When
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was established in 1955, children with cystic
fibrosis (CF) rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school. Due in
large part to the CF Foundation's aggressive investments in innovative research
and comprehensive care, many people with the disease can now expect to live
into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Bradley was my third and last child. We had a healthy daughter and a son who was developmentally delayed and was receiving therapies and attending Easter Seals to help him catch up. Not having a "diagnosis" was extremely frustrating for me. When we found out I was having another boy, I told my husband that this one would be his athlete. God had other plans for us and for Bradley. At 4 months of age we found out that he has very little vision.
Bradley was my third and last child. We had a healthy daughter and a son who was developmentally delayed and was receiving therapies and attending Easter Seals to help him catch up. Not having a "diagnosis" was extremely frustrating for me. When we found out I was having another boy, I told my husband that this one would be his athlete. God had other plans for us and for Bradley. At 4 months of age we found out that he has very little vision. Needless to say it was devastating. Therapists started working with him, doing most of the same therapies my older son was receiving...physical, occupational and speech. But at 2 years of age he was more delayed than totally blind children.
After much testing and no answers (here we go again, I thought) I started reading everything I could and finally realized he had autism, which was then confirmed by the doctor. The plans I had made for him in my mind taking his vision into consideration just flew right out the window. But Bradley, unlike many with autism, has a wonderful sense of humor and laughs his way through life. I've been told by the experts that he is almost genius level intelligence. He was about 10 words he can say and uses sign language for the rest. Thanks to the Medwaivers program he now lives during the week at a beautiful educational center for people with autism. When I found out that Autism Speaks needed to do research on the brains of people with autism after death, I promptly signed on to donate Bradley's. He won't need it and hopefully it will help the scientific community to unlock the mystery of autism.
Bradley is my hero and joy! Also, at the age of 15, my older son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which is also a form of autism. It is a sometimes frustrating but also fascinating condition. Both of my boys are very interesting and intelligent people. We have donated blood for studies that involve families that have more than one person with autism. And they're famous! The book, Courageous Souls, written by Robert Schwartz has a chapter (3) that is all about us. I can't imagine my life with them any different than it is. I wouldn't have chosen it to be this way, but I truly feel we have taken those lemons and made lemonade.
Fighting neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research, a nationwide network of clinics offering comprehensive medical services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.
When
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was established in 1955, children with cystic
fibrosis (CF) rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school. Due in
large part to the CF Foundation's aggressive investments in innovative research
and comprehensive care, many people with the disease can now expect to live
into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
