tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10448028266365535382024-03-13T20:40:33.325+02:00Gabriel's AngelsGabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-14855548037993141672023-06-16T13:15:00.001+02:002023-06-16T13:19:11.072+02:00To Our World<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I swear, it feels as if I just looked away for a second. And here we are.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13 years old.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From a baby to a teenager; how you have grown.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your journey through this life has not been an easy one for you. Your path, littered with stones. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope you know that when you fumble and fall over them, we will always be there to wrap our love around you. To encourage you to get up, to try again, to never give up. To believe in yourself.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't know how you see the world. I can imagine. I have flashes of it when I try to enter yours, but I do not, truly, know. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I do know is that, you changed <i>our</i> world. Your life has shown us what matters most. What to fight for. What to reach for. What to breathe for.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And we try to do this by following your compass. Not ours. We tried in the beginning to have you follow ours, and for that, we are truly sorry. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is a Christmas school play from your very first preschool that I have only ever watched once. I can never watch it again, because it is too painful to witness how overwhelmed you were, rocking yourself in order to try and tolerate our world. We didn't have the knowledge back then about your world, but we do now. And that is why we, constantly, try to do better.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13 years old today.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You have come so far in those 13 years. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From not saying a word, to constantly learning, reading and practicing what you hear in YouTube videos. Over and over until you have the pronunciation perfected. And then using those phrases, in the correct context, in response to us. And we love it. The sheer innovation of it! <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To not leaving the house without headphones, to now going for walks, without them, of your own volition. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To being so traumatised by loud sound, to now, almost relishing in it. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is truly beautiful to witness your confidence growing and how your personality has developed. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You should be so incredibly proud of yourself! For never giving up. For how far you have come. For how much, no matter how big or small, you have accomplished. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Birthday, our world!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We love you to infinity and beyond. Always and forever. 💓 <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6aTvMnmVYeiT3hmbDoQTofJFCcrgXAsSY0NLiO_NpGuD2v2209ceG5ZYnhSgl0RzMqkctbqK1EOwB94AQwGRvaGsD4GCBzBTowYCjFreoc7amsajqLtBLL1ZDRDPzQ-yS9CRuIvbqcc_78LbnNLQRjNekGdVp3PRvTVNeh_FNjuoKQvmH_5usmRyDg/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-16%20at%2013.12.58.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6aTvMnmVYeiT3hmbDoQTofJFCcrgXAsSY0NLiO_NpGuD2v2209ceG5ZYnhSgl0RzMqkctbqK1EOwB94AQwGRvaGsD4GCBzBTowYCjFreoc7amsajqLtBLL1ZDRDPzQ-yS9CRuIvbqcc_78LbnNLQRjNekGdVp3PRvTVNeh_FNjuoKQvmH_5usmRyDg/w228-h405/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-06-16%20at%2013.12.58.jpeg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-74374884133655115002021-10-09T17:49:00.002+02:002021-10-09T17:51:55.982+02:00To Breathe Again<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been over 2 years since I have, personally, posted.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, I have been holding my breath. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Things have been going well for Gabriel and I, strangely enough, didn't want to jinx it by writing too soon about it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But then something happens that jars you out of that bubble to remind you that autism can outlast your breath-holding. It comes along like a vice that paints itself around your neck and squeezes really hard, reminding you of its reality.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Load shedding (should actually be called rolling blackouts, but hey, that's a whole other post) hit our home this afternoon. Gabriel hates load shedding - more than I do. We have two inverters in our house to try and keep Gabriel's environment as constant as possible. They just don't cover the big, overhead lights. It doesn't matter whether it happens during the day and that we don't need the lights, or if we prepare him or not, we never know how he will react. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When that inverter fan kicks in, sheer panic unravels on his face. Anxiety takes over</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, because there is a change in his environment and he cannot predict what will happen. Reassurance does not work. Showing him that the power will be back on at X time, merely ignites a verbal loop of repeating this time. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then the head banging begins. Against the wall. Fucking hard.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So what did you spend the last 2 hours doing during load shedding? Reading? Board games? Maybe you took a nap?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spent it trying to protect Gabriel from himself.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the first hour, I was, honestly, expecting the doorbell to ring and for me to see two, sturdy, policeman at the door. He screams and yells so loudly, it must sound, to the outside world, that he is being slaughtered.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is terrifying. It is heartbreaking. It makes my soul bleed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After 11 years I can still say that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can only imagine what it is like for Gabriel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't write this for sympathy. I don't write this to embarrass our angel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I write this because so many families who have angels with classic autism, don't write about this. For fear of being judged, for fear of being stigmatised.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gabriel is doing so well in so many areas. He is excelling at speech, using the scripting method (repeating dialogue from videos) and then uses them in the correct context of the situation. He has an incredible photographic memory and an, almost, supernatural eye for detail. He does well with addition and subtraction, but battles to do both in one lesson. It has to be one or the other, as the transition is too hard. He is showing independence and confidence which makes my heart burst with pride and happiness. He is so brave and he tries so, incredibly, hard.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I worry.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worry about his future. I worry about what will happen to him when GDad and I are gone one day.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just want to be able to breathe again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I want Gabriel to be able to breathe.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, until then, we will never, ever, give up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuY4W6wmtc8/YWG3-_wFuvI/AAAAAAAAAbU/_W1L_D67S70GnHIg5mMKJEY5hrSo0HCywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-10-09%2Bat%2B17.39.15.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="535" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuY4W6wmtc8/YWG3-_wFuvI/AAAAAAAAAbU/_W1L_D67S70GnHIg5mMKJEY5hrSo0HCywCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h460/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-10-09%2Bat%2B17.39.15.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-9134000771016837922021-01-11T10:30:00.008+02:002021-01-11T18:15:10.187+02:00Reframing Severe Autism<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>Well hey, everyone!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>So I know it's been a minute (ok, several) since I last blogged. Life has been busy, but, to be honest, I just haven't felt inspired to blog until now.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>I promise to do another post in the upcoming weeks detailing Gabriel's progress, but today I wanted to share an exceptional video posted by a 'non-verbal' autistic teen, who reminds me so much of Gabriel. He communicates via a device and shares a wonderful insight into the mind of so many we misjudge from what we see on the outside. <br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>Please watch and share the following short clip:</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/CtK9paFGUjc"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://youtu.be/CtK9paFGUjc</span></a></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="427" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CtK9paFGUjc" width="513" youtube-src-id="CtK9paFGUjc"></iframe></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span><br /><p></p>Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-60199192750393395502019-04-02T09:38:00.002+02:002019-04-02T09:54:42.595+02:00Today Is An Important Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It's that time of year again. That time where we have a special day allocated to talk about autism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gabriel will be 9 years old in June and every year, we continue to learn. Learn about our son, about society, about kindness, about judge-mentality, about autism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could quote statistics, like how the CDC in America announced last year that the autism rate in the USA is now 1 in 59. Why does this number keep getting closer and closer each year? Some in the medical community believe it is because diagnostic tools and training have improved, so diagnosing an autistic child is easier to do. Others believe it is because autism is becoming more prevalent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, after many years of researching, reading studies, watching web seminars with certain institutes that I am registered with, I have a theory as to what causes most cases of autism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We live in a very toxic, modern, world now. Inevitably, this is going to take a toll on our genetic material. We procreate and this damaged material is passed down, generation, after generation. Each generation being exposed to this toxic environment, as well. This is going to result in genetic mutations and inflammation occurring. These could cause DNA deletions, duplications, and/or molecular changes. The severity and degree to which these mutations occur, determine the severity of autism, because this determines molecular and chemical functioning - basically, how our cells and neural pathways work with each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Insert Disclaimer : Now, I am no qualified scientist, this is just my personal, formulated theory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what do we do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We need to simplify life. Dramatically reduce the toxins in this world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I don't see this happening for a very long time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An alternative is genetic engineering to repair/replace damaged DNA. We are, however, a long way away from this too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So for now, we try different methods to help our children cope in this world. Whether that means dietary changes, medicinal implementations, behavioural support, to name a few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we try and not feed our self-anointed guilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we hope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we love our children, appreciate them and value them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we enter their world to connect, to try and see the world through <i>their</i> eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because our angels deserve to be in this world just as much as <b>anyone</b> else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So on this day, and every other day, I ask that you please spread awareness, acceptance, compassion and love about a little something called autism.