Belinda&Cathy

[Guest guest]

Hi, Everyone....Belinda & ....what you are feeling is the same feelings

I felt 15 yrs ago when first told that Gareth could be autistic...he was 5

y/o. By then, I was wondering why he wasn't like the other DS kids in the

support group. Why the extreme behaviors (Dr J & Mr H), why the rituals (now

called OCD), why did he flop & drop, why wouldn't he listen like the other

kids, why did he just bang his toys together and not really play, why the

grunting and no more talking.......so many quirks!!! I remember seeing a Mom

at one

of the support picnics and her signing to her son. I remember thinking " how

sad for her because he had DS AND he was deaf. " OH, my..........little did

I know!!! It took me 5 yrs and 3 different child psyches in 3 different

states (DH was transferred a lot!!!) to tell me my son was autistic before it

really *clicked* that it wasn't going to go away and that they were right and I

had to finally accept it. Of course, back then, we didn't have the

therapies that are available today for autistic kids. Once the final mark is

made

and you have the dual dx, you will cry out of sadness/pity, but then, soon

realize that the child is still the same kid you have been loving and raising.

Only now, you can say to everyone who questions their behaviors " hey, he's

also autistic. " Learn to educate those along your way...........that is the

only way the world will get past " Oh, he's only severely retarded " or " Oh,

that's the way all DS kids are " or " Well, some DS kids talk and others only

growl " . It's been a loooooooooong road, but I would not change my life with

anyone

else and the love I hold for Gareth is just as strong as the love I hold for

my other son.

Take care, Everyone.

Margaret

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