Parents

come out wounded, but alive.It
was in 2004 when Myrna received
the news that her two
year old son was autistic (Alejo).
Autism is a developmental disorder
that is characterized by social
interaction and communication
deficiencies, and restricted
and repetitive behavior patterns
(Ekas and Whitman 1). It is considered
by many to be the most
severe childhood behavioral disorder
with the most complex developmental
pattern (Altiere and
Von Kluge 1). Doctors, along
with internet findings, bombarded
her with devastating predicaments
of what her future as a
mother raising an autistic child
would hold. She was told that
her and her husband’s relationships
with friends and family
would suffer due to the nature of
their child’s disorder. Their social
life would be restricted in order
to cater their child’s needs. They
even told her that in some cases
parents could eventually be
stuck in a vicious cycle, as the
more severe the symptoms of a
child’s autism, the more stress is
placed on a parent (Glazzard
and Overall 3). Myrna was completely
taken aback with all of
this newly discovered information.
She tried lying to herself
saying that everything would be
okay, but she knew it wouldn’t.
Her son’s life would not be okay
and neither would hers. She felt
like her world was crumbling at
her feet. And all she could think
about out was the hell that her
baby boy would have to go
through (Alejo).