September 26 – Dawn helped clarify a paragraph that was not accurate. See it in the amended text below.
When I encountered a daunting challenge as a child, and I went to my parents for help or guidance, they had a standard response. Mom or dad, or sometimes both, would say “that is as easy as falling off a log.” Then they encouraged me to put forth the effort to overcome the challenge. They did not deal with the challenge for me or advocate for giving up.
As an adult I realize that saying was an exaggerated oversimplification. But as child, I was not facing life altering or debilitating outcomes. Their approach built a can do attitude and developed determination and perseverance into my tool box for navigating through the ups and downs of life.
Flash forward from childhood to 1989. I am a newlywed and my wife is pregnant with our son. We went from a blind date to marriage in thirteen weeks and to expecting our first child and moving from North Carolina to Illinois before our first wedding anniversary.
The paragraph in bold italics below was recounted inaccurately. The accurate version is that the Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) results were abnormally low. Low levels can indicate many problems but are only an indicator, not an accurate predictor. That is why the amniocentesis was done. It came back normal and that indicated all was well. But it was not.
On top of that were indications that the pregnancy was not proceeding normally. An amniocentesis right before we moved identified genetic abnormalities. The specific abnormality was unlike any previously detected abnormality so the physicians could not predict how they would manifest in our son.
The fear was paralyzing. With all the changes and challenges going on it was difficult to quash the fear and find hope day to day. One of the things that helped me through the pregnancy and his birth and raising an autistic child is remembering my parents reassure me that this is as easy as falling off a log.
I know it is not easy as falling off a log. But at critical moments their voices, speaking these words of encouragement, were audible and real.
If you are the mother and father of a child with autism, or any other special need. we are with you. We are here to encourage you. You matter to us and to our Creator. God bless you.