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-90960844435462680762018-10-03T11:08:00.001+02:002018-10-03T11:11:04.044+02:00To Parent An Autistic Child<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yup, it's true. Ask any parent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You are responsible for a little life, for nurturing it, guiding it, teaching it, loving it, defending it, nursing it, you name it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have had glimpses of what it is like to raise a neurotypical child. Glimpses with friends and family members who have little angels of their own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To parent an autistic child shares many common similarities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then there are many uncommon similarities - only those that can really be shared with many other autistic families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments of having to forcefully hold your autistic child so that you can cut his toenails while he screams, "no, no, help me!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments when you are so proud he is using those words in the right context even in such a traumatic situation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments when you have had to repeat back to your child, "shooting Tom", for the 700th time in an hour, or he becomes upset and bangs his head against the wall, in frustration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments when your stomach is in a knot because you hear his vocalising changing into aggressive grunts and you don't know what will happen next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments when a neighbour asks how your son is doing and expresses their worry that he isn't getting enough social interaction, making you feel like the shittiest parent and making you question yourself if you are <i>really</i> doing enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those incredible moments when another neighbour rings your doorbell, inviting your son to sit on his motorbike as he knows your son loves it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those moments when he is jumping and flapping and shrieking with excitement in a store checkout line, and the person in front of you is staring at him, and I have to control myself not to snap at them, reminding myself that I am not a mind reader. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those gut wrenching, soul destroying moments when he is crying and staring at you, mouth open, desperately trying to get the words out to explain what is wrong, only to say, "talking open". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those heart-exploding moments when he runs up to you and says "I love you" out of the blue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those endorphin-drowning moments of hearing him lying in the bath, giggling and you start to giggle too. And then you both giggle, insanely, at each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those blissful moments when he sits you down and shuffles through a list of movies on Netflix on the remote, with surgeon precision, to show you what he found and watched today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those wordless moments when he flops down onto my lap and cuddles up against me, just because.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those melting moments when he calls me, "Mommy, open".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those proud moments when he opens the car door, gets in and hooks the seat belt over himself, locking it in - all by himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All I know is, like most parents, whether of neurotypical children or autistic children, we are just trying our best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We will fail at times and w</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e will succeed at times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But most importantly, we will love and learn together.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-59157661308317190882018-06-16T23:12:00.001+02:002018-06-16T23:12:32.463+02:00Happy 8th Birthday!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our dearest Gabriel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8 years old today! I can't believe it. It feels like just the other day, I held you in my arms and wondered what I ever did to deserve you. You were a miracle baby, but I will tell you all about that one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today we celebrate your life. We celebrate what an amazing son, soul and teacher you are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You have taught me so much. Really. You have taught me how to have more compassion and love for others, regardless of how they present their struggles. You have taught me patience. Patience with others but mostly, with myself. You have taught me tolerance. Tolerance so that I don't judge another so readily. Every person is fighting some personal battle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see so much more about the world that I never saw before. How much fun can be had in the smallest experiences. How language doesn't have to be verbal or predictable. How to be more observant of my surroundings. How to appreciate everything. And how not to care what others think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My birthday wish is for you to feel you can be free to be you. Don't stop telling everyone the different countries in the world at the top of your voice. Or shouting "shooting Tom" because you love how I squeel back, "no shooting Tom, nooooo!" (he knows I hate shooting video games) and you giggle. Don't ever let anyone else tell you how you should be or how you should feel or who you should be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And my birthday gift to you is what I give every year and will give every year: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">LOVE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want you to always know, no matter what happens in this life, that LOVE is truly the greatest gift. I want you to feel the purest, unconditional, deepest love imaginable. Because, my angel, we love you. I mean, we REALLY love you. More than I ever imagined one could possibly love another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No matter the challenges we face together, I want you to know we are so thankful that you came to us. That you entrusted us to be your parents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So on this day we celebrate your 8th year in this amazing life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Birthday, our angel, Gabriel!</span><br />
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-16811508961187136672018-05-10T20:49:00.000+02:002018-05-10T20:49:30.730+02:00Tonight<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I sit, writing this, exhausted and defeated, after a really hard day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wave you closer, to show you another little glimpse into our world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I tell you about how hard autism can be - for everybody.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder why my child has to smash his head into the wall so many times; hit his head with his hands (a new tic), lash out, thrash his poor body around, as if trying to escape himself?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I hope this is all because of a new anti-anxiety medication we started him on recently and now stopping?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder why he has to suffer so? Why he hates it when anyone in our house speaks? Why, when he hears a sound out of the ordinary, he pauses, holds his breath and starts to make sounds with his throat to try and override the invading torment?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder - why him?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder why God doesn't answer my prayers to release that anxiety monster that has him firmly by the throat?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder if there is a God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder why everything we have tried and are trying, doesn't seem to help him?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I ask what I can do to help him now?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I wonder why our love isn't enough to shield his heart and soul?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight my heart bursts with the immense amount of love that I have for our angel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I remember to never, ever give up. To hold onto hope - always.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I hope for a better tomorrow - for our very precious son.</span><br />
