This is the time of year that we all take some time to reflect on what we have to be thankful for, and acknowledge how much gratittude we have in our hearts. This journey we are on comes with a lot of hard work and emotions, and it is easy to get lost and consumed in this. I try to be conscious of my day to day attitude and keep my perspective in check, but sometimes that proves to be challenging. The emotions that come with Autism, or any developmental delay, are hard on the heart and it takes a lot of effort to stay positive.
So, I love this time of year because it is only natural to focus on all of the many things we do have to be thankful for. The are really no words to express the gratuitude I feel in my heart each and every day, but I can tell you a little bit about what those things are.
I am thankful for two amazing children who have taught me more than I could have ever imagined about myself, life, love, and family. As I mentioned above, this journey is not always easy, but there isn't a day that goes by that I look at those two little faces and don't appreciate each and every moment. This may not be the journey we anticipated so long ago, but it is definitely the journey for us, and I would not trade it for anything.
I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for everyone of our family and extended family, my mom, sister, nieces & nephews, and to all of my friends who have remained close on this rocky road. I would not be as strong as I am, and Kaden certainly would not be where he is today, if it weren't for you. You have lifted me up when I was down, and supported us in ways that have made it possible for me to be the mother that I am today. Thank you.
To all of the therapists & teachers who dedicate their lives to helping Kaden and so many other kids...I know what you deal with day in and day out is not easy. You get spit on, kicked, bit, and you still continue to do your job with an open heart and wide arms. You are amazing. Kaden is so lucky to be working with a team of professionals that not only are some of the best in their field, but the passion they have for what they do shines through in their work.
I am especially thankful for the progress Kaden has made and the little man he is becoming. The language has started to really emerge in these last couple of months, and it has been so amazing to watch his little world open up and learn more every day about who he is as a person. For the first time, we are seeing his personality shine through in words, something we have hoped for each & every day. He has a fairly strong single word vocabulary now, and is putting together two and sometimes even three words.
I am incredibly thankful for a few things that have happened recently, and will make such a difference in Kaden's life. One of the most important things I learned on this journey is that you have to go out and find resources, they will not fall into your lap. Often, you will have to work hard and be persistent to access these resources, as there are so many children in need.
A few months ago I was up late one night doing my "normal" researching at late hours. I stumbled across a grant opportunity through Unuted HealthCare Children's Foundation. It quickly caught my attention and immediately I went to the page to see if we met the criteria. It is a grant designed for families that have medical insurance but need assistance paying for therapy not covered by insurance, or any out of pocket expenses (i.e., co-pays, deductible, etc). So, of course once I saw that we did meet the criteria I applied. It required that you have a written letter from the child's Pediatrician, and about every other piece of documentation you could imagine. So, I quickly sat down and got to work. I even wrote a letter for the Pediatrician, lucky for us he agreed to sign it and I was able to send all of the paperwork off the next day. Two weeks ago we received a letter in the email that Kaden had been rewarded the grant!!!!! I was beyond excited. This summer, Kaden's Neurologist recommened music therapy for Kaden and thought it could really help him. We started going in July, and we saw some amazing progress from just a short month. But after a month we ended up having to stop because we could not afford it with all of Kaden's other treatment. I was so determined to find a way to allow him to go back, and this grant was the perfect answer. So, last week we started bringing him back to Developmental Rhythms for music therapy! These are the little victories along this journey that keep me going!
Kaden was recently chosen to participate in a pilot program through SCOE (Sonoma County Office of Education) called "First Words." The model used in this program is called Pivotal Response Training, and you can learn more about it here http://education.ucsb.edu/autism/prt.html. I will just say that PRT has been incredibly successful with children between the ages of 3-5 with Autism. There are some very promising studies especially this recent study out of Yale http://news.yale.edu/2012/11/06/early-treatment-sparks-striking-brain-changes-autism which shows actual physical changes in the brain of children with Autism who received PRT. It is all very exciting and promising stuff, just another reason to be incredibly thankful. So, Kaden started PRT on Monday and will be doing it until February. His teacher from his Special Day Class will be participating in the treatment with him and will be trained to carry PRT over into the classroom. I will definitely keep you updated on his progress as we go through this program.
Lastly, I am extremely thankful for the opportunities I have recently been given which are allowing me to give back and make a difference in the Special Education community. In September I started serving as Chair for the CAC (Community Advisory Committee) http://www.sonomaselpa.org/selpa/docs/cac_english.pdf which is an organization through SELPA that basically works as a link between parents and school districts. We inform, educate, and advocate for families with children os special needs. Through this organization I have also had the privilege of working on a more intimate level with the school districts in the county, thus offering a much different perspective which will ultimately help facilitate a stronger relationship as we work with the district to get Kaden the services he needs moving forward. I am so excited to be a part of something so incredibly powerful for families, and I hope to make a difference.
Please don't forget to take the time this Holiday season and focus on what you DO have to be thankful for. Life is not easy, and we can all become so focused on the day to day challenges we face. Take a minute to look at your kids, your family, and all that you have to be thankful for. There is so much!
Thank you following us on our journey, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
