Saturday, July 5, 2008

My Child Has Autism

These are four words that I have never thought I would say out loud, write in a letter, let alone a blog for goodness sakes. Leah was diagnosed with autism on July 3, 2008. This is a day that will be etched in my parental history forever and will be a day of new beginnings.

We were given the diagnosis of autism because Leah meets the criteria in all three areas for of autism with delays in communication, socialization and having repetitive behaviors. We were given the news in a very professional and heartfelt manner (and given ample time to shed multiple tears) and we were then given various recommendations. Leah was recommended for speech therapy and OT which she is already enrolled in both at school and in the clinical setting. She has also been recommended for ABA therapy, a specific therapy for children with autism. This will be a very time intensive therapeutic endeavor as it calls for 25-40 hours per week. It is also not covered by insurance! Thank you Michigan insurance laws! UGH!

I took some time to grieve this news and I'm sure I will continue to grieve the "official" diagnosis. But I am on a mission to get services in line, Riley trained appropriately and Leah in the best place possible for the best life outcomes! This news is difficult for us all, but we need to think about what God has done here. He placed God in Mama Lidia's giving arms and she and God placed her in our loving forever family for so many reasons, one of them being that she is a child with autism. We have the access and the knowledge to provide her with the best and the latest technologies to give her the greatest opportunities available. God works his 'magic' and we all need to see it, follow it and live it! Amen!

With this blog, I plan now to continue to update all of you about our family's 'doings' but also to educate all of you about autism and children with autism as well as Leah as an individual. I look forward to this new turn on our journey as we can't turn back or stop...our family must soldier on and persevere. I know Leah will make fabulous strides in her development with our and your love, support and prayers!

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