Re: To my daughter with Autism, Lora on her 14th birthday

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this, wah! My son's birthday is today, he is 19 (with

autism)...I also have a daughter with autism 12. God bless our efforts

everyday, help others to see our plights, and our government to be held

accountable for some of this mess.

Kathy

To my daughter with Autism, Lora on her 14th birthday

>

>9-12-2000

>To: Lora

>From: Your Dad

>

>I find it very hard to believe that your turning 14 and becoming a

>teenager and soon a Woman. It seems just like yesterday. On a Friday

>morning September 12, 1986 your mother and I were at the Plano Hospital

>for a C section delivery of our first child. We were so excited, I had

>gone through birthing class and was allowed in the surgery room with my

>camera. As they pulled your tiny 5 lb body out and handed you to me you

>cried your first sound and took your first breath. I gave you back to the

>nurse who started cleaning your nose and mouth, but as I watched you

>turned a dark blue from lack of oxygen. As they took you to another room I

>followed taking pictures. As the Women pediatrician worked frantically to

>help you breath she screamed for the staff to get that dad out of the

>room. About that time your Uncle, Dr. Steve , who was checking on

>some of his patients at he hospital, heard the emergency call on the

>intercom and ran into your room. Steve immediately realized you had a rare

>birth defect that blocked both of your nostrils with bone so he put a tube

>down your throat saving your life. Unknown to the hospital staff and us

>was that babies can not breath through their mouth until they are about 2

>months old. Then another Woman doctor showed up who informed me that you

>had some kind of birth defect syndrome and you would not live very long,

>she was wrong. We rushed you in to meet your Mother who was just recovering

>from her surgery and she was only able to reach into the oxygen box to

>touch your hand before they rushed you away to the Neo-Natal Intensive

>care unit at Presbytarian Hospital. That afternoon I held you in my arms

>at the intensive care unit knowing how important parent bonding is to a

>newborn child. It was such a scary room with all the tubes and monitors

>beeping. After I visited your Mother back at the Plano hospital I made it

>home after midnight. My mind was dizzy with all the happenings of the day,

>none of which we were prepaired for or expecting. I entered your freshly

>painted baby room with your Lynn bed and teddy bear pictures on the

>wall. As I looked around your perfect baby room I began to cry, I was

>crying for the child we would never have, I was crying for your Mother who

>was in the hospital with no baby to hold. And most of all I was crying for

>you, my precious little baby girl. For the first time in my whole life I

>got down on my knees with my head resting on your bed. I began to pray to

>God for help. I asked God to please save your life and that I would do

>anything, anything, just so you could live. I asked God for only one

>favor, to let you be able to talk with me someday.

>

>As your life unfolded we spent 6 weeks in the hospital, you had surgery to

>open up your nose. Your mother stayed 12 hours during the day and I every

>night and the weekends so one of us was by your side at all times in the

>hospital. Finally we got to take you home and we soon had you enroled in a

>early childhood program. When you were 6 months old they told us your

>other birth defect was something called " Autism " . We started attending

>Autism meetings and went to several Autism conferences. We learned

>American Sign Language and taught you how to sign your words. We started

>you in Easter Seals for speech and physical therapy. We spent many hours

>at your school fighting for your needs. You endured several surgerys on

>your nose and ears but still you continued to grow. We did diet, auditory

>training, sensory integration, structured learning, pictures, and so many

>things to help you overcome your Autism. When you were 6 years old, I came

>home from work one day and you said, " Hello Daddy " your first sentence.

>For your mother and I every small step you take, every new word you say is

>a miracle.

>

>Lora, you are the best thing that has every happened to my life.

>Even though we sometimes loose our temper and get mad at you, we know your

>doing the best you can. Raising a child with Autism has been very hard for

>us and sometimes your a real pain in the rear. Lora, you are the most

>loving and kind person I know, you are nice to everyone you meet. You

>worry about everyone you know if they are sick or hurt. You really do feel

>our pain. I know life is hard for you. Sounds hurt your ears and cause

>lots of pain. Your skin hurts and itches, bouncy cars and vibrations cause

>you lots of discomfort. You always seem to have a sinus infection. You

>have to take lots of pills and have your nose washed out every day.

>

>Lora, your Mother and I want you to know we think your a wonderful kid.

>You put up with more pain every day than most of us can ever understand.

>You are funny and laugh and bring us lots of joy. I am proud to be your

>Dad. As you go on to mature and grow up as an adult with Autism, we will

>be with you to help you become all that you can in life. Your Autism will

>never go away, it is part of you. Your Autism makes you a unique person

>who sees, feels, taste, and thinks differently than most people. It is

>this uniqueness that makes you such a wonderful and special person.

>Lora we love you for who you are: Lora our Daughter.

