As any parent no one wants to hear that their child has a disability. I felt guilt and anxiety about everything that was told to me. Every time I would have to sit and listen to what is wrong with him instead of what was right. As one diagnosis after another was discovered I felt as if our lives were over. I cried and had my pity party, then I would pull myself together and prepared for a fight.
My fight began when my son was 9 after getting the diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder. I was told that there was nothing that the school could or would do for him. So I was left on my own to figure out how to help him cope through his day. I started to research the disorder and ask questions. I found alot of information but was not able to implement it. I decided to really pay attention to what my son was feeling. I slowly figured out what worked and what didn't. Things weren't getting much better, my son became violent at home and was having much more difficulty at school. When he was 10 he was put on Zoloft an antidepressant which pushed him over the edge. At the age of 12 my son was diagnosed with Non Verbal Learning Disability, Mental Retardation, ADD, and OCD. This hit me hard! It was the most difficult thing to hear. My mother and I cried over this one for a while. I tried to look for help in my community for him, but once again I was left on my own. The next year when my son was 13 he ended up in the hospital on suicide watch for 2 days. This was rock bottom for me. I was called a bad mother by professionals who really didn't understand. I was told that i wasn't doing anything for my son. I fought to get him off of Zoloft and he was then put on an anti psychotic and sent to a Hospital 4 hours away for assessment.
This was the hardest thing I ever had to do for my son. He was 13 and this was his first time away from home. He spent 3 wks in the hospital and in the end they found the cause of all his problems. Chronic Organic Brain Disorder or Brain Damage that was caused by an illness when he was 2. Finally a diagnosis that people would listen to. Well I was wrong. I have since given up on getting help for my son. He is now in grade 11 and in a specialized class that focuses on Life Skills. He wants to be a Wild Life Officer which may not materialize but I will help him get as close as he can. We still struggle, he is starting to mature and make some connections to his emotions. It still takes daily routines, and repetition.
He is my reason for starting my business and wanting to help families. He is my reason for my life. Everyday is a new day, he has taught me patience, tolerance for difference, and understanding. How many of us can say that we have learned these things.
Hugz
Denise Neville
My fight began when my son was 9 after getting the diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder. I was told that there was nothing that the school could or would do for him. So I was left on my own to figure out how to help him cope through his day. I started to research the disorder and ask questions. I found alot of information but was not able to implement it. I decided to really pay attention to what my son was feeling. I slowly figured out what worked and what didn't. Things weren't getting much better, my son became violent at home and was having much more difficulty at school. When he was 10 he was put on Zoloft an antidepressant which pushed him over the edge. At the age of 12 my son was diagnosed with Non Verbal Learning Disability, Mental Retardation, ADD, and OCD. This hit me hard! It was the most difficult thing to hear. My mother and I cried over this one for a while. I tried to look for help in my community for him, but once again I was left on my own. The next year when my son was 13 he ended up in the hospital on suicide watch for 2 days. This was rock bottom for me. I was called a bad mother by professionals who really didn't understand. I was told that i wasn't doing anything for my son. I fought to get him off of Zoloft and he was then put on an anti psychotic and sent to a Hospital 4 hours away for assessment.
This was the hardest thing I ever had to do for my son. He was 13 and this was his first time away from home. He spent 3 wks in the hospital and in the end they found the cause of all his problems. Chronic Organic Brain Disorder or Brain Damage that was caused by an illness when he was 2. Finally a diagnosis that people would listen to. Well I was wrong. I have since given up on getting help for my son. He is now in grade 11 and in a specialized class that focuses on Life Skills. He wants to be a Wild Life Officer which may not materialize but I will help him get as close as he can. We still struggle, he is starting to mature and make some connections to his emotions. It still takes daily routines, and repetition.
He is my reason for starting my business and wanting to help families. He is my reason for my life. Everyday is a new day, he has taught me patience, tolerance for difference, and understanding. How many of us can say that we have learned these things.
Hugz
Denise Neville
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