Autism and recovery: Is it real?

Many people tell me "I'm lucky" my son recovered from autism. So few do.

I understand why others think that. I sometimes think that, given that such a small but growing number of children emerge from the enigma of being socially isolated, never able to find joy and compassion in life.

But you have no idea how autism reordered the dynamics of my life and my family's.  The experience left me broke, and my marriage failed.

When I learned of Leo's diagnosis, I jumped feet first into helping him as if trapped on the balcony of a burning building. I gave up my writing career, my income, my friends, my daily routine, just about everything to redirect my son's course of development. Understanding how to help him, learning what to do and then advocating for his rights was grueling, demanding and rigorous.

I'm deeply saddened that my family — my mother, father and brother — never called to say, "Jayne, how are you doing? What can I do to help?" Family supports are critical during times of crisis. My family never understood the graveity of the disorder like I did.

While I got my son back, it came at great sacrifice. I have no regrets, but I wouldn't want to do it again.  I crusade on behalf of early intervention, because it saves lives. In many ways, helping parents recover from the blow of the diagnosis and start immediate early intervention for their child is a rescue mission. I hope that you will join me in forwarding the link to my story, which appears in the Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, edition of The Washington Post, to other families clinging to hope that their child will one day say, "I love you."

Comments

[Shawn]

I'm glad your son has recovered. My nephew is going through the process also and is making vast improvement. He is the reason I have started my website to give current parents and soon to be parents as much information as I can. Please visit yourautismfacts.com and tell me what you think and where I can improve.

[miriam]

I have a 5 y/o Autistic boy with Sensory Integration Disorder, Severe Apraxia, Gastrointestinal & Feeding Issues. All I know is when he was born, I was told he was a healthy baby boy, apgars 9/9. 2 years later he was diagnosed. My son is somewhere inside of himself and I want to pull him out. I believe and have hope that Biomedical & HBOT Treatments are the answer. Please visit my site for information on how you can help bring this into reality.
http://justinsrecoverywish.blogspot.com/
Thank you

[Jon Gilbert]

Though our four year old son has made great strides, I'm sure you can understand our apprehension about the term 'recovery'. But your story gives hope. I wrote a support booklet for parents with newly diagnosed loved ones - "Same Child, Different Day: One family's experiences during the first year after a child's autism diagnosis". You can read about the blog here: http://thesamechild.blogspot.com