>

>Happy Birthday,

>Love,

>Your Dad,

>

>

>--------------------------------------------------------------------

> C.P.M., pwatson@... Senior Buyer UTD

>The University of Texas at Dallas ph# 972/883-2307,fax# 972/883-2348

>President of ASCC Autism Society of Collin County

>ASCC Home Page http://www.autism-ascc.org

>--------------------------------------------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Beautiful - Lora has a wonderful dad.

Diane xx

>

> Subject: To my daughter with Autism, Lora on her 14th birthday

>

> 9-12-2000

> To: Lora

> From: Your Dad

>

> I find it very hard to believe that your turning 14 and becoming a

> teenager and soon a Woman. It seems just like yesterday. On a Friday

> morning September 12, 1986 your mother and I were at the Plano Hospital

> for a C section delivery of our first child. We were so excited, I had

> gone through birthing class and was allowed in the surgery room with my

> camera. As they pulled your tiny 5 lb body out and handed you to me you

> cried your first sound and took your first breath. I gave you back to the

> nurse who started cleaning your nose and mouth, but as I watched you

> turned a dark blue from lack of oxygen. As they took you to another room I

> followed taking pictures. As the Women pediatrician worked frantically to

> help you breath she screamed for the staff to get that dad out of the

> room. About that time your Uncle, Dr. Steve , who was checking on

> some of his patients at he hospital, heard the emergency call on the

> intercom and ran into your room. Steve immediately realized you had a rare

> birth defect that blocked both of your nostrils with bone so he put a tube

> down your throat saving your life. Unknown to the hospital staff and us

> was that babies can not breath through their mouth until they are about 2

> months old. Then another Woman doctor showed up who informed me that you

> had some kind of birth defect syndrome and you would not live very long,

> she was wrong. We rushed you in to meet your Mother who was just

recovering

> from her surgery and she was only able to reach into the oxygen box to

> touch your hand before they rushed you away to the Neo-Natal Intensive

> care unit at Presbytarian Hospital. That afternoon I held you in my arms

> at the intensive care unit knowing how important parent bonding is to a

> newborn child. It was such a scary room with all the tubes and monitors

> beeping. After I visited your Mother back at the Plano hospital I made it

> home after midnight. My mind was dizzy with all the happenings of the day,

> none of which we were prepaired for or expecting. I entered your freshly

> painted baby room with your Lynn bed and teddy bear pictures on the

> wall. As I looked around your perfect baby room I began to cry, I was

> crying for the child we would never have, I was crying for your Mother who

> was in the hospital with no baby to hold. And most of all I was crying for

> you, my precious little baby girl. For the first time in my whole life I

> got down on my knees with my head resting on your bed. I began to pray to

> God for help. I asked God to please save your life and that I would do

> anything, anything, just so you could live. I asked God for only one

> favor, to let you be able to talk with me someday.

>

> As your life unfolded we spent 6 weeks in the hospital, you had surgery to

> open up your nose. Your mother stayed 12 hours during the day and I every

> night and the weekends so one of us was by your side at all times in the

> hospital. Finally we got to take you home and we soon had you enroled in a

> early childhood program. When you were 6 months old they told us your

> other birth defect was something called " Autism " . We started attending

> Autism meetings and went to several Autism conferences. We learned

> American Sign Language and taught you how to sign your words. We started

> you in Easter Seals for speech and physical therapy. We spent many hours

> at your school fighting for your needs. You endured several surgerys on

> your nose and ears but still you continued to grow. We did diet, auditory

> training, sensory integration, structured learning, pictures, and so many

> things to help you overcome your Autism. When you were 6 years old, I came

> home from work one day and you said, " Hello Daddy " your first sentence.

> For your mother and I every small step you take, every new word you say is

> a miracle.

>

> Lora, you are the best thing that has every happened to my life.

> Even though we sometimes loose our temper and get mad at you, we know your

> doing the best you can. Raising a child with Autism has been very hard for

> us and sometimes your a real pain in the rear. Lora, you are the most

> loving and kind person I know, you are nice to everyone you meet. You

> worry about everyone you know if they are sick or hurt. You really do feel

> our pain. I know life is hard for you. Sounds hurt your ears and cause

> lots of pain. Your skin hurts and itches, bouncy cars and vibrations cause

> you lots of discomfort. You always seem to have a sinus infection. You

> have to take lots of pills and have your nose washed out every day.

>

> Lora, your Mother and I want you to know we think your a wonderful kid.

> You put up with more pain every day than most of us can ever understand.

> You are funny and laugh and bring us lots of joy. I am proud to be your

> Dad. As you go on to mature and grow up as an adult with Autism, we will

> be with you to help you become all that you can in life. Your Autism will

> never go away, it is part of you. Your Autism makes you a unique person

> who sees, feels, taste, and thinks differently than most people. It is

> this uniqueness that makes you such a wonderful and special person.

> Lora we love you for who you are: Lora our Daughter.

>

> Happy Birthday,

> Love,

> Your Dad,

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

what a beautiful letter. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

--

June

" Do little things with great love. " Mother

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