Walking in the park with autism...and other adventures.

www.theyellowdoorchico.blogspot.com
Please take a moment to check out the new non-profit that will benefit local children affected by Autism. (Then come back and read my witty recount of today's events!)

     Today was the first time ever that our little town of Chico had a walk for autism. It was fantastic. Run by a very energetic and loving Josie Cline the whole thing went off with out a hitch.... well from where I sat, and watched the people walk by. I waved like a queen acknowledging her subjects as the throngs of enthusiastic people streamed past. My brave husband took the children on said walk. I did not sit out by choice, it's just that a few short days ago I had my gallbladder removed from my body through my belly button.(Neat trick really) This non-essential organ had decided to stop working and as luck would have it my surgery was scheduled right before our big WALK.  I tried to convince the surgeon to take a little extra nip and tuck while he was in there....no luck.
     I loved seeing all the people that arrived for the first ever Chico Autism Walk. I could tell that everyone was excited to be there. I was too, but happy for the bench I found. As each person walked past I wondered how autism had touched their lives. Some were obvious parents, resting a hand on their child as to not loose them in the commotion. Other people were more difficult to place, were they friends or neighbors or just concerned about this ever growing epidemic? The Chico State Greek system helped out by acting as volunteers and cheering the walkers on as they left for this epic journey. I secretly wondered how many of them would be touched by this personally as they finished school, found the love of their life and married. How many young people today will have children with autism tomorrow? They have just changed the numbers again, now instead of being 1 out of every 110 kids, the numbers are now more like 1 out of 88 children. Holy Cow.
     Take in to consideration that, yes we are more aware of the signs, symptoms etc now, but seriously why has this not been declared a national emergency? With my vast knowledge about the subject, (ha ha ha) I declare half of the people I meet fall somewhere on the spectrum. I probably mentally diagnose way more than the statistics indicate. I must admit, thinking I was suffering from an ulcer for the past year and a half instead of a faulty gallbladder, has shaken my confidence as a diagnostician.                                                 So what if this is the case for some of these recently diagnosed. A few years ago it seemed like everyone had carpal tunnel syndrome, now I never hear about it. ADD and ADHD also became popular  recently. What about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Everyone had that too a while ago...the frenzy has died off for that as well. I am not saying anyone of these conditions is not real or worthy of some serious intervention, but why does it seem that we see spikes in medical diagnosis? As doctors learn about maladies, are they trying to please the patient with a name for their problem? Or is it that more people are aware of these maladies now thanks to the internet and Dr. Google so they are rushing to the doctor because they are desperate for help and answers?
     What ever the reason or cause I know that Chico cares about this matter. They care enough to come out on a Sunday and walk together to show their support. They care enough to set up vendor booths, (Awesome job Caroline Rhoady!) and provide a sensory play area for the kids after the walk. They care. I am so grateful for that. I am also grateful for whoever realized that this is the perfect time and place for Storm Troopers to walk among us. I hope that in future years I will be more of an active participant....or that they have a "Sit on a Bench for Autism" day....My family was among the first people to finish the walk and we promptly left. Wearing jeans and sitting turned out to be harder than I thought. Thank goodness it never occurred to my family there was more to come after the walk...I am sure it was wonderful.
     Next year and the year after that, and so on, this walk will continue. It will grow and change and become even more amazing. It will never be the same as today however, when for the first time this community came together to say, "I care enough to walk along side you."
Thanks Yellow Door. You Rock.

To medicate, or live life on the edge....

Ah....the moments of sibling love....a punch here, a shove there, a bite on the shoulder...
Ben will always be a little unsure when the game is over....when the last push or playful shove has occurred. He will always take the joke one step over the line....say silly or inappropriate things....and be, well....Ben.
    While at a follow up appointment today for his neurologist we were asked what we needed from the doctor. He had gone over all the medications that Ben has stopped taking, he noted the weight gain and general happiness of the boy in his office and seemed pleased. I commented that of all the things that seem to pop up in his daily life anxiety seems to come to the front as a major problem....then I tried to site examples and the only ones I could think of were times at the old non patriotic school....so is he still stressed out? Anxious? I don't know, I didn't really have a good example of his behavior when he is stressed and yet I was given a new prescription to help with this vague symptom.
After all we have been through with medication and this boy I would have expected a little fight from the doctor, a little warning, that well.....he might be better off to just learn to deal with things without the help of Big Pharma.....nope. Here ya go....here is your Rx.....
I would have liked to hear, "Have you tried anything else? Any other form of stress management?"
Nope.
Just a new drug to try....one that on closer inspection I wouldn't give to my worst enemy let alone my sweet little boy.....
So back to square one, back to looking for a way to teach him to cope with the things that drive him nuts....deep breathing....taking a walk, zoning out with some angry birds.....all of these are good and have very few side effects....(those birds can be pretty darn addictive....)
With every change, as the dust settles, I see Ben. I see him back to his funny carefree self. I hear with delight all his quirky explanations, I laugh with him at all his crazy jokes...like this one,
"What do you call a beautiful sock monkey?"
wait for it........
Sock-xy
get it?
like sexy but with socks.....
Very funny kid I have.
I don't know if we will ever go back to the medicated world. He does take two medicines right now, one for low thyroid and one to help with his Diabetes Insipidus....(remember he loves to drink water and pee constantly) He thinks those two are enough. Perhaps he is right. I am glad he is older and can have a say in what is happening to him. I listen when he tells me that he just wants to go it drug free.....
Big Pharma has lost one recruit....sadly I am sure they have many many more in the wings...