I just went up to have a discussion with our oldest daughter, Caitlin.
Caitlin is a severely autistic 16-year old girl. Lately, she has become extremely
philosophical.
Tonight she said, "Jane, she died one year ago Christmas"..
"Yes", I said.
Caitlin replied, "this Christmas WE BRING THE MIRACLE BACK".
I replied," Jane is not coming back"...
Caitlin said, "OOHHH"....
You see, Jane was a dear friend of mine...and Caitlin loved her.
Jane died of lung cancer on Christmas Day last year.
Jane was so happy that she was alive to see our new home...she was the
first person I let see it.
She whispered in my ear, "I held on for you Jeanette"....and I knew that.
I miss her greatly...what makes me more proud is that I had a friend so
wonderfully great, that my daughter misses her too.....
Jane would be so proud of Caitlin....
I guess we did get our MIRACLE back after all.....
Thanks Jane..and WE miss you alot...
Jeanette
About Me
- Mom26children
- I am the proud mother of 6 children. 5 of our children have autism. We do not feel our world has ended, but just begun. We do not chelate, intervene biochemically, give shots of any kind, practice ABA, etc. We treat them as we treat any humanbeing. We treat them with kindness and respect and expect the same from them. They are exceptional children.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
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13 comments:
That's a very sweet story.
It's always hard to lose someone around the holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Joe
Can I ask you a question.
I am dyslexic and so it hard to derive phonetics from letters.
So how do you pronounce Caitlin? Its Celtic I can see, but I know someone whose name is spelt Mhairi, but it is pronounced Vahry that being the mutation of the initial consonant, and most confusing it is. Gaelic (pronounced to rhyme with Garlic)
And this comes from a guy with too many L's and R's in his name to twist his tongue over, believe it or not I cannot always be relied upon to pronounce my own name and people have asked me to spell it over the phone.
Hi,
Caitlin is pronounced..Katelin....
Very Gaelic.
Jeanette
Hello,
I don't really have a comment regarding this entry. I've seen you on a message board or two before and from the way you describe yourself, it's obvious you are a very awesome mom.
I deal with autism myself (I happen to be autistic). I was wondering if I could link you from my blog.
Hello Beau,
I would be honored to be linked from your blog.
I don't know about being a very awesome Mom, but being the mother of my children is something that I am honored to do.
Thanks,
Jeanette
Yes a lovely story!
Merry christmas.
How exactly can she be considered "severly autistic" when she is conversing like this? Please.....you clearly don't understand severe autism. And don't ramble on about how you are an expert because you have five children on the spectrum...it's getting harder to believe.
Anonymous,
Caitlin has a vocabulary that puts alot of people to shame. She also has a high IQ. She also requires full-time attendant care at school and at home.
Caitlin is AUTISTIC.....not STUPID.
Caitlin was diagnosed severely autistic at the ate of 2 1/2. Her diagnosis has not changed.
NONE of my children have ever had a head-banging, self-abusive, biting episode. That is not what defines autism in our home.
Caitlin speaks in a high-pitched tone. She also hums and stims throughout the day. She is doing things now, at 17, that amaze everyone.
Please keep your ANONYMOUS cowardly remarks to yourself if you cannot be man/woman enough to question me directly.....
I KNOW autism....maybe it is you who doesn't.
Have a Blessed Christmas.
Jeanette
Jeanette,
Severely autistic people have IQ's of zero. They can't read, write or speak to take the test. Your kid may have severe Asperger's or severe PDD/NOS but she is not in the same class as severely autistic people.
John Best....
You are INCORRECT...
With much hard work, Caitlin is better...still severe...but better.
Jeanette
John, there has never been a documented case of ANYONE with a zero IQ.
Besides, IQ doesn't mean JACK when it comes to autism diagnosis these days.
There are those lower on the spectrum that beat me in intelligence. One of them died a long time ago. His name was Albert Einstein.
Maybe she should see better Neuro psychologists and Neurologists if no one has changed her diagnosis. Or does someone want her to keep the "severe" label?
Dear Anonym-ASS,
I do not understand how you can "diagnose" a child you have never met. Caitlin is what she is...I did not make her label up.
If you have an issue with what she is labeled, I am sorry.
Caitlin is smart, beautiful, funny and autistic.
She has been seen by some of the best neurologist in the world....all with the same diagnosis.
If it makes you feel better to challenge me, than you have picked the wrong person...I will not argue with someone who is so unsure of oneself that they must cower to ANONYMOUS....
Reread your DSM-IV manual...maybe you will learn something about autism....
Jeanette
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