Friends, this is so true! When possible, early intervention is key!

When Elizabeth was first diagnosed with autism, I didn’t want to believe it or accept it. She was the same baby girl I had always known and loved. I had done some reading on the topic and could see some signs that were obvious, while others weren’t. I had convinced myself that babies did cute little things and she would outgrow this phase. This diagnosis was a huge blow. After spending a year and half in the hospital and overcoming so many medical challenges we were ready for a little “normal” in our lives. Soon after, we noticed more autistic traits in Elizabeth. She would hide under the table, line up her toys, lose her speech, and she even had a repetitive leg motion where she would raise her leg high up past her head. She never seemed to tire from doing this. The idiosyncrasies were no longer cute, they were alarming and I could no longer deny there was something wrong. We began seeking help from her pediatrician and other professionals. Elizabeth’s entourage grew. In no time, we were surrounded by all kinds of therapists and teachers who helped us understand what was happening and showed us ways to help her. This early intervention started when she was about 2 1/2 years old and went on for many years. We saw her blossom and become the best girl God wanted her to be. We also had a lot of growing to do. We started to learn how to parent her with grace and unconditional love and acceptance of who she was.

I thank the Lord for his provisions; He always knows what we need before we even see it!