FoggyRock General Forum

I'm Marcia and I have known Lisa for many, many years.  Sometimes I think I knew her before autism became the most common word in our house!!!   My husband Jarl (prounounced like Daryl only with a J) and I have a 15 year old son Chris (I can't believe he's 15 either, Lisa!!)  Chris was diagnosed with autism when he was 7 but we knew something was a little off way before then.  I have just sisters and all nieces so it was hard to not think he was just behind because he was a boy.  Even our doctor would tell us Oh he's just a boy.  But a mom has that special instinct and just knows when something is just not right.  His preschool teacher confirmed it when he wouldn't sit still and didn't play with the other children but did his own little thing.  It wasn't until he was 7 that we heard the word Asperger's Syndrome and my world came tumbling down.  Every mother has dreams for their child and that was not in my dreams.  Primetime had a segment on Asperger's where a young boy named Christopher was obsessed with trains.  That child could have been my Christopher.  I bawled through the show and the next day I called our AEA agency and got on the list for evaluation.  Two months later we had our answer.  I cried then too but not tears of failure or despair. But more tears of relief.  Having a diagnosis gave us hope, something to fight for. Before we had no clue what to do or where to go. 

The next 8 years has been an uphill battle and there are good days and bad days. Chris is a very stubborn child so not only were we fighting autism we're also fighthing with him most days.  Someday if you really want to know that part of our story let me know.   But today he is a freshman in high school.  He has been on the honor roll four times in middle school.  Oh yes we still have our issues. Like leaving school several times last year but that is another long story.  He is also going to the homecoming dance next week with a girl!!! THat is something I never thought we'd get to.  He is very excited as I am.  I will post pictures on my page when I get them. 

We have a long way to go and many more roads to go down.  But I have to (HAVE TO!) believe that GOd will get us there.

Marcia