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-46410191169026420782018-03-15T11:50:00.000+02:002018-03-15T14:14:27.995+02:00A Boy And His Dog<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the 24th April 2017, we received a wonderful new addition to our family, compliments of the SA Guide Dogs Association.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me introduce you all to Zeke:</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6SCDVy17Bk/Wqo6a7J7U1I/AAAAAAAAARs/32mGEHHTraEPJGMWtju6Eh00x5R4h8a4QCLcBGAs/s1600/Zeke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6SCDVy17Bk/Wqo6a7J7U1I/AAAAAAAAARs/32mGEHHTraEPJGMWtju6Eh00x5R4h8a4QCLcBGAs/s320/Zeke.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A yellow, male labrador, 18 months old at the time, that walked in through our front door and straight into our hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm sure many of you have seen a story or two about how a non-verbal autistic child was given a dog and it dramatically changed their lives. Their child suddenly started talking, hugging their dog, never leaving their side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The problem with these stories, as wonderful as they are, is that it doesn't happen often. The reality of it is, like any relationship, it takes time to bond and form trust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When Zeke arrived, Gabriel was very excited. He flapped his arms so much (stimming) I thought he was going to levitate! He shrieked and smiled so we knew he was excited. Now, bear in mind, Gabriel is VERY tactile resistant. There are alot of textures he cringes at touching, feeling or even eating. Water is the biggest foe. If he messes even a drop of water on his clothing, it has to come off immediately. When it is time to wash hands, Gabriel hovers his hands in the basin, anywhere but by the water. Although, he does love his baths and adores swimming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so, Gabriel discovered Zeke's wet nose. Oh, and his big licks. On the face, on the legs, arms, anywhere Zeke can lick, he will. In the beginning, when Zeke would touch his wet, goofy nose on Gabriel's leg, he would bolt forward, like he had just been shocked! Now, thankfully, he just moves slightly and mumbles at Zeke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But we have seen a difference. Gabriel loves touching Zeke's fur. He will often walk past him, stroking his back, and sliding his tail, ever so gently, through his hands. And Zeke is AMAZING with Gabriel. He is exceptionally patient with him and has the most gentle soul I have ever encountered. Sometimes when Zeke runs around the garden like he has just been inflicted with Mad Cow's Disease, Gabriel giggles like a teenage girl meeting Justin Bieber for the first time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Zeke, like most labs, loves to chew. May I present Exhibit A:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And his tail is like a propeller on speed. There is an adorable sticker that sums it up perfectly:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gabriel shows us, in very unique ways, that he adores Zeke. One morning, Zeke was blocking our bedroom doorway, and G-Dad was running late for work. He raised his voice to Zeke and the next minute, Gabriel ran out of his bedroom and promptly smacked G-Dad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have no doubt that Zeke is making a huge difference in Gabriel's life, but most of all, he is a companion for our son. Plus, we all love him to death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we can never, ever imagine our lives without him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-90835389505805565342018-01-16T13:23:00.000+02:002018-01-18T09:27:47.918+02:00Starting The New Year With A Bang<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life has been a little hectic and eventful lately, hence my lack of blogging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I thought I would finally discipline myself enough to update you all on how Gabriel is doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Firstly, Gabriel received a new friend earlier last year -a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n amazing and adorable yellow labrador, called Zeke, from the SA Guide Dogs Association. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will write more about him in my next blog posting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gabriel is doing remarkably well, developmentally. He has had a very keen interest in aircrafts for a while now, and loves learning the names of all the various military planes and civilian planes (thanks Youtube!). We use this to our advantage - we are using his interest to teach him language and communication, via typing on a device or keyboard. He loves this and beams with pride once he has completed a word. He also repeats the various names, verbally, as best he can and does remarkably well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With growth and knowledge comes another, harder, less spoken about side of classic autism. Intense frustration and Gabriel's injurious behaviour has increased too. And he always takes it out on his own head. Gabriel will alternate between hitting his head hard with his palms or smashing the back of his head against a wall. We have to restrain him, by pulling him away from the wall (who knew a 7 year old could be so unbelievably strong!) or letting him ride out his meltdown on our bed; a big, safe space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, we received a frantic phone call at work. All that could be made out was, "Gabriel ran into the wall with his head". He was screaming in the background and we rushed home immediately. When I got out the car, and I approached the front door, I was greeted with this sight :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is our front door. Gabriel had had a meltdown, ran towards it and, in the blink of an eye, smashed the back of his head so hard through the blinds, that the glass shattered. We ran inside to find our son, calmly playing on his ipad. Upon inspecting him, he only had a tiny, superficial cut on his head and some scratches on his neck - of which the skin was unbroken! His guardian angels were definately working hard by his side! The one advantage is that Gabriel got such a fright, he hasn't attempted this anywhere where there is glass, again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have invested in a padded helmet, to try and protect his head during a meltdown - this is only worn when he starts to bang his head:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are terrified he is going to develop epilepsy as a result of this, so we are trying everything to prevent this from happening. Communication is key but this takes time and many 7 year olds battle to self-regulate their emotions when upset. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes we do feel like we are swimming upstream, battling some invisible force, trying not to be overcome with fear of what the future holds. But no matter how we might feel, we always try to imagine how Gabriel feels - how hard this world can be for him and how immensely frustrating it must be to battle to speak, to be understood, to have a body that doesn't do what you always want it to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But most of all - we believe in Gabriel 100%, no matter what happens. We love him unconditionally, deeply and madly! And we will never, ever, give up on him.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-75265103202816431832017-08-02T11:26:00.002+02:002017-08-02T11:26:28.087+02:00My Child Has Been Diagnosed As Autistic - Now What?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well hi there </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">😊</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by. So, your child or someone you know has been diagnosed as Autistic and you don't know where to turn or what to do? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you feel lost, sad, depressed, maybe overwhelmed?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me say this first : believe it or not, <i><b>everything is going to be ok.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, breathe. Nice and deeply. Let that stress of the unknown float away and carry on reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want you to know that you have done nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with your child. I know you might not believe that now, but trust me, s/he is unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, the next extremely important point I am going to make is this : <b><i>your perspective is going to make all the difference.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, it is sad when you first receive that daunting diagnosis. You will grieve. That's what you need to do. You expected life to be one way and now it will be quite a bit different. <u>But it's not the end of the world</u>. Yes, there will be challenges. Yes, you will cry. Yes, you will feel hopeless at times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But know this. What you have been given is a beautiful gift. A beautiful gift in the form of a child who is going to teach you what love really means. You will discover how strong you really are. You will <b>become</b> strong. You will learn to see the world in an entirely different way. You will celebrate the smallest accomplishments like you cannot believe! You will all survive this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So where to from here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From our experience with Gabriel, the very first thing you need to do is create a safe, structured, loving environment for your child. Autistic children usually have very high levels of anxiety because the world can be a very loud, bright, confusing place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will need alot of patience, as traditional forms of discipline might not always work. Especially when your child has meltdowns or if they self-harm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How you react to your child's behaviour will play a massive role in how quickly they calm down. I have always found that when Gabriel has a meltdown or if he lashes out at me, I force myself to remain calm inside. I reassure him with hugs that everything is ok, that I am here for him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meltdowns are a necessary part of life for Autistic children. It is how they release stress chemicals that have built up over time. Let them have the meltdown. From what some Autistic adults have told me is that a meltdown is far scarier for the Autistic child then for those witnessing it. They are distressing to see, at first. You will get used to them. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you will notice your child will be calmer after.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And they will improve as your child grows and feels safe with you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visual cards are also extremely helpful for Gabriel. He has a visual board at home where I put up cards for his daily routine, so that he knows what to expect. For e.g. - a photo of his breakfast to show him that he will be having breakfast first. Another card for getting dressed, for brushing teeth. It really makes a big difference to Gabriel's anxiety levels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help your child become confident by allowing him or her to partake in household activities. Don't always do things for him or her. Break the task down into steps (to wash hands : first turn on tap, wet hands, apply soap etc) It will allow them to become confident in themselves. And praise them for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen to your gut. Yes, doctors know alot but you will know more about your autistic child. Trust me on this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember too that no two Autistic children are the same. They might share common core similarities (such as having meltdowns and stimming) but other than that, are completely unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beware of charletons - there are folks who jump on the bandwagon promising the best therapies in the world, many of which are extremely harmful (biochemical treatments). And they will place you in massive debt if you are not careful. Remember, you know your child and what makes him or her happy. If your child is happy it means their anxiety levels are low. If they are low they will learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Always presume competence. Your child might take a while longer to perform a task you have requested. Be patient. They are usually processing your request. Just because they do not react the way you expect, does not mean they do not understand. For e.g. I know of an Autistic child who, when asked to put his shoes on, did not respond. It was finally realised that he had to <b>see</b> where his shoes were first, in order to complete the request.