She wouldn’t look at me or answer when I called her. She drifted away from our family. Her communication was screaming, hitting, biting, throwing objects and grunting. I was told to put her in a group home at four years old. I was told that we lost her and we should move on with our lives.
An epilepsy diagnosis only made matters worse. Sydney would cry for the majority of the day and she never slept for more than four hours at a time.
I never thought I would see the day that Sydney was included, the day that she would have a friend, the day that our family could go to Target.
Some nights when she laughs with Harrison and says “Mom, I love you.” I can’t help but cry and thank God for her progress. I’ve shared some tough stories in the past regarding Sydney. I never shared my stories for pity. I shared to let others know they are not alone.
This April I’m celebrating Sydney and all of the families living with autism. On the days when things are rough, I look back and reflect on how far we’ve come and what we have achieved together.
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~Brooke
