Autism: One Mother’s Story

January is speeding by faster than a speeding bullet and Less of Me Month is on a roll. Readers have been so generous to share their stories about how they focus on others in order to think “less of me.”  Today’s story is from the mom of four boys (I can relate!).  If you know someone who has a child with autism I encourage you not only to read her story, but to also visit her blog.  She’s a hard working mom who sincerely wants to help others by sharing information about autism. Thank you, Tiffani and may the good Lord bless you and keep you in His care!  Teresa

By Tiffani Lawton, RN

www.OURJourneyTHRUAutism.com

In August, 2008, my son was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  I shared the story behind his diagnosis http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1102040/the_diagnosis.html?cat=5 to connect with others out there in the same boat.

I started a blog called Eamon’s Journey Thru Autism.  It was originally started to chronicle our journey and share details with family members who live in another state.  As we began sharing our quest, I connected with more and more families who identified with where I was and who began asking questions about the various therapies we were undergoing.

Soon, we began posting news and current events as it pertained to the autism community all while continuing to chronicle personal trials and tribulations as well as the little successes that kept us going.

We dove in head first and never looked back.  Our lives took on a whole new outlook…our weeks were filled with speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic horseback riding, therapeutic tumbling and many more activities to feed him the sensory diet he desperately needed.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1163341/already_looking_into_fun_therapy.html?cat=5 I am amazed that my 3 other boys never felt abandoned.

To my pleasant surprise, the blog readership grew, subscribers grew, fans on facebook grew and the monthly hits on our site grew immensely.  After a lot of prayer and realization that this blog was less about us and more about others who were hungry for our information, I decided to use the sum of all my God given acquired skills.

I decided that 2010 would be the year that “Eamon’s Journey Thru Autism” became “OUR Journey THRU Autism”.  The “OUR” for all the families and all the providers who work with these families.  The “THRU” part is to inspire those families that they can indeed get to the other side of the diagnosis with hard work and perseverance.

In November, 2009, my son lost the autism diagnosis.  Sure, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we have renewed hope for him and it is our mission to share that hope and instill it in the hearts and souls of families out there.

I reached out to the world wide autism community and asked professionals to join us as expert bloggers to share resourceful useable tools and tips to the families.  The interest has been amazing, we are really blessed by some amazingly generous professionals.  Our goal is to have a professional from every discipline share their expertise with our readers.

Our plan later in the year is to roll out easy to access and affordable teleclasses that will not only educate the families, but also offer continuing education to the professionals.

I have always believed that it is never about me, but about what my higher power’s plans are for me.  I am energized by working the gifts I have been given for the greater good.  I am a registered nurse and have worked in a variety of settings over the last 15 years.  I think it is just natural that I think about others and how I can help them.  Everything I have learned through my experiences is learned for a purpose and that purpose is not to live in a vacuum.  Is that not what we are all here to do?