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reach out to an organisation near you. There are many Autistic NPO's per city, that offer counselling, workshops, advice etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And lastly, <b>never ever give up</b>. You don't know what the future holds. With love, patience, perseverance and hope, your child will surprise you in ways you couldn't have ever imagined.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-68614721321388569092017-04-02T11:34:00.000+02:002017-04-02T11:34:03.631+02:00Today Is A Very Important Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 2nd April is World Autism Awareness Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have posted on this day for the last two years and this year is no exception.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because there can never be enough awareness. Many people in the autistic community prefer to call it World Autism Acceptance Day but I, personally, think we are still a long way away from discarding the Awareness word. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently stumbled upon the following, very short, video that really explains it beautifully. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please take 5 minutes out of your day to watch this and share it so that more people can be educated about this neurological difference. Because when there is awareness, amazing things can happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-12908309990802307132017-03-10T11:04:00.002+02:002017-03-10T11:10:12.584+02:00A Miracle Called Gabriel<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gabriel's story began on the 14th August 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why this date and not his birthday?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, that was the day I nearly died.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had developed double pneumonia, without realising it, after injuring my left foot and being, basically, bed ridden. I had put the back pain down to muscular exertion due to the crutches I was using. But the back pain got worse and one morning, I collapsed in the lounge, barely able to move. My phone was in the main bedroom and I had to crawl up the passage to get to it. That crawl was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My beloved Mom had sensed something was wrong and had, repeatedly, tried to phone me. I managed to message her back to get help and she, immediately, phoned G-Dad who contacted an ambulance on his race home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I lay on the bed, barely breathing, unable to move (this is because the blood in the extremities travels to the brain, to protect it). I knew I was dying. I called out to God to help me. And then something incredible happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something 'crashed' through the roof into my room. Something massive and angelic-like. I say 'crashed' because the force at which it appeared felt like an elevator free falling and crashing on the ground floor. This being sat next to me, took my hand and vanished. Fast forward 1 hour and 20 minutes and lying in the emergency room on oxygen, the Physician couldn't believe I was still alive after looking at the CT scan of my lungs. He told G-Dad he was giving me a 50/50 chance of making it through the night - it depended on him choosing the correct antibiotic to help me and how I responded to it. I spent three days in ICU and 4 days in a general ward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the third day I was in hospital, my Mom's beloved cat was rushed to the vet, very ill. His condition? He had water on his lungs! Just like that - out of the blue. On the morning I was discharged from hospital, he passed away. Coincidence?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About a week later, I fell into a deep sleep and had a very vivid dream. I was lying in a hospital room, G-Dad was sitting on my left and my Mom, on my right. A nurse came into the room, holding a baby and told me it was time for her first breast feeding. I woke up with this overwhelming longing to have a baby. It was this indescribable thirst and nothing was quenching it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have suffered from a condition called PCOS since I hit puberty and was told the year prior to my near deathish experience, after a full examination and tests, that I could never have kids. So this dream did nothing to help calm this statement which was etched into the back of my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few weeks after my release from hospital, G-Dad was looking at me and suggested I get a pregnancy test. I laughed at him, telling him it would be a waste. But he was adamant. He said he just had this very strong feeling that I was pregnant. So, I indulged him. I looked at the double lines on that long, white piece of plastic, amazed. I told him it had to be a mistake and that he needed to go out and buy three other tests by different manufacturers. They all came back positive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so, a miracle was born 9 months later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A beautiful, precious, incredible miracle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">G-Dad and I agreed that I would get dibs to his first name. I had always loved the name Gabriel and after my I-was-almost-dead experience and encounter with, what I truly believe was an angelic being that saved my life, I decided what greater way to thank the universe for my miracle than to name him after an angel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only were we entrusted with this precious life, but we were entrusted with a very special, different, precious life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A miracle who teaches so many of us so much about ourselves and about life every single day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But most of all, a miracle who teaches us what love truly is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He is our miracle, Gabriel.</span><br />
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-67617433253302582202017-01-24T10:58:00.000+02:002017-01-24T10:58:18.653+02:00When Is Enough, Enough?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder what it must be like to see the world through Gabriel's eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does he see the world in a sense of order or is it chaos? How loud is everything to him? How does he translate my words when I speak? Does he know how much we love him?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our world is full of hope yet tugged at all sides by doubt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - how will I ever get him to eat something other than the 5 things he will only eat?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - how will I find a way to help him manage his auditory sensitivity?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - how can we teach him to stop hitting and headbanging?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - how can we understand what it is causing him to hit and headbang?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - will he have friends he can play with one day?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - are we ever going to get our guide dog we have been on the waiting list for forever </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for ?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (ok, not quite forever, more like 20 months, but it feels like forever).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - will we ever find a Carer who actually cares about Gabriel?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - are we teaching him correctly?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubt - are we doing enough?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough. When is it enough? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel like I am swimming in an abyss, trying to find the North Star to guide me back home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does every parent battle with this? Battle with the constant nagging of our internal dialogue; are we doing the right thing for our kids? Are we feeding them enough emotionally, intellectually, physically to help them grow into a happy, self-sufficient adult?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder what neurotypical parents have doubts about. The same issues? I would love to hear what they are. Seriously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I had a very vivid dream of Gabriel. He was about 14 years old yet had the wisdom of an old soul. We were standing in an empty room, with no windows or doors. There was a soft lavender light filling the room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked him, filled with anxiety, "what can I do to help you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He looked at me, extremely relaxed and calm and replied, "nothing."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I repeated, "nothing?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes," he said, "I was born this way".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the first time I have dreamed of Gabriel talking. It was a profound dream and I woke up with a sense of clarity and calmness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess we are all doing the best we can in this life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as long as we do it with unconditional love, that should be enough.