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Jennifer
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Jennifer and her family
I'm a family member
Our story is not especially unique. My husband and I have been blessed with two beautiful children, two successful careers and a small home nestled just outside the city limits.
Shortly after becoming parents, our eldest child Drew was diagnosed with Severe Congenital Neutropenia (SCN), a rare autoimmune disease. However, after he was in remission, we found ourselves returning to the doctor’s office for a new reason. We needed answers about his delays and behavior. The summer before Drew began first grade, we learned that he has “classic autism.”
Each day presents itself with its own challenges and rewards, which have brought us closer as a family. As parents, we have learned to unite and advocate for our child. Additionally, we have learned patience with a community that is just learning about autism.
The greatest thing that I have learned during this journey is that raising a child with autism is a blessing, not a burden. It really isn’t much different then raising our typical child, Ashley. Drew is our son and we love him unconditionally, no matter what the label is. We recognize that he has weaknesses and strengths, just as we all do. We do our best to provide Drew with appropriate supports that promote a learning environment for him to build upon his strengths, just as parents of typical children do.
So you see - our story is not especially unique, but our lives with autism are.
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