It seems fitting with Thanksgiving just a week away to focus on the many blessings that have come into our family as we have navigated the journey that Micah’s autism has led us on. I purposefully do not say giving thanks for all things as it would be dishonest to say that I am thankful for the struggles that Micah has as a nonverbal adult. I see his frustration and can only guess at what he would say to you if he was writing this blog.
As a family, we have experienced heavy loss before as Micah’s father fought a hard battle against brain cancer before he died. I know there are people who say we should be thankful for cancer, but I do not think God is calling us to be thankful for cancer or autism, but to seek the good that we can find as we navigate life the best we can living with the hard and painful. This uncharted autism journey has brought blessings to us that we would have never experienced, and for these blessings we do give thanks.
- Micah is the only one of the children who wakes up happy and gets right out of bed without a complaint almost every morning. His siblings have complained that I am annoyingly happy in the morning. Micah seems to share this trait.
- We have met the most amazing, caring people over the years. People who make it their life mission to help those with special learning needs to progress. Many have become friends who have shared the journey, basking in the achievements, and helping us survive the tough times.
- We have found that some seemingly cranky people have reached out to support Micah in unexpectedly kind ways.
- Although Micah will soon be 26, his doctor, a pediatrician, has been willing to continue to follow him as Micah relates well to him and I have successfully begged him for just one more year (multiple times).
- Ditto, his dentist. She is actually new to our family, but has shown amazing patience and flexibility in treating Micah in spite of his aversion to basic care of his teeth.
- For the secret and not so secret spoilers who give him treats like piles of cookies at coffee hour at church, bags of cotton candy, and delicious homemade cookies that we all enjoy.
- For the friend who knows I read to Micah each night and has made it her mission to tell me of new books for young adults that he might like.
- For the friends who have been honest when they see that my focus on Micah has been unhealthy and out of balance with the needs of the rest of the family.
- For unexpected times of humor. All of Micah’s siblings have at least one tattoo. At one family dinner one of the sibs mentioned that fact and Micah needed a tattoo as well. I responded “over my dead body” to which he cheerily responded, “well, we will just wait until you are dead then.” Note to readers, please protect Micah once I am gone!
- For those who read this blog and share in our journey, please know you bless and sustain us. It truly does take a village on this autism journey.
Thanks for being our village.
Jan Lessard Peightell
November 21, 2019