Watch this Video.

My two beautiful kids, much smaller than they are now.

This is a really beautiful video made by the parents of an autistic girl. For every time it's viewed, .40 will go to the charity AutismSpeaks.org.



Neither of my kids is autistic, but as I've said Elijah has some Asperger's traits. And when he was around age two, he did show signs of being possibly Autistic. He used to do this thing called "echolalia" which some friends and family who have worked with kids noticed and knew to be a sign of austism. He also didn't speak at all until he was two and spoke "caveman style" until he was three (at which time he was diagnosed with esophagitis and put on Zantac; one week after starting the antacid he was speaking in sentences and smiling!). All those things, along with not making eye contact and several other things, are signs of autism. No two autistic kids are the same, but the diagnosis is skyrocketing to now 1 in every 150 children.



We chose, on the advice of professionals, not to get him diagnosed and to do "alternative" interventions. Actually, seeing the Gastroenterologist was standard medicine and it helped him a great deal, but for other things we chose alternatives. Diet intervention, herbs, flower essences, and in the past two years chiropractic. Each has had a visible and positive effect. I also strongly believe that breastfeeding him for over two years was extremely beneficial. Besides the obvious digestive benefits, it is likely due to our breastfeeding time he never has had problems with cuddling with us (although touch from people he doesn't know as well bothers him). Also, he and I did a lot of looking each other in the eye and I think that helped him trust me and, by extension, gradually trust others.



I think there is a gift in Autism. These kids look with their big eyes and see a world beyond what we see. It is only in helping them to see our world, too, and learn to trust it, that there is a need. All parents want the best this world can give to their child.



My friend Nikki has a daughter, aptly named Faith, who is autistic and also has epilepsy. She has the most beautiful big brown eyes and wonderfully expressive face, but she can not speak words to us yet. Watch this video for her, and Eli, and all the kids who need help. Something is not right. Let's hope we can figure it out!