How This Works

We have been living with sutism in our family for 5 and a half years now. So, I have not cried in a long time, but your video was so on point, so moving and so utterly beautiful that it brought me to tears. Reliving those feelings, frustrations and desires to help my own daughter all came together in a tear therapy session. Thanks for this and I will be praying that we make the goal. Together we can make it happen. If we can put a man on the moon, we can beat autism!
posted by Sherri on 1/14/08 5:00: AM

We are blessed by our 21 year old son who has autism. It is not a tragedy but a blessing to our family. We had a period of grief but got over ourselves and just concentrated on him. We are all much better people because of him. I have been able to witness more miracles than I thought possible. I am thankful that we were chosen to have Chris in our lives. It is not an impossible task.
posted by Patty on 1/14/08 4:51: AM

Thanks for this program i have two children with the same problem but with the Grace of God they are improving. I know what you are going through but only God can help us through . Do not give up God promised that the years taken away he will give back in ten fold so it shall be with all our children going through this faze.
posted by Rose on 1/14/08 4:47: AM

What a devistion to the family upon the realization that your child is autistic. I have such respect for the persistance of the families of autistic children who pursue answers and options to improve the quality of their lives. Shedding light and educating the unfamiliar, hopefully will lead towards eradicating this heart wrenching diagnosis. Never give up if ever there was a cause worth fighting for. All of my thoughts and prayers for a brighter tomarrow for your daughter and autistic children everywhere.
posted by Lisa on 1/13/08 11:45: PM

Your daughter is so beautiful. She & other Children are our future. It's time to put the time & money where it's very much needed. Not to those who don't belong here. For our children. For their Future, For Our Future. I'll pray for her & for all the other children. God Bless
posted by Donna on 1/13/08 11:08: PM

My nephew was diagnosed with autism and OCD, May god be with you in your journey, he has been with us. Fortunately he is in a good school district that has several programs that help with his autism. GOD BLESS
posted by yvonne on 1/13/08 10:11: PM

So sad and Beautiful... a blessing of life but in a heart breaking existence. A little Angel, as a prisoner in her own soul.
posted by Debra Horn on 1/13/08 10:10: PM

That is a very powerful video. I will praying for her, her family and all the other families out there with an autistic child. God bless.
posted by Dalynne on 1/13/08 9:40: PM

God bless you Charlotte and your beautiful little girl. My sister's son has Asperger's. It took her several years before they realized what was going on with him. Many told her too, he's just shy, he'll grow out of it. He is getting the help he needs now and is doing MUCH better. I am praying that we will get someone in office soon that will really try to change the system. The one we have now is terribly broken. But, in the mean time your precious little girl needs the help she deserves, now. I will pray for you and for the change this country needs that anyone and everyone who needs health care, no matter what it is, will be able to receive what they need, when they need it. It's what everyone in this country deserves, and it's about time. I hope everyone recognizes that until we get someone in office to correct this broken system, beautiful children are not getting the care they need and deserve. Shame on these insurance companies and the politicians who cater to them. All they care about is the almighty dollar. It's time they were run out on a rail and replaced by those who truly care. Those who will treat everyone like human beings. Every American deserves complete and total health care. That's what you and your beautiful daughter deserve. I pray it happens soon, for all of our sakes.
posted by Steve on 1/13/08 8:50: PM

My niece and her family have been through such trials. Thank you for sharing.
posted by Brook on 1/13/08 8:30: PM

I must say, you have a beutiful little girl. Hope you can find the cure to this quite illness. Thanks for sharing. God Bless you!
posted by Sandra on 1/13/08 7:12: PM

I thought this was beautifully done. I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and I work with Autistic children. I am very well aware that more children are being diagnosed with Autism and that therapy for these children is extremely expensive. I fully support your cause. I don't know where you live, but I would be willing to help!
posted by jamie on 1/13/08 6:48: PM

Watching this video grieves my heart even more - my daughter also has a diagnosis of autism. And yes we (Mom & Dad) were the first ones to notice a difference. Yes, you hope your baby will catch up and work very hard to advocate for her. Your daughter's smile lights up the room as does my daughters. Many people look at her and say she looks normal, but she cannot talk yet and has a limited sign language vocabulary, has trouble with textures and eating, along with still needing to wear a diaper because she cannot tell one she needs to use the bathroom. Yes there are many people that need services and wait TOO long before getting these needed services and therapies. I've read that the timeframe to help redirect the brain is the window of age 2 to 6. Keep pushing and advocating for your babies. Thank you so much for this beautiful song and movement to raise awareness for our children.
posted by Sheryl on 1/13/08 6:36: PM

POWERFUL!!!!!! It had me in tears...what a world we live in...sent it to all I know just to get the message out there....The more who know the better the chance. God bless both you & your daughter..Two truly beautiful people inside & out!!!
posted by Christine on 1/13/08 6:24: PM

I hope that one day we will find an exact cause of autism, for that is the best , earliest intervention. Until then, I hope and pray that insurance companies will step up and do what is right, for our precious, beautiful children, for they are our future. I know if insurance companies cover therapies that are made to help smokers "quit", and help obese patients get thinner, sometimes even cover the cost of surgical precedures, when they CHOOSE to be that way, then why can't we help these beautiful children, that were born with autism???? They didn't choose autism, autism choose them and so far we don't know why, or how to cure it.WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN?? Unfortunately , one that would pay billions on a war instead of making sure that our children are receiving all the care that they need. With generous donations this beautiful children will receive the proper treatment and therapy. So please support this cause.
posted by Karenia on 1/13/08 5:22: PM

May the Lord with His mighty hand reach these beautiful children. May He touch the heart of atleast one insurance company, and let the rest of them follow. May the Lord bless the parents of these little gifts from God, give them peace,grace and the strength to help their children. Sham on Legislation for leaving these precious children in the dark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Cindy Callahan on 1/13/08 5:20: PM

Our son was diagnosed with PDD at 9 after trying for nearly 24 months to find a child psychiatrist who would see him. He went from Childrens Hospitals to Childrens Hospital and were told also to wait He tried to commit suicide after being made fun of by his peers day after day, was hospitalized and finally we got some kind of help. There is not much out there We had our first walk for Autism last year and people are starting to hear our voices, but it is slow . He is such a special gift-we learn from him every day. Our prayers are with you also-dont give up
posted by Patty on 1/13/08 5:19: PM

May Help come quicker for your beautiful baby girl-My heart aches for you. I do hope for a better world for our beautiful children of tomorrow. May god bless you and your family. Miracles do happen and we keep on praying for a change-keep the faith.
posted by Seny Jaime on 1/13/08 5:18: PM

This little girl is so gorgeous and she deserves a wonderful life and the intervention that she so desperately needs. As the parent of a disabled son I know the long, hard journey. I hope that collectively our voices will be heard, especially for these children with autism.
posted by Linda Ryan on 1/13/08 5:12: PM

May the Lord give you the grace, the wisdom, the strength, the knowledge and creative ideas to do the things you must do.
posted by Elaine Lucas on 1/13/08 5:00: PM