Support Josiah

Magic Bullet

Autism is such a complex disorder. As parents, we try and we try and we try, and, sometimes, it works. Sometimes we find a technique. Sometimes its a specific toy that does the trick. Sometimes we learn that if we hold our mouths just right while we hop on one foot and whistle Dixie, we can make life ok for our kids. Even if but for a moment. But there are rarely magic bullets when helping our children navigate this world with the impact of Autism affecting so much of their lives.   

We were given a golf cart for Josiah this week. I cannot begin to describe the joy and comfort and help this has been and will prayerfully continue to be for our family. And specifically for Josiah. The joy he has experienced with this gift has been a blessing to see. A few people have asked me if the golf cart will solve the issue of Josiah needing constant van rides. We certainly believe that it will help tremendously, but it won't take the need completely away. He has to eat, and, since one of the places he is willing to sit and eat is inside the van, we will have to drive some. And there will be days where he is just too overwhelmed to do anything but ride. We know our kid, and so we know those days will come. The golf cart isn't a magic bullet, but it is a TOOL! 

Instead of looking for magic bullets that will fix everything every time, we are much better served to seek out a variety of tools for our tool kit. It's about having options for a kid whose life is pretty simple but super hard. Josiah doesn't have many things that capture his attention. He spends much of his day just trying to soothe himself with self-stimulating and repetitive behaviors. He tears a bit of edging off of the side of his diaper, and he pulls the stands apart in the same particular way each time so that he can suck on one end while twirling the other end. He rocks back and forth a lot. He tears napkins and shakes or twirls them into what look like small cheer-leading pompoms. He enjoys very casually watching snippets of familiar cartoons or movies, but it is a select few. He swings.....A LOT. He takes showers and baths throughout the day. And he rides in the van and now the golf cart. Every so often, he looks at pictures in a year book or gazes into the eyes of some old Elmo toys. And, other than consuming the same foods and drinks or sleeping, that is pretty much it. Because his interests are so very limited, we have very few options in terms of comforting him. When he was able to tolerate going to the Aquatics Center, that was our daily outing and everything revolved around it. But, once it became too overwhelming to continue going, we lost one of our biggest and most helpful tools. 

That is really the whole point of this fundraiser. We have so few tools to help Josiah stand living in his own body. We are trying to build our tool kit so that we can bring our boy comfort and joy in the safety of our home. We know there will be days where nothing can help, but we pray that the tools of having a golf cart, therapy room, and therapy pool will make those days much fewer and far between. 

Thank you to everyone who is donating to help us build our tool kit. We are forever grateful for your love and support of Josiah!

Because of His grace, 

Christy