Just got a call from the autism center at Texas Children's hospital. TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL....ya know....that FAMOUS hospital that is supposed to be filled with good stuff....yeh...uh huh...
They said the wait time to treat my son is 6 to 7 months. I am sorry? You must mean 6-7 weeks, right? No mam, 6-7 months. FOR FUCKS SAKE PEOPLE, my BABY can't wait that long....what am i supposed to do in the mean time? Just let him go untreated? Fuck that! How in the world are you going to tell me that it is going to take more than half a year for him to get treatment. How am I supposed to help him without even knowing WHAT KIND OF AUTISM HE HAS!!! And in 6-7 months, do you know how much this can get worse? A WHOLE, FUCKING, LOT!!!!
A bit ridiculous much? I think so. Fuck you Texas Children's, if you don't want to help me, I will find someone WHO WILL.
Try this: http://www.texasautismadvocacy.org/
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am a bit overwhelmed by this....probably shouldn't be, but I am.
ReplyDeleteIt is overwhelming at first. You are capable of more than you know. You'll see. We all do. Your son will do more than you can see now. My daughter did. And does. Be his advocate, because no one else is going to do it. Reach out to others. Ask questions. Demand answers.
ReplyDeleteWatch this: http://www.amotherscourage.org/
ReplyDeleteThe Special Mom by Erma Bombeck, 1980
ReplyDeleteMost women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia. Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma'* for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see . . . ignorance, cruelty, prejudice . . . and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair. God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."
Thank you very much for this.....it's been difficult but I will not let my son down. He is my little miracle man in so many ways....This was beautiful. The Lord will guide me through this, just as he always has with everything I have crossed paths with in my lifetime.
ReplyDelete