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-87295883090681867032016-11-21T11:07:00.001+02:002016-11-21T11:09:42.650+02:00A Letter to Gabriel<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My most beloved, Gabriel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I feel moved to write to you, so this blog posting is especially for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You are the bravest, most wonderful, brilliant human being I have ever been blessed to meet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />You have taught me more about myself, about life, than in all my 34 years before you arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This world is very loud and scary at times, yet your hunger to experience life transforms you into a warrior, a champion. This makes your Daddy and I more proud than we can ever find the words to express. Because we know how hard that must be for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I cannot even begin to imagine how you experience and feel about the world but I hope you will be able to tell us one day. Or write or type it. I so badly want to know how you feel about things, how you see things, how you experience things. I want to know what it is you want. For breakfast, to play with, for your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know, though, there are times you are immensely frustrated because we don't always understand. That you try so hard to make your mouth, your body, do what you want it to, only to have it perform differently. When this happens, please, please, don't loose hope. Keep trying. And be very patient. The greatest self-achievements come from the hardest work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />I know you must feel very lonely, at times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know you must feel very sad, at times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know you must feel very angry, at times, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The world isn't fair, my angel. We cannot always control what happens to us or how people treat us. But what we can try to control, is how we react to this. We can choose to react with love. Easier said than done, I know (trust me on this), but try anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Try to be kind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Try to be tolerant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Try to be compassionate, even when there are those around you who aren't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And never forget; there are alot of people who are wonderful and filled with love. And that the world is full of unique, different people. Because being different is what makes life so special. It is how we learn from one another. Different is <i>beautiful</i>. Always remember that. Some people will laugh at your differences - be different anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I need you to know that you are a beacon of light. You radiate love. You <i>are</i> love. And you are loved. Oh, are you loved! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More than the sun, the moon and all the stars in the sky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No matter what.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With all my love, always</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mommy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">xxx</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-17697070973149193112016-10-04T13:09:00.001+02:002016-10-04T13:09:30.371+02:00The Wonderful Mind of Gabriel<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can clearly recall the day we received Gabriel's, official, diagnosis 3 years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">G-Dad and I came out of the doctor's office, gun's blazing, ready to face the world and conquer whatever lay in our son's way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We hired psychologists, therapists, all helping to draw up therapy programs to help Gabriel because the pressure for early intervention is ENORMOUS. We pursued speech and occupational therapy, with gusto. When time passed and not much progress was seen, we changed therapists, had new programs drawn up, all to help our son cope in this world. We changed schools, we sold our kidneys, and and and.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That thing called time is a real pain in the ass. She forces reality to poke you in the side, no matter how much you might knock her down with your sword of courage and determination. You realise after a while, things may not turn out the way you envisioned or had hoped for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then there are these slivers. These tiny, wonderful, surprising slivers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pick and Pay had a promotional event recently whereby you would receive 4 x animal cards per however much you needed to spend. You could purchase an accompanying album, but Gabriel being the ipad addict that he is, showed an interest in the app for it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You would scan the card, the app would pick it up and show you a certain image if it was already scanned or if you were scanning it for the first time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabriel has the most incredible memory I have ever encountered. He would scan a card, once, and if he received duplicates on another day, would look at them (not even scan them) and simply throw them out the lounge window. I would then know those ones had already been scanned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So on one particular day, I saw him continuously scanning the Babushka card, over and over. When I went to see what was going on, I discovered the card had already been scanned. After explaining this to Gabriel, he continued to scan it, over and over. It was only after closely examining the so-called already-scanned card on the app, did I notice what was different :</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbqo_p2JRXE/V_OKrLrhLCI/AAAAAAAAAPI/j15OpewAgcs4QlQTRDPm85e-dvWpnb-lACLcB/s1600/Babushka%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbqo_p2JRXE/V_OKrLrhLCI/AAAAAAAAAPI/j15OpewAgcs4QlQTRDPm85e-dvWpnb-lACLcB/s1600/Babushka%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbqo_p2JRXE/V_OKrLrhLCI/AAAAAAAAAPI/j15OpewAgcs4QlQTRDPm85e-dvWpnb-lACLcB/s320/Babushka%2B2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I explained to Gabriel that the spelling on the app was incorrect, was he satisfied to stop scanning the card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that just gave me a wonderful insight into my son's mind - so articulate and detail orientated. It took me a good minute to spot the mistake! It probably took him 2 seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a great reminder to not assume or presume to know what Gabriel does and does not know, or understand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To never, <i>ever</i>, give up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are now scouting around for a teacher to teach Gabriel to communicate, via typing/pointing. It will give him a voice and a further peak into his wonderful mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we cannot wait!</span><br />
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-5455267299925121912016-07-13T10:09:00.001+02:002016-07-13T10:09:22.350+02:00One Step Forward, Two Steps Back<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 16th June 2016, Gabriel celebrated his 6th birthday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We used to travel back home to celebrate his birthday, but this year we decided to have a very small party for him with a handful of friends. A fabulous friend of mine kindly allowed us to infiltrate her home with cake, party packs and snacks. (By the way, she makes the most DIVINE quiches!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The party was held late afternoon (4pm to 6pm) due to Gabriel's audio sensitivities and the fact he is more comfortable leaving the house at this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was incredibly brave and appeared to really have fun. He managed an entire hour before indicating to me that he was ready to go home, which we respected. He did this by leading me to our car, pointing and saying, "Look". So G-Dad and Gabriel headed home while I stayed a little bit longer, enjoying some adult conversation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will never forget when Gabriel celebrated his 1st birthday, a friend parted some good advice. She told me to enjoy every day with our little angel as time goes by so quickly and before we know it, he will be all grown up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he is growing up. Fast. He is becoming so much more 'aware' of everything. He is repeating words when we say them. He is applying problem solving skills. He is becoming bigger and stronger. At a solid 1.3m tall, Gabriel is often mistaken for an 8 year old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is a price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As each year flutters by and Gabriel advances in cognitive areas, so other areas advance too. His audio sensitivities have increased (we are working on this). And rage has started rearing its ugly head. And with rage comes incredible strength. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a part of classic autism that is often not spoken about due to fear of ones child being stigmatised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What one always needs to remember is that rage outbursts are never malicious. They are caused by immense frustration and anxiety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we are approaching this from two fronts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first is to develop a system to redirect Gabriel's frustration (we are going to work on this with his wonderful psychologist).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, to learn to communicate in a more constructive manner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Communication is key. We are focusing on teaching Gabriel how to read and, eventually, type. It is a very slow process but I keep telling him that words are important. Once he can type his words, he can communicate how he is feeling and what he is thinking. I know he understands this as he works very hard on spelling and word matching. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a shirt that I often wear that says, "Love What You Do, Do What You Love." Gabriel loves this shirt and often says random letters from it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And <i>Love</i> is what matters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continue to envelop our angel with love and we continue to believe in him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because Gabriel IS love.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-90115407299005507202016-04-02T12:21:00.000+02:002016-04-07T14:21:34.480+02:00Why Today Is Such An Important Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, the 2nd April 2016 is :</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnCQdIH4t_c/Vv-SQDrFrgI/AAAAAAAAANU/LMcQtqyplUEUi9DIGk8YkMEJsNstXSL-Q/s1600/WAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnCQdIH4t_c/Vv-SQDrFrgI/AAAAAAAAANU/LMcQtqyplUEUi9DIGk8YkMEJsNstXSL-Q/s1600/WAD.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wasn't actually planning on blogging about this today as, I thought, what can I write about that I haven't already written in the past?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then, I read this <a href="http://www.health24.com/Parenting/Child/Parenting/Shine-a-light-on-autism-on-World-Autism-Awareness-Day-20150318">article</a> this morning. And something went *pop* inside of my head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because articles like that are so damaging, misinformed and give out the wrong message. In today's day and age, where awareness is so much more rife than 10 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or so I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not a doctor or an 'expert'. But I am a mother of a beautiful autistic child, so allow me to state some points to ponder over.