I always wanted to be a mother to boys. God blessed me with two amazing boys, Trenton and Andrew, both whom have a diagnosis of autism. When my sons were born, it was by far the best day of my life. However, I had no idea at that time what our life as a family had in store for us.
My oldest son, Trenton, has severe autism. He is a 4 ½ year old boy who is not potty trained and remains non-verbal. He suffers every day from autism. He is trapped in a body that brings a life full of tribulations. I have spent countless, sleepless nights with him when his body did not allow him to sleep. I have driven my car for several hours at a time in the middle of the night with him strapped in his car seat screaming and hitting himself in order to calm him down. I have been hit, kicked, scratched, spit at, hair pulled, screamed at and almost anything else that you would never imagine your child doing to you. I have had it done. I have bounced him on a therapy ball for over 5000 bounces consecutively. I have pushed him in his swing while he was crying for what seemed hours at a time. I have battled meltdown after meltdown.
Trenton spends seven hours a day five days a week in ABA. Autism has left him with nothing but a huge fight for the rest of his life. I have been there every minute of the way with him. I don’t give up. I only get stronger! Trenton drives me to be the best mother-advocate that I can be. I have seen him at his worst and it only makes us stronger as a team.
Terre Haute, IN
