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About Jonathan...
Jonathan was born on July 22, 1997. It has been more than 2 years since his diagnosis. The main sign of autism which he displayed was the absence of speech. We were told that the normal communication for a 3 year old was showing parents his needs with simple words and pointing, but Jonathan was non-verbal and he was not pointing at all. I had been proud of his ability to order his world, he was a very organized child and he wanted his things to be in certain places or order, also a sign of autism. Many children throw tantrums, but a child with autism may have more extreme or longer-lasting tantrums and he will try to hurt himself sometimes hitting his head on a wall or breaking things around him. About the spontaneous make-believe play,Jonathan did not know how to play with a car or an airplane, or even pretend to drink from an empty toy cup. The only toys that he really liked were the ones with music and lights, I did not realize they were sensory issues.One of my greatest concerns were that he did not want to be hugged, kissed or touched, he would cry if I tried,or he would get so mad that he would start to hit his head against the wall. I didn't understand that this was also a sensory problem...
Jonathan now...
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When Jonathan first recieved the diagnosis, the school district offered him an early childhood program. After a series of evaluations he was given occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and family support services.They were a big help for Jonathan and for us. He's now beginning to speak in sentences, and is learning conversations and to initiate one. He is currently working on these programs: "I see..." "I want..." and in all the questions beginning with Wh...? In reading, Jonathan has improved a lot he can read words everywhere, even books that are designed for older children. In pretending, he's playing with cars, making engine sounds, and loves to pretend to be "Johnny Bravo" on cartoon network, he also pretend's to fall down the stairs when his baby brother pushes him. Now Jonathan comes when he's called, sits down and pays attention better. Although, he still has a short attention span and doesn't always listen when somebody speaks to him, but he has more eye contact compared to before. He learned to have more tolerance when something is not done "his way" and the tantrums have descreased because he's learning to communicate his needs. Still significantly behind his age, he's talking more every day. Jonathan is a very affectionate boy who hugs a lot and gives kisses to everybody. When he kisses before he goes to bed he says:" good night mommy, sweet dreams, i love you !..."
 There were many days, especially in the beginning of the treatment,after Jonathan's big tantrums, that I thought I wouldn't make it through the day. I remember sitting outside on my deck , crying and without hope. I have all the pressures from Jonathan's behaviour, the doctor's appointments (speech therapist, neurologist, audiologist, physiological testing, blood test, etc). If someone called my name in the house, or if one of my children needed something, it made me feel I had nothing left to give them. It's seems too much... Now after two years and a long way, I learned that there is HOPE.
I told myself, if you have hope in your heart for your child don't throw it away, because he needs it and you do too. It doesn't matter if others tell me that he's not going to be normal, I have a strong faith in the Lord, which brings me the greatest hope.
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