didnt become come successful until he was 6 years old and oh the party we all had lol. The tears that came when he said a full sentence again, to hear his voice again so see him smile again. But then we have the days where the regression comes in, the meltdowns, or the picky eating, the Echoilia or now we deal with the Delayed Echoilia meaing repeating of tv shows, movies, etc.



The sensory issues cant stand tags or loud noises even though he is louder then your average megaphone sigh. The over stimulation and the issues it can bring with the kids, teachers. Fighting to get Speech teachers that speak english, fighting for Adpative PE for two years, his arm getting broke at school because he is different, bottle thrown at his head cuz he is different. The school district how had and issue that he could tell me whats wrong with him because kids with Autism are not allowed to be able to communicate so well this is what happends when you live in the stone ages.

Just last year the Spanish teacher asked if she could have him in her 7th period class here he normally takes Piano, the reason there is a child in there that will not speak but will communicate with Eric in Spanish, and its funny for when Eric speaks in English he tends to stutter, but when speaking in Spanish it flows out smooth and he has no accent

So Eric on his on accord agreeded to change his class so he can help his friend to learn to speak in English. He is taking it again this year his progress report came in three days ago A+


Dealing with parents of kids with Autism how hate you in a way due to the fact you child is high functioning and theirs isnt. Instead of prasing you they bash you, you want to share good news with them but are afraid to. Or tell you omg stop throwing pity parties for your kids when you kid has a bad day. But when they tell you about their autism moments you give support you offer suggestions ect why because in the Autism Community we are all we got.

Mom who say aww what you are doing for your child is wrong, try my way not knowing that Autism is not like that tag you see at some stores on a shirt "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" and even that tag can be misleading. What works for your kids may not work for mine, but I will give it a try and if it works fine if not I am not ashamed to say 'UMM HEY WHAT ELSE YOU GOT"

Eight years later another blow was dealt sigh Absence seizures and is on medication for this. They tried to put the ADD/ADHD tag on him but we dodged that the test came back negative and no more medication for him. He is 13 now and heaven knows what else is in store for our Prince as the years go by. But all I can say is thank you to all the mommies that helped me during this time. Debbie, Pat, Ali, Ruth, Anissa, Chrissy, the list goes on so if I dont post your name dont mean I forgot you I my fingers are just tired lmbo


So yes Autism has his bad times but at times Autism can bring out qualities in our kids we never knew they had

I the end always remember but never forget

You cant have and Autstic child if they dont have Autism

Love always Bridget














 

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com