Archive for November 2017
The Dreaded Question: ‘Do You Medicate Your Son With Autism?’
I hate this question. I hate it so much that even typing the sentence ‘do you medicate your son‘ gives me anxiety. It’s not that I mind sharing the answer with you. I am an open book. I also firmly believe that as parents we can help our children even more by speaking opening and honestly about what’s working and what’s not. I remember years ago when Cooper was first diagnosed I just wanted someone to tell me what to do. Tell me the best course of action to help…
Read MoreThe Business Side of Autism
A good old fashioned Cooper and Kate video update with a whole lotta conversation around the business side of autism. https://youtu.be/5ChoHnXVIz8 When my son was diagnosed with autism at age three, I was prepared for it to be hard. I knew there would be struggles and challenges. I even suspected it would be stressful and confusing. I wasn’t that naive. And I definitely knew it would be an emotional ride with ups and downs. But what I was not prepared for was the never ending paperwork, phone calls and appointments.…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Son Parker
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Alyssa Hartwell and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to thank my son Parker. There are so many people in my family’s life that I am thankful for but before I get to my specific thank you, I want to tell you a little bit about our family. First, we are from Canada. My husband, Steve, and I are parents to three beautiful boys. Parker is five, Aiden is almost three, and Finn just turned…
Read MoreHow Having an Autistic Child Affected My Marriage
To say our son was a challenging baby is an understatement. He didn’t sleep through the night for four years. We functioned in a constant state of exhaustion. He screamed most of his infancy. He struggled to eat. He struggled to poop. He was never content. He had never ending severe ear infections and multiple tubal surgeries. He missed milestones. He was even misdiagnosed a few times. Because of his delays and no real diagnosis the medical debt from therapy started piling onto the credit cards. Money got tight. And…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Aunt Glenda
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Brandy Bennett and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor my Aunt Glenda, my son’s Mimi. She truly is a blessing to me and Trevor and I can’t thank her enough for all she has done and all she continues to do. At 26 weeks pregnant, I was admitted in the hospital for pre-term labor. I was dilated 2cm, had a bulging bag and was 100% effaced. As soon as my family heard I was…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Son’s Angel Nana
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Kayla Stewart and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor my Mom Tammy, who is now my son’s Angel Nana up above. My son Dawson is going to be four at the end of this month and was diagnosed with autism on March 6th, 2017 at the age of 3.5 years old. Although he is nonverbal, he can sign a song in a heartbeat. He loves being hugged tight and being held high. And oh,…
Read MoreWhy Do I Advocate for Disability Rights?
I have been asked more times than I can count why I advocate for people with disabilities. I’ve heard statements like ‘Why don’t you just buy the stroller yourself?‘ Or, ‘Why do you always seem to be fighting some battle around autism?‘ My answer is simple. It’s the right thing to do. I have the means, a voice, the ability and the passion. And I do it for the people that cannot. I advocate for the people that don’t have a voice and for people that can’t advocate for themselves.…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Mother
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Ashley Mohesky and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to nominate and honor my mother, Shawnda. My mother, Shawnda, has been my rock since the day I was born. At birth, I weighed two pounds, ten ounces. I lost oxygen to the cerebellum (part of the brain that controls the muscles), and doctors said I would either be in a vegetative state, or die. I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) shortly after. My amazing mother…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: Miss G
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Jenna Newman and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to nominate and honor my son’s preschool teacher, Miss Guerrini, or as we call her, Miss G! When my son Tommy was born, he had a very hard time breathing on his own and was put on breathing machine. Thankfully, he was only on it for a days and in the NICU for about a week. Today, Tommy is six years old and is autistic and…
Read MoreI’m Thankful For You: My Daughter’s Village
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Cynthia Beneteau and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to nominate and honor my daughter’s little village. Hi Kate, my name is Cynthia and I have an almost three year old daughter on the spectrum. My husband and I live in Michigan and have been married for nearly 20 years. We have two adult neuro-typcial sons who are 19 and almost 21. Ellyana, our princess, was a complete and total unplanned miracle baby. I conceived her…
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