Imagine - Support Autism Research

Imagine..

No I love you’s…

No family picnics, parades, or weddings..

No friends or playmates..

No common sense..

 

Imagine..

A 4 yr. Old that doesn’t understand what

Will happen if he runs in front of a car

Or jumps into a pool..

Imagine a home looking like Ft Knox

Just to keep your child safe

 

Imagine..

Being told your child has a neurological brain disorder

And maybe never be able to speak, function in society,

Live alone, marry or have children, your heart sinks..

 

Imagine..

After waking your child in the morning, if you don’t do

Everything in the same order as the day before, at the

Precise moment it’s enough to ruin their entire day..

 

Imagine..

Watching your child on the first day of school stepping

Into the handicapped bus..

 

Imagine..

Having your home invaded with teachers, therapists,

State reps, child psychologists for 35 hrs per week of intense

1 on 1 therapy in hopes of a better life someday..

 

Imagine..

Watching the agony on your child’s face giving you the

“Mommy why are you letting them do this to me” look

while doing numerous EEG’s, blood work, x-rays, and testing to

figure out how to help them feel better..

 

Imagine..

Just how many “your kids a brat” stares you get in public

Simply because your child cannot handle social situations

Including a simple trip to the grocery store..

Imagine..

What autistic children, parents and families go through

On a daily basis..

 

Author: Nicole Lannyk, Mother of 4 year old James

Published on Autism Society of America website

Support Autism Research this Sunday at Woolgirl by purchasing a skein

of "Autism" fingering or sport weight yarn

designed by the talented Catherine Kerth from Mama Llama.

For those of you who may not know, Catherine's son Hillard is

Autistic, and so we dedicate this post to

Hillard and Catherine and to all parents

who have an autistic child.

Support Autism Research today.

Logo photos are from the National Autism Society website and
autism resource web pages.

Thank you to our always fabulous test knitter Trish.

Pattern used: Broadripple from Knitty

Comments

[Kathryn Sigman]

That was very moving. I work with autistic children in a public school as well as Down's Syndrome. It is an honor and a pleasure for me.

[irishgirlieknits]

You know I will be buying some tomorrow Jen. Thank you for giving autism and autism research the much needed attention. The families and children I work with everyday go through more than I think any of us can imagine.

[Celia/Nartian]

I'll help sell it out. I know this cause is dear to Carrie's work & heart.

Here's to hoping one day we can pinpoint all the specific causes and cure.

[P-la]

Thank you!!! My son is 3 and autistic. We'll be on the road most of the day tomorrow. Hopefully there will be a skein left to buy for me when I get home!!!

[Patti]

I just wanted to point out that life with my autistic son is not all dreary and sad. He is a complete joy. I realize people use verbage like this to drum up sympathy to get donations, but at the same time, I think it's important to focus on the achievements of our children rather than what's not typical.

I'm not upset at all - I know you're trying to help - I just wanted to point out that there is nothing wrong with this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelions2/2835136802/in/set-72157607150050226/ (Yep, he's in love with that llama.) :)

[catherine]

What a wonderful post! Our power was restored last night from Hurricane Ike and almost immediately the stimming, flapping, and loud repetitive noises ended! Thank goodness! The hurricane shook us all up but It was twice as hard on Hillard. We are all very happy we suffered minimal damage to our home as we begin clean up.
Thank you Jen.
Love,
Catherine

[catherine]

oooo, forgot to mention I love the last photograph! Very touching photo and the knits are very cute!

[Mandy]

Wow, such a worthy cause, and beautiful yarn. I love the pictures, especially the hand in hand at the bottom - beautiful knit cuffs! (at least, I think they're cuffs... or are they sweaters?)

[Angelika]

This is truly a touchy post. Catherine is so good with her yarn and all that is going on in her life and Trish is a great knitter. :)

[babyface]

I feel for the parents of
an autistic child. I myself
had a child born with very
little gray matter in his
brain. I am 69 years old
and we had no support systems back then. He never mentally advanced
beyond 3 months. Always had to be fed baby food
and carried. I kept him
home for 14 years until I
couldn't carry him any more. They told us that he
would only live three months but he made it to 33
years old. He passed in 1991. I am dealing with
a bad disease process myself and having a hard time knitting. Will try to
purchase some yarn for
the autistic children.