World of Autism

Dear Lucas,

I know you probably won’t ever read this.  But I still needed to write it, because today you turned eighteen, and that means that you’re a “man” now.

My, how far we’ve traveled since the day you were born!  You had such problems as an infant, I used to think that if we could just get you through that first year, we’d be okay.

Obviously, I was wrong!  I think that first year was just to toughen us up for life in the world of autism. 

I remember when they first evaluated you for school.  They told us that your happy demeanor meant that people would always want to work with you, and they were right.  Throughout your life, you have charmed teachers and others with that happy way about you.

You were so afraid of the world around you, a world filled with ugly noises, bright light and strange movement, none of which you understood. 

At school, when things got too overwhelming for you, you crawled into a box and hid from the world.  From the very beginning, you had to work harder than anyone I’ve ever known just to get through each day.

 And now, after 18 years, just look at you!  You’re able to make your way through most days without hurting yourself or others, because you usually understand what’s expected of you.

You share things with your Dad and I, from something funny you see on TV to what you did in Gym class at school.

You have a dog who you love and take care of, and who’s teaching you about empathy.

And while you’ll probably always have many things you need help with, you’ve come further than anyone ever dared to hope, and your Dad and I are proud to call you our son, and now our friend.

You are a delightful young man, and I’m so glad that God gave you to us. 

Now, as you go forward into adulthood, I know you’ll continue to surprise us with your abilities, amuse us with your perspective, and bless us with your child-like view of the world and everything in it.  For that, I thank you. 

In spite of the struggles we’ve been through, and the ones that lie ahead (the first being a guardianship hearing and applying for Social Security benefits), I just wanted you to know that I’m very proud of you.  You are my inspiration and one of my heroes.

Happy Birthday, Lucas!

Tags: Daily life by Lauren
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Lucas had his wisdom teeth removed this past Monday.  We’ve spent the week helping him cope with the pain, swelling, stiches, and other things that come with having wisdom teeth removed.

 This episode of Lucas’ life began back in February, when we first began dealing with the idea of autism and oral surgery.  

Poor Lucas was very nervous about having his wisdom teeth removed.  We tried to reassure him that most people have this surgery, and that while it might hurt for a little while afterwards, he got to eat ice cream and pudding all week.

A few days before the surgery, we took him to the hospital for his “pre-surgical” exam.

Everyone there was very nice.  After they examined him and took blood samples, they used a notebook with photographs showing what would happen to him on Monday morning. 

They showed him the mask they would use over his nose and mouth, and let him feel the tube that would be in his hand when he awoke (it was soft and flexible instead of “needle-like”).  They let him see the nightgown he would wear, and told  him that Mom and Dad would be at his side when he woke up. 

So far, so good.

THEN…they explained that when it was time to leave after the surgery, he would be taken down to the car in a wheelchair.  And Lucas freaked out.

It turned out that Lucas was terrified of the idea of riding in that wheelchair.  He attends a school for severely disabled children, and the only people he’s ever seen in wheelchairs never leave those chairs!

Poor Lucas thought that after the surgery, he wouldn’t be able to walk any more because they said he would ride in a wheelchair down to the car! 

Of course, once we understood his fear, we assured him that he wouldn’t need to use the wheelchair once he left the hospital.  The staff helped on the day of surgery, too, telling him very seriously that he could only use the wheelchair to go to the car, and then he was to send it right back to them.

The surgery went fine, and Lucas remembered to ask for the teeth so he could put them under his pillow.  He’s had pain and swelling, and been a little out of sorts this week.  He’s lived on pudding cups and ice cream, and by Thursday was eating egg noodles.  He’s rinsed with salt water and taken his antibiotics.  We figured out by Tuesday afternoon that when he put his head down, he was in pain and needed the pain medication his surgeon prescribed. 

His birthday is tomorrow, and he wants to try pizza for dinner tonight.  I hope he can eat it, because he deserves pizza after this week!

And yes, he left that wheelchair at the hospital!

Tags: Daily life by Lauren
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Lucas, Alan and I spent Saturday in Harrisburg, PA.  LucasWorks was invited by the Autism Society of Harrisburg to attend an Autism Walk/Run, and we had so much fun there last year we couldn’t wait to go back! 

We had to get up at 4 a.m., because it’s about a 3 hour drive to Harrisburg and we needed to be there around 8 o’clock to set up our table.  We got to City Island in Harrisburg by 8, and were ready for action when the first runners showed up at 9.

Lucas, of course, was starving by the time we got ourselves set up.  Luckily, they a bagel and coffee for him!

He perked right up once he ate that bagel.

About a thousand people came Saturday, some to run and some to walk.  There were dogs, including Lucas’ dog, Dixie, and plenty of kids. 

Dixie REALLY wanted some of Lucas’ bagel…of course she got some!

Having Dixie there gave Lucas a nice distraction if things became too busy at our table, or if he just needed to take a break.

Alan and Lucas would take Dixie on a walk around the beautiful park that is City Island, seeing the sights and stretching their legs.

I love telling people about LucasWorks, and about our Autism Awareness Bracelet and other products.  We’ve met some really wonderful people at these events, like this family who shared their own amazing story with us. 

It’s so great to get together with people who ALL understand what we’re up against.  Needless to say, we had a terrific time!

Lucas managed to stay awake (just barely) until it was time to pack up and head home.
 The day was well worth the effort, and I hope we can go again next year!

Now it’s time to focus on Lucas’ wisdom teeth removal next week.  In the words of Peter Pan, “that will be a Very Great Adventure.”  Stay tuned…

Tags: Daily life by Lauren
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WOW, have we been busy!!  The time has really flown by since Easter, and now here we are in April already.

Lucas was home for Easter vacation the last week in March.  He enjoyed sleeping past 6 a.m., and had a great time with his dog, Dixie.

Lucas really loves Dixie, and during the week he was home, Dixie started begging for food!

It’s possible of course, that Dixie learned this trick from her previous owners.  We did get her from the SPCA, and she was between one and two years old when we got her.  But she never did it at our house until Lucas was home for Easter vacation. 

Now, every time Lucas sits down, Dixie sits up and looks at him hopefully with her big, brown eyes.

The problem is, Lucas doesn’t know the difference between giving Dixie a little piece of tortilla chip, and giving her a little piece of spaghetti!  So we’re working on teaching him what’s okay to throw to his dog (dry, hard food), and what’s NOT okay to throw (moist, soft food LIKE SPAGHETTI!)

One step forward and one step back is a way of life with Lucas. But we’ll take it, because those steps forward are so wonderful!

Tags: Daily life by Lauren
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