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Cooper's Story
Our family’s story with autism began with a very healthy pregnancy that went full term and we were delivered a very healthy baby boy.
Everything seemed to go as it should the first few months until we hit the 6 month mark where the milestones seem to really start. Cooper was unable to sit on his own, but we were told he was a big kid, so that’s probably the reason. As we approached 9 months, we weren’t crawling, but again, he was a big kid. It just continued from there... as we approached each age where a milestone should occur, we’d miss it and the doctor would give us an excuse as to why it may not have occurred. As a mom, I felt there was something wrong, as we were missing EVERY milestone along the way. I took Cooper to see a specialist for Autism at 14 months and she said she didn’t think he would be on the spectrum, but that a parent’s gut instinct is probably right. I clung to those words that she said, all the while knowing there was something wrong. This is truly one time in my life that I wanted to be wrong.
As all of Cooper’s friends were talking up a storm, climbing all over the playground and playing with trucks, Coop just always sat and played with his own hands oblivious to those (and the fun) around him. He became more withdrawn as he would physically remove himself from a room where others had gathered, even his own family, to be by himself.
As for tackling our situation, I had a speech therapist as well as an occupational therapist come to the house for weekly visits. We then moved to 3xs a week which we’ve been doing for the last 4 years. We’ve had Cooper in school for his needs since he was 3. We’ve seen some progress, but I still have a son who does not talk and isn’t even completely potty trained at the age of almost 7.
Cooper is very affectionate and even more so with his dad and grandparents (mom is the disciplinarian). So we see quite a few smiles and can see him giggle from time to time. I am hoping and praying that there will be a discovery soon that will be the key to solving Autism. As for now, we continue school, speech and occupational therapy. We say a lot of prayers and hope for that miracle.
I try to remember that the odds of our son having autism were not good, but it did happen. So why can’t we beat the odds again and be one of the families that has a success story with autism?
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