My friend needs some help please.....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

A very dear friend on one of my lists wrote in to ask for help. I was hoping someone here would have some advice or ideas? I've pasted her email down below.

Thanks so much!!

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To nobody's surprise my grandson is autistic.....and I'm sure I have mentioned that before. He is low functioning and at age 14 is learning to go to the bathroom but still wears diapers and wets the bed. He "talks"...a high, squeaky voice. When upset he reverts to two words, "Shrek" and "Fiona" and he will shriek.

He wears an ankle alert as if he gets outside he will take off running. My daughter and husband and the other kids live in prison. The doors are locked, keys in pockets all the time. Nobody can just "go to the car" to get something as someone with keys has to unlock the door. He also tries to climb the backyard fence and has succeeded in the past so if he is to go outside they have to have someone with him.

About 2 months ago my daughter had a complete breakdown. I don't think she associates it with the life she lives. I think, in her mind it was the fact she was demoted from a shift manager and her hours cut. However, in the past she has had to work 80 hours a week so her hubby could stay home with the kids as she could not control Dylan (autistic one) and he would almost literally run right over her.

Dylan is a danger to himself. He will NOT keep a seatbelt on and wanders in the car. He has, in the past, tried to open the door while the vehicle was going 60+ mph. She had to get her eldest son to hold the door shut and that resulted in being pulled over by the police....so she then had to have someone bring her husband to them so they could get home, I really don't know what anyone can do....but if anyone has ideas I'd love to hear them. They applied for fencing for the front yard so at least they could go out in the yard. With the economy as it is they have been waiting years. Dylan's summer school has been cut...economy. They live in a house so small I get claustrophobic. There are not even enough beds for everyone anymore and going in the room that Dylan sleeps in is like walking into an ammonia laden pit. I can't breathe in there it smells so strongly.... So...ideas?? Suggestions as to who I might be able to contact for help?? Anything???

My daughter, to get back to why I started this email, is recovering now...but it was SO bad she was hospitalized and on Haldol...then Seroquel and is now down to Lorazepam and Wellbutrin but she will be on them a long time. She needs some help but will not consider a boarding school, if she could find one who would take him. She considers that abandoning the boy although I suggested it be one he could come home for weekends. It would give the other kids some normalcy. Any other ideas though??? Thanks in advance.