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Autism is a Physiological Way of Being</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. I am not sugar coating anything or in denial about anything. I know there are many co-morbid health issues that accompany this physiological way of being. I don't profess to know, 100%, what causes this, just like I do not know if autism starts in the womb or from environmental factors, post-birth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I DO know that articles like I mentioned above, cause desperate, exhausted parents to follow bad advice and try really damaging therapies. Anal bleaching is one. Extreme dieting is another. Torturous forms of ABA, yet another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And what for? To try and squash a unique circle into a square peg? </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8pHH-IBoHE/Vv-XAlETjnI/AAAAAAAAANg/DcgkkfEJE7QosC4le-suGRnu_rS3D3-CA/s1600/DOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8pHH-IBoHE/Vv-XAlETjnI/AAAAAAAAANg/DcgkkfEJE7QosC4le-suGRnu_rS3D3-CA/s320/DOS.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, let me reiterate that I am not saying therapies are not needed for co-morbid conditions. Which many 'neurotypicals' have, by the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But to continue spewing this mentality that autistic individuals need to be changed, cured or recovered, is like saying a blind person isn't as important as a seeing individual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are all different. And there is nothing wrong with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Imagine if we let our children flourish and grow the way <i>they </i>need to grow and experience this life, instead of forcing them to be the way society demands - the possibilites are endless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No, it is not easy, for the parent or autistic individual. But instead of creating false, unnecessary promises, let's embrace a different way of being. And help in a more constructive way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let's encourage our children, through our actions and words, that difference does not mean less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It means an opportunity to develop an open mind and see the world through rainbow coloured glasses. To learn about compassion and acceptance. To learn that each and every one of us matter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And <i>that</i> is the wonderful legacy you can leave behind in this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjdAaxRuXJk/Vv-aijBVoDI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ESeeLLUXjNIcaLxRz4teVDH01EyAHWyUg/s1600/Nanna%2Band%2BGabriel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjdAaxRuXJk/Vv-aijBVoDI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ESeeLLUXjNIcaLxRz4teVDH01EyAHWyUg/s320/Nanna%2Band%2BGabriel.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-88763738235771260452016-03-09T11:27:00.001+02:002016-03-10T15:50:01.990+02:00My Most Important Blog Post Yet!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will never forget February 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">G-Dad and I were standing on the grounds of a certain school in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. This school was for autistic children and it was during the time we were looking at different options for schools for Gabriel (as he was battling at his Montessori school). We were being shown around, looking at the small classes, first. For children who were 'lower' on the spectrum, one-on-one ABA therapy was provided. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were shown to another section of the school. This section had small cubicles. And I mean small. Each cubicle was sealed off with a door, had a small desk inside with the tutor sitting on the one side of it and the student sitting on the other side. It was explained that this was to limit distractions and outside sensory interference. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This particular cubicle had a 15 year old boy sitting in it, staring into space while the tutor desperately tried to get him to look at the colour cards she had layed out on the table. I observed him and noticed something interesting.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was smiling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I immediately sensed that he found this all very comical and exceptionally boring. He just battled to communicate this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After we left this torture of a facility (sorry, but that's how I feel about it) we decided to never enroll Gabriel there. Yet, something lingered with me for a long time, marinating within my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The smiling. The look of amusement on this particular student's face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has been a common belief amongst many individuals (including some professionals) that autistic individuals are not competent. That they need to be trained like dogs, basically, to function in this world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How very wrong those people are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I attended a lecture last year, hosted by several autistic adults. They confirmed my suspicions and said something that <u>everyone</u> should always remember.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Always presume competence.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want you to imagine the following for me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine you have just been to the dentist and received several dental fillings (awful, I know!). Imagine heading to the store to get some ice water to relieve the dry mouth you now have. Now imagine trying to tell the cashier something, as you prepare to pay, only to babble out incoherent vowels accompanied by some drool, running down your chin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now imagine your fingers don't work the way you want them to. You try to enter your pin code on the cashier's machine, to complete payment, only to have your fingers splay out, uncontrollably. And they look at you with a telling look. <i>That</i> look that they think you are incompetent or slow. And they begin to speak to you very slowly, using short, simple words, thinking you will understand them better. Or they ask you if you are listening to them or understand them simply because you are not looking them in the eye while they speak, because you actually find it easier to listen <i>without</i> looking them in the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How would you feel?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Frustrated? Angry? Helpless? Sad? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What about - trapped?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know it would make me want to bang my head. Or throw something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And this notion of 'high vs low' on the spectrum should be discarded. It should be replaced with 'different physical challenges'. Some autistic individuals process information slower, some faster. Some are exceptionally sensitive to sound, whereas some seek out sound. Some autistic individuals speak very eloquently and some babble like new born babies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Does this mean they are intellectually challenged? No. It means we need to have more patience and understanding. Understanding that there are physical challenges and, while bearing those in mind, an individual with a mind intact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong - I know of some individuals, autistic or not, who do suffer from brain damage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But appearances can be very deceiving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rip away that book cover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember that a differently wrapped gift box is just that - different, not less.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ALWAYS PRESUME COMPETENCE.</span></i></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-45596876757547038672016-01-18T20:44:00.000+02:002016-01-18T20:44:59.114+02:00In Loving Memory <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I last posted - almost 3 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a chaotic, stressful and very sad 3 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, Gabriel's long-time nanny up and left us - no explanation. Then it was the daunting process of finding a new carer for Gabriel, which was quite intense (as you can imagine, we cannot hire a regular nanny for our precious angel). I honestly thought I had experienced stress on a whole new level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was until Gabriel's beloved Nanna (my Mom) was diagnosed, in October 2015, with an aggressive, terminal form of thyroid cancer, which had spread to her lungs. So between October until now, we had travelled between my home city and Cape Town, helping as much as possible. She underwent the most aggressive course of radium treatment and remained positive and inspiring, throughout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last two weeks were the toughest. Nanna was rushed to ICU with pneumonia and for a week I watched her suffer. And I prayed and I pleaded and I bargained with the big man in the sky, until Nanna communicated with me that she wanted to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so I let go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 11th January 2016, as I held her hand, Gabriel's Nanna was called to her heavenly home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That afternoon, I told Gabriel why I was so sad and for the rest of the day he was so miserable, so unhappy. On Thursday morning, the morning of the Memorial Service, Gabriel was near impossible to calm down. I decided that he and G-Dad should stay at home as I want him to remember Nanna for the remarkable, happy, generous, loving woman she was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I miss her more than words here could ever explain or convey. I miss our daily phone calls and our weekly Skype sessions. Sometimes the wave of sorrow is all encompassing and I feel that I will drown in it. But then I remember and take comfort in knowing that one day we will be together again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, to end off, I have to share this little fact about my Mom - she </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">had a wonderful talent for writing poetry. The most thoughtful, beautifully written poetry. She would often write a poem about someone for their birthday or any other special occasion. So, in loving memory of my beautiful Mom and Nanna, I wrote the following poem which I read at her memorial :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';"><b>For My Mumsie <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">14<sup>th</sup>
January 2016<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">On the 14<sup>th</sup> of December, 1944<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God sent his best angel to our front
door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">A kind daughter and sister was born<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">With a light so bright;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a Christian, reborn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Into a refined and bright woman she grew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Caring for all, whether old friends or
