THE FACE OF 8.....

Our oldest son turns 8 today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICK....

Patrick has come so far in his 8 young years. At the age of 18 months, he was

diagnosed with Autism. By the time he was 6 years old, he was indistinguishable

from his peers.

No, we did not use any magic "potions"

Patrick was born 2 days past his due date...he was induced because he was getting

so big. He was 9 lbs 4 oz. at birth.

I was so proud to give birth to my first born son.

As he started reaching his milestones, I noticed that there were things he could not

do. He cried alot, from birth. He played with objects, not toys.

Being that Patrick was our 5th born and we had already had 2 other children

diagnosed with Autism, we felt we were on the "road to Autism" yet again.

I was already pregnant with Kiernan by this time...

We immediately brought in an Early Intervention team of Physical, Occupational, Play and Speech Therapists. So, from the young age of 12 months to 3 years...school age....Patrick

had intensive therapies. He was seen daily by these wonderful therapists. 4 hours each

day.

By the time Patrick was 2, I enrolled him in the local churches Mom's Day Out..He attended

with an aide. Patrick needed the peer interactions and was thriving around kids his own age.

At 3 years old, he began the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities at our local

elementary school. Since then, Patrick has become inundated with the finest teacher's at

that school.

He has been loved and nurtured. He has been treated as an equal, if not as a role model.

You see, this young man has never, ever had any behavioral problems at school. He is the

epitamy of what a "good" student should be.

His teacher now is Mrs. Mary Hutka....she adores him and we adore her.

Mary Hutka is what every teacher should be...attentive, loving, and firm

when these little buggers need it.

Patrick is one of her "star" students....never a card change....NEVER.

Little Patrick was once labeled "the worse case of Autism they have ever seen" to

being the "indistinguishable from his peers".

If you are around Patrick for a small amount of time, you will begin to notice

some of his "autistic" tendencies.....his inability to tolerate anything wet and cold

on him..that is a problem with fingerpainting.

His shower issues...not water on his head...that is a problem with hairwashing.

The way he says his s, sh, th, f and p sounds....he is doing great in speech, but has

a long way to go.

Patrick DOES NOT have the Autism label at school. He never needed the label.

He does have the label with the neurologist, pediatricians and outside therapies.

At school, Patrick is just another student.....

At home, he is the best son a mother and father could ask for.

WE love you Patrick and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....