Everything I Prayed For

I’ve been called negative. Depressing. Dark. I’ve been accused of not loving my child. Of being weak. Of being a bad mom.

All for saying severe autism is hard. And scary at times. I’ve spoke up. Spoke out. And refused to give up.

And I’m here to say it’s paying off.

This kid. This amazing, funny, smart, kid. He’s thriving people.

Anti-anxiety medication and an amazing ABA team have helped him more than I can even put into words. But I’ll try. Because that’s what I do.

He’s so happy. He has a light in his eyes I’ve never seen before.

He’s leaving the house. He’s sitting. Walking safely.

Our doors are unlocked. Curtains are open. Bathtubs are empty.

He’s sleeping through the night. His behaviors are way down. Zero aggression at home.

He’s laughing. Acknowledging his brothers. Communicating. Saying mom. Making new sounds. Asking to go places.

For so many years it was hard. Unbearably hard. I am a big enough person to admit that autism and anxiety controlled everything in our lives. Jamie and I just held on.

Not anymore. This is everything I prayed for.

It was never to cure autism. Or to change who Cooper was.

I prayed for him to be happy. Healthy. Calm. Engaged in the world. And to be part of our family. It’s happening. And I’m afraid to jinx it by talking about it. But I’m doing it anyways. Because I want to give you hope.

Don’t give up friends. Not ever. Find the right therapies. And don’t be afraid of meds. I was. And I was wrong. They gave Cooper a chance at life.

For more information about our journey with medication, please click HERE.

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Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.