Remarkable Improvements

Life goes on. And so does Alec's progress.

In working out of my home, juggling so many plates, I have not been writing in this blog much this past month. But there have been so many positive things to write about with regarding to Alec's battle with autism!

This is month three in treating Alec with Transdermal DMPS, a topical chelator that works very slowly. When we began, we had an initial "challenge" test, where a chelator is given (in our case, orally) followed by a urine test to check to see what metals are pulled. Alec had a little mercury with elevated levels of lead in the resulting analysis. Our initial heavy metals tests some months ago showed absolutely NO mercury, which could indicate that Alec's system is incapable of natually ridding his body of mercury. We will soon do another challenge test and I will let you know the results.

Okay, that is the technical report. How is Alec actually doing?

Let me start off by saying that he is still developmentally delayed. He is still behind a "typical" developing four year old in terms of social skills and comminication skills. He is still severely limiting his diet (and taking a lot of supplements to compensate).

However, he has made tremendous improvements lately. For example, in the past three months he has become totally potty-trained, even at night. Something just seemed to "click". No battles, it just happened.

Alec's verbal skills continue to improve. He is asking questions now, commenting on a lot of things, and his "robo-talk", as we call his verbal stimming, where he runs though television shows, has dropped dramatically.

One example that thrilled me was this: One day, I picked up Alec from his school. His shadow, Betsy, a wonderful mom herself, brings him out to me. Betsy's son had just joined her as she delivered Alec to me. Alec looked at Betsy's son, and then at Betsy, and asked him "Is that your Mom?" This was an example of Alec summing up the relationship of the two and clearing asking him, not me, to answer his question.

That is such a small example. There are many more I could cite.

We have seen another area of great improvement in Alec's play skills. It used to be that I could never get Alec to go outside and play with the many neighborhood kids on our street. When he would, he would only stay out for a short time and would often stay to himself, going off into a neighbor's yard and just being alone.

Suddenly, he wants to go outside. He grabs his little bike with training wheels and peddles off, up and down the street. He joins the other kids in games of tag or Simon Says. He climbs forts with them. He was always good with his sister, Elise. Now, however, his attention is expanding to the other kids as well. He's becoming one of them, not that he never was before, but that he desires to interact with them now.

Other recent improvements: Good reports from his teachers that he is following directions, participating throughout the day. His fine motor skills are developing quickly as well. Today, he drew a train on train tracks on his Magnadoodle toy. He was so excited, telling me "Look, Mom, I drew a train! Look, Elise, I drew a train!" And you know what, it really looked like a train on train tracks! It was not obscure, but looked like a typical four-year old's drawing. No scribbles. I was really amazed to see it.

He is also interested in spelling. I catch him going over words and their spellings. When I read to him, he wants me to point and say the words. He can spell a few on his own: Mom, Dad, Alec to name a few.

His temper tantrums are diminishing, but we do have an occasional one. And, once in a while, we do have what we call "off days", where he seems foggy again, and a bit more obsessive compulsive.

So, what is causing these recent improvements? Chelation? Garr's program of ABA/Verbal Behavior? Inclusion with other kids such as his classroom instruction with CMS schools? The supplements? His developing age?

Matt and I can't put a finger on one thing that we believe is making these dramatic advances. We believe that the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) approach has much merit and is working. We believe in early intervention, and especially ABA/VB therapy. I have to say that Alec's public school teacher has impressed me as well, and I credit her assistance in potty-training him. We have to believe that chelation is having an effect, because we have seen striking improvements in the last three months.

But as I hear of the millions of therapy options, many of them so very expensive, I believe that the greatest therapy of all is simply loving Alec. A child with an autism spectrum disorder who is loved unconditionally: what a chance they have to do amazing things in their life! Alec is surrounded by love.

And prayer. Every night we pray that God will heal him so that he can be the man God intended him to be. Our bible study group prays for him, too.

Will Alec's autism disappear totally one day? Honestly, I don't know. I ask myself that a lot. But I love Alec right now, today, just as He is. I can't imagine life without him! The little funny things he does endear me to him. Alec continues to teach me what real love is all about.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I Corinthians 13: 4-7

I see parents each day come and pick up their kids at Alec's ABA school. They welcome them back into their arms with huge hugs and smiles that bring tears to my eyes.

Some of the kids struggle as they meet their mom or dad. Because of their challenges, they don't always run into their arms as you would expect a young child to do when greeting a returning parents at preschool. But if you watch, you always see that flash of light in their eyes when their mom or dad whisks them up into an embrace.

That's love. That's what this life is all about. Thanks, Alec, for every lesson you teach me. This is my therapy.