::giving thanks in the week of::

Luke had been referred, by his new pediatrician, to a Infant and Child Developmental Specialist. We had the appointment this morning. Have to admit, we were leary of going to yet another specialist who would likely ask 100 +1 questions about his missed milestones, only to tell us we need to be talking to him all the time (duh) and just be patient (impossible).

But T__ H_____, M.S., R.P.T. brought a bright and shiny glorious ray of hope. Firstly he doesn't believe Luke is autistic! What? Yep, he showed us a diagram of the brain and went through some quite complicated and detailed explainations about the cycles of information processing the brain goes through and what can happen if things go wrong. Eveything can be affected. He gave us reasons why Luke does the *funky* things he does. Never before have we been given the "whys". I sat mesmarized listening to him. He told us scenarios of hope and possibility for great progress. Yes, I realize there are quacks out there a plenty. Trust me, we've had to wade through a few. But sometimes you have a really good feeling about someone and can just tell. He has nothing to gain, no medications prescribed. But only what seemed to me as good solid answers.

We've a long way to go, no doubt, but there is hope. My world looks different today. It's a world where my lovely son may have a chance to live a bountiful, productive and wonderfully *typical* life.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all..." ~Emily Dickenson