Posts

I’m Thankful For You: My Son’s Occupational Therapist

November 27, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Valerie McMahon and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor and thank my son’s Occupational Therapist, Debbie