Many times I have felt that my life can be divided in two; but I now realized that if this is true, and if it exists a point in my life that cut it in half, this could be when I started to live in the autism spectrum. I say “I started to live in” because, even though I am not the one who has autism, my life and the way I see the world had changed tremendously. Now I live in a musical rainbow.
In 2013, after many months of tests, the doctor confirmed the autism diagnosis for our son Alejandro. It was a very difficult morning; full of frustration, and deep sadness. The confirmation of his diagnosis was something scary, that made me feel really sad and hopeless. At that time, Autism meant to me an incurable illness that was going to live with my son forever, and that was going to make his life very difficult.
More than two years later, things have changed a lot! Alejandro already finished his physiotherapy, 2 cycles of ABA, and a 12 weeks program including OT and speech therapy. He is still nonverbal, but he is working hard to communicate with us. He also attends a wonderful daycare, with loving teachers and he is on the waiting list for IBI therapy.
A couple of weeks ago, at the same doctor’s office, I realized that Autism doesn’t scare me anymore! I admit that I get mad at it sometimes, but it’s ok, it’s part of the package. It is just a matter of coloring one day at a time; listening to his own music and forgetting about conventional milestones; learning to be patient, pushing when needed and celebrating his efforts and progress; promoting awareness with inclusion and obviously, taking some mama time to enjoy a glass of wine on Friday nights to recharge.
Sometimes I think that life presented to me this colorful spectrum to teach me that I need to slow down and really appreciate the music on people and the colors of the world around me... to be more humane.
Ottawa, Canada
