It’s Just a Bracelet
I purchased my son Rory a medical bracelet.
When the lady asked what I wanted to write on it I paused.
‘How many words can I put on it?’
And she said, ‘why, what do you want to put on it?’
I thought for a minute…
Should my son ever wonder off,
Should he ever get lost in a park,
Or if we had an accident…
What would I need people to know quickly to keep him safe?
I have autism.
I cannot talk.
I may refuse help.
I may lash out because I’m scared.
I need my mum.
I’m non verbal.
I need my book to talk to you
Should I list…
My mum’s details.
My dad’s details.
My nan.
My pop.
My school.
My aunts.
I thought, how do I fit that all on a 3cm bracelet ?
“He is non verbal with autism,” I said to her.
“Ok, so let’s put….nonverbal autistic.”
He is an autistic person.
“Cool my nephew is the same,” she said.
Obviously, because I am a highly emotional person I wanted to cry that she knew about autism.
On the other side of the bracelet we put his name and phone number.
I waited for her to engrave the bracelet.
I felt sad that I needed to put a “tag” on my son…another reminder that autism took his voice..
It’s just a bracelet.
Pull yourself together mumma..
She gave me the bracelet.
I could only put a few words on there to explain my son in an emergency situation.
But just know, if you ever have to read my son’s bracelet or another person’s bracelet…
Underneath the word autism,
Is also the word,
Perfection.
Written by, Lucy Watts
You can follow Lucy on her Facebook page at Lucy Watts – Life & Autism.
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