Monday, 07 July 2008

• This Sea Called Autism

  One of my biggest fears as a parent was Josiah being diagnosed with Autism. I used to go to all the pediatrician appointments with  butterflies in my stomach fearing to hear that word. And it just happened. Two weeks ago, the same day that Josiah was fit for eyeglasses, the pediatrician dropped the "A" word. With that came the prognosis of "this young wee man will probably grow up having some learning problems". I had heard something so similar from the same doctor, "he'll never be a brain surgeon" just a year ago. He then recommended www.nas.org.uk so that will learn about this thing called Autism.

   After hearing about the need for eyeglasses, and the autism diagnosis, and being 22 weeks pregnant.. I just couldn't see straight. We came home, and I literally cried my heart out. I had never felt such pain in my life. I had never realized how hard and painful being a parent can be.

  After crying, which still is helping, I hit the internet and the Lord has been comforting me more and more. My first reaction was just to take it one day at a time. No need to worry about tomorrow, the Lord might return and this whole thing will be over.

  Next came, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". At times it's quite overwhelming and the whole dark prognosis is just suffocating.

  Yesterday, I found out two things that have helped many children with autism: Gluten and Casein Free diet, and the ABA approach. This was a breath of fresh air for us. We were so thankful to have found all this information and for all those families who have written about their journey and their helpful tips. We have already started the elimination of all dairy from Josiah's diet and God willing will be eliminating gluten. This diet might or might not help Josiah, it's just very comforting that there's something we can do to help our wee man, our dear first born son without having to rely on the medical professionals. I will be asking to see the nutritionist to get some help with enzymes and vitamins. Getting plenty of omega 3 is going to be very beneficial as well, so will having a low sugar diet.  Autistic children have plenty of yeast in their bodies, sugar just multiplies yeast production. I never knew that yeast and speech were hugely related.

   We just feel that it could have been better for the doctor to have told us about all these treatment options instead of relaying a grim prognosis. We can't thank the Lord enough for the internet and the information that can literally change lives.

  So how do I feel about the autistic traits that Josiah portrays? Mainly the spinning for long periods of time and turning objects by their minutest particles..The biggest clues of autism. I do regard them as great skills. How many of us can spin like that without getting dizzy, or are able to concentrate so much to find a tiny thread and turn the object around. These aren't bad traits just because they fall under the label of autism. These are just rare skills that not many of us are gifted with.  

  The Lord has a plan for Josiah, it might not be the plan that we have envisioned for him, but it's the Lord's plan written down before the foundation of the world.  It makes me so glad that the covenant is unconditional and unilateral, depending upon God alone.

  All these tears, prayers, efforts are so worthy of our wee handsome, silly, adorable, loveable Josiah. May the Lord see it fit to bless these efforts and strenghten us in our journey as we train Josiah to what He has in store for him.

  "O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid" Psalm 86:16

  Maria  
  

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