new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">A devoted, loving, caring mother and
wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Who sacrificed so much so we could live
a good life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Always giving and sharing what little
she had<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Touching so many lives and uplifting the
sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">The Barefoot Contessa of vetkoeks and other
confections<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">And to her grandson, Gabriel, the best
Nanna;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">So, no, not an angel but an </span><b style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Archange</b><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">l was she</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Her selflessness to be remembered for
all eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">And although we are now, sadly, so far apart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Mumsie, you will, forever, be in our
hearts.</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-86171860416416707262015-10-26T10:47:00.002+02:002015-10-26T10:47:52.228+02:00Gabriel's Battle With the Meltdown Monster<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All children have meltdowns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a part of growing up; maturation of the central nervous system. As we get older, so we outgrow the typical meltdown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Autistic kiddies, however, have the added bonus of sensory meltdowns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are these?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, allow me to give you a visual crash course first :</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_23z9yJAq0">Example Of A Sensory Meltdown</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do want to stipulate two elements in this video that I do not approve of :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The full body restraint </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The asking him if he is sorry and to apologise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will explain why, shortly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, let me just explain what a Sensory Meltdown is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am having a chat with Gabriel. I am telling him what our plans are for the day. While doing this, my brain can ignore/filter out the TV playing in the background, the plane flying overhead, the flickering neon lights above me and the rumbling sound of the kettle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gabriel's brain cannot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He takes in all of these sounds, smells, sights etc. all at once. This means his brain needs to process all of this information pretty much immediately. This, in turn, causes stress chemicals to build up in his system due to anxiety. As these chemicals continue to build up, an eruption is inevitable - his body needs to release this build-up in some way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result? A sensory meltdown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many autistic adults have described it as their body taking control of their minds. They are often fully aware of what is going on, but they cannot control what their body is doing. This can include self-injurious behaviour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gabriel will bang his head on the wall or floor, or hit himself on the head. He also tends to thrash out with his legs and lash out at the closest person in his reach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not a pleasant experience for the recipient or viewer, but most of all, it is not a nice experience for Gabriel. Often, after a meltdown, he will utter the words "oh no," and be very teary. This is when we reassure him that we know he cannot help it. That is why I have an issue with point 2 of my Youtube video link. I don't believe it's fair to make the individual feel even more remorseful than they already do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sensory meltdowns can be triggered by a multitude of factors - hunger, tiredness, frustration, pain, sensory overload etc. And imagine being unable to verbally communicate the aforementioned as well? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of the time, Gabriel will make a certain frustrated verbal sound and then we know to spring into action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What action you may ask? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To try and resolve the problem that is leading to the meltdown, which often involves redirecting him to another task. But mostly, to protect Gabriel from hurting himself or anybody else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This takes me back to point number 1 of the Youtube video that I disagree with. Again, many autistic adults have stated that they absolutely hate being restrained. Protect the person from injury while they are in the process of a meltdown, but don't forcefully try and stop it. There is a need and reason that it happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A meltdown can last anywhere from several minutes to several hours. The latter is usually due to pain or illness. It can also happen very seldom or very often each day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The interesting thing here is that Gabriel's mood is so much better after he has had a meltdown (and no longer teary). It's as if his central nervous system has flushed itself of the stress chemical build up and he is feeling relaxed again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a parent, I would have to say that meltdowns are the most challenging part of autism. They are physically and emotionally exhausting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can only imagine what Gabriel experiences and how hard it is for him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The scientific and healing community is still looking into methods to help assist in reducing meltdowns (some horrific and some very helpful).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, we will continue to hope, be patient and make our little angel feel safe and loved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, he is our champion :).</span></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-89481445068806041402015-09-30T14:30:00.001+02:002015-09-30T14:30:51.356+02:00An Angel Called G-Mary Poppins<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who knows which movie that line is from?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ok, here's another clue - she carried a bag made of carpet that was always empty yet always full!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yup, that feel good, sing-along-to, a-bit-cheesy movie - Mary Poppins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember watching that movie as a child and being positively mesmorised by it. Imagine that - a nanny that was magical AND filled all the requirements of the job advertisement written up by the two children!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They asked for a nanny with a cheery disposition, with rosy cheeks who would play games with them. One who was kind, witty, never angry or cruel. A nanny who would bring them sweets and take them on outings. But most importantly, one who would love them as if they were her own son and daughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The day G-Dad and I realised we needed to remove Gabriel from his first school and have him home schooled, was the day the universe posted that very same advert for us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The general belief is that autistic children who need assistance, should have a trained Facilitator. Although that is a lovely idea, it is extremely expensive and for many, simply unaffordable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what do you do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You get creative. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You look for someone who has all of the above qualities, as well as a great heart. Someone who wants to make a difference, who has the patience of a saint and the understanding that you can only manage to pay her what you can and not what she is really worth - which is: priceless!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our cosmic advert was answered in the form of one of the mom's at Gabriel's old school, who was teaching Gabriel how to swim at her home at the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We saw how wonderful she was (and still is!) with our angel and a light bulb exploded over our heads - here stood our very own Mary Poppins!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We approached her regarding our new idea and she happily agreed (thank god)!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To say she is wonderful with Gabriel is a downright lie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She is FANTASTIC with him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The endless patience, hard work and love she shows our angel never goes unnoticed and is valued and appreciated more than we could ever express here in words. She has made such a wonderful difference in Gabriel's life!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you, G-Mary Poppins, for <i>everything!</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are simply <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 24.8889px; text-align: start;">Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0kK6tTfsIY/VgvFuljgSXI/AAAAAAAAAMU/BZly3Pux9qA/s1600/G-Man%2Band%2BG-Mary%2BPoppins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0kK6tTfsIY/VgvFuljgSXI/AAAAAAAAAMU/BZly3Pux9qA/s320/G-Man%2Band%2BG-Mary%2BPoppins.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-9896682434459008882015-08-24T10:55:00.001+02:002015-08-24T11:21:40.161+02:00Gabriel's Anxiety - We Figured Out The Cause<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning we had a breakthrough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who read my last blog, you will remember our describing the sudden onset of Gabriel's acute anxiety and agoraphobia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If not, feel free to click and read all about it <a href="http://gabrielsangels.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-birth-of-beast.html">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what is causing this sudden battle in Gabriel's life?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you ready for it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He. can. hear.</span></div>
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Let me explain:</div>
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<br /></div>
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Almost two years ago, Gabriel had grommets put into his ears, as he was experiencing recurring ear infections. Now, grommets usually last for a few months, at best, before working themselves out of the ears. </div>
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Not with Gabriel. A check-up with his ENT in January this year, showed they were still nicely embedded into his ear drums. </div>
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The problem with leaving grommets in the ears for too long means the eardrum battles to heal and close the hole created for the grommet. This leads to a permanent perforated eardrum.</div>
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So we visited the ENT this morning, to possibly schedule a date to surgically remove Gabriel's grommets (since winter is over).</div>
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To our surprise, the Doctor told us the grommets were out, lying loosely inside his ears, and the eardrums had healed, perfectly. He then went on to explain that when a person has grommets inserted into the eardrum, the person's hearing becomes muffled and dull. Once removed and the eardrum heals, hearing is fully restored.</div>
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I am deducing this happened around about May sometime + the gardening incident happened in June = full hearing, possibly coupled by auditory processing issues and you have a recipe for extreme anxiety.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcS2VUoe12M">Here is a video</a>, created by an autistic individual, to explain what happens when their senses become overloaded, just to give you an idea as to the audio issue.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Gabriel screams from the moment he leaves the house, throughout the entire car trip, until he reaches a set destination. Then he calms down, once inside (unless it is very noisy inside). We feel he is creating his own audio to drown out external audio, reducing an assault on his senses.</div>
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So, whereto from here? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Possibly auditory training - exposing Gabriel to certain sounds, in a safe environment, where he can control the volume until he (and his brain) becomes used to/desensitised to the offending sounds. We are also researching supplementation to aid reducing sensory overload (which is a physiological process), as recommended by many autistic adults.</div>
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This takes a lot of time and a lot of patience. </div>
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But we're up for the challenge and look forward to the day when Gabriel is able to enjoy being outdoors again, without fear.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbLhUFW-YhI/Vdra8KwMOzI/AAAAAAAAAMA/9HLx7zBQi3Y/s1600/IMG_6356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbLhUFW-YhI/Vdra8KwMOzI/AAAAAAAAAMA/9HLx7zBQi3Y/s320/IMG_6356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-21831609700142846402015-08-03T15:13:00.000+02:002015-08-03T15:14:15.065+02:00The Birth of a Beast<div style="text-align: justify;">
About two months ago, Gabriel headed off to school for another fun-filled day with G-Mary Poppins. The garden service were there that day, as per usual.<br />
<br />
However, this particular day, Gabriel became hysterical. He was overcome by fear, shaking, saying our names as well as the word, "careful" over and over. G-Mary Poppins managed to calm him down and, soon after, brought him back home. <br />
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On this day, a beast was born - Anxiety.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqgbtcurZk0/Vb9iHoZwn9I/AAAAAAAAALw/gdkKRWxmcOk/s1600/Anxiety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqgbtcurZk0/Vb9iHoZwn9I/AAAAAAAAALw/gdkKRWxmcOk/s320/Anxiety.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">File source : </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g21/499121/499121_1382023462_large.jpg</span></span></div>
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Since then, Gabriel has been plagued by anxiety. He is on, constant, high alert to certain sounds - cars, trucks, motorbikes, lawnmowers. If he hears a truck riding up our back street, he starts to panic. If a car parks in front of our house, he melts into a full blown anxiety attack. <br />
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He was even on medication for four weeks, after 3 different doctor consultations, because he was constantly clearing his throat (we thought it was a sinus/throat issue) - it appears to be a tic that he has developed, complements of the Beast.<br />
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After a 4 week break, we attempted to take Gabriel to school again, knowing the garden service would not be there that day. <br />
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Big mistake!<br />
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It ignited a full-blown anxiety attack as soon as Gabriel realised where he was heading. Upon arriving at the school, G-Mary Poppins met us at the gate and took him back home, immediately. <br />
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He retreats to his bedroom now, coming out to join us only in the early evenings (when it is quieter and darker).<br />
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He refuses to even play in our garden anymore, or to jump on his beloved trampoline.<br />
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It is heartbreaking to see Gabriel engaged in this war with the Beast and horrible to feel so powerless in helping him! <br />
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Every day is now a momentous challenge for him.<br />
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We are encouraging him to venture out, taking him on short outings and getting him more active (he loves swimming at the gym). We have also made the very difficult decision to return Gabriel to homeschooling.<br />
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We will help Gabriel to conquer this Beast, in a, hopefully, non-chemical way. <br />
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We know it will be a long road, but we will do it.<br />
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Wish us luck!</div>
Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-56844983383002063382015-07-01T11:30:00.002+02:002015-07-01T11:30:57.159+02:00The Day Gabriel Told Me He Loves Me<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabriel surprises me, every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make no mistake, this is not because I undervalue my son's remarkable abilities, but because I never know <i>when</i> certain occurrences will happen (bye-bye milestone charts).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, boy, when they happen, they are deliciously glorious!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As most of you know, Gabriel is classified as non-verbal (although his daddy and I prefer the term "pre-verbal"). This means, although he repeats words, some clear and some not, there is no actual, fluent, contextual, exchange of conversation - well, not that we can always decipher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But today Gabriel surprised me. Big. Time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I do each morning, I leaned down, hugged my champion and said "I love you" as I was heading off to work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immediately he responded, "luf yoo oo" (love you too).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yup, you read correctly - my son told me, for the 1st time ever, as clear as day, that he loves me too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhS4XIQ5pc/VZOclqoGrOI/AAAAAAAAALc/alhyMcaTn3k/s1600/1280x1024_jump_for_joy-1580039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhS4XIQ5pc/VZOclqoGrOI/AAAAAAAAALc/alhyMcaTn3k/s320/1280x1024_jump_for_joy-1580039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">file source : http://hqwallbase.com/images/bigest/1280x1024_jump_for_joy-1580039.jpg</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I shrieked, "thank you my boy!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A smile, bigger then I have ever seen, emerged on Gabriel's face. He probably thought, 'finally, my old lady understands!' ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did it make me feel? After waiting 5 years to hear those words I felt like </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd won the lotto, while covered in puppies, watching the emotional rollercoaster movie, What Dreams May Come! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, the best feeling in the world - EVER!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044802826636553538.post-4802688777356132942015-06-16T00:02:00.000+02:002015-06-16T00:02:37.094+02:00Happy 5th Birthday, Gabriel!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy 5th Birthday to our most precious little angel!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabriel's Nanna wrote a very special poem (she has a great talent for that) that really says it all:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-litgaakgt3o/VXqs9HzH44I/AAAAAAAAALI/5dS4bfMXgQQ/s1600/Happy%2B5th%2BBirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-litgaakgt3o/VXqs9HzH44I/AAAAAAAAALI/5dS4bfMXgQQ/s320/Happy%2B5th%2BBirthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to take this
chance to say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very, very happy
5<sup>th</sup> birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We waited so many
long years for you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So with great
excitement we heard the news true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A special much
loved baby was on the way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this I can tell
you just made our day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you arrived
you brought such joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For you’re such a
special, happy boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your Mom and Dad
are the ones who know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How often you kept
them right on their toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up at night ‘cause
of the “cholic curse”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it soon passed
as Mom’s a good nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">G-Nanny and G-Mary Poppins all played a part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In giving you such
a wonderful start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From watching you
daily and keeping you safe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To counting and
colouring and building with haste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now you are able
to go to school<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they are
teaching you with wonderful tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so, my angel, I
want you to know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although we’re not
with you we love you so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your beautiful eyes
and happy little face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No other can ever
take your place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’ll all share
your birthday together with you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May your year ahead
hold good things for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when you think
we are far apart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember, Gabriel
you’re right in our hearts.</span></div>
Gabriel's Angelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13642717860988785752noreply@blogger.com0