I'm sitting here, in a bit of awe, excitement, and wonder... as I read through the amazing story that is Getting Adam Back..., a book about a mother's struggle with her son's autism & epilepsy and all that the medical world has to offer (good & bad.) Trying seemingly everything that came their way, and eventually realizing these options were not working/helping. Today Adam is 18, off medications, not having seizures, & most of his autistic rituals have disapated! That is awesome. Dare I say a miracle!
I know God does not purpose that us or our children suffer through things such as autism (or epilepsy). I also know He gave us modern medicine & doctors great knowledge to do our best to treat. Yet, I have to admit that I often see more organic/homeopathic/alternatvie methods having the most impact when it comes to such otherwise incomprehnsible issues.
Autism takes on so many different faces. Children with autism are all so wonderful & individual in their positive (& even otherwise) traits. I know this, well... as I grew up, with my step-cousin who is autistic. The memories are somewhat vivid, and some more faint. What I do know is that he is greatly loved, and I could never pretend to put myself in his parent's shoes. Their hearts must cry out daily for him to live a life free from the prison of his own body!
I know, I've been told, that as the symtoms of autism in children began to reveal themselves in Shane... It was really hard for family to accept. They wanted more than anything to just continue to believe that he was a normal child. Who wouldn't?
What I do remember... and can't ever get out of my memory, was an afternoon outside our house. As we were normal little children in our finicky ways, we were excluding Shane from our play? I honestly don't remember details... just the tyraid that came of it all. My stepmother, his aunt, came out and lost it on us. She was yelling, and crying hysterically, telling us how "ugly" we were... It impacted me, though I'm not sure in the way intended. Mostly, as I look back on such moments, I think to myself I need to do my best to remember to not address my children (or anyone for that matter) in my moment of anger & upset. Also, in retrospect, I can see the torment of emotions built up within adults around him... not even sure how they themselves were to deal with all that they saw spiraling out of their own control.
This has all been a lot of rambling. That's what it is in my mind as well. Lost thoughts, mixed emotions, and a huge heart for His Perfect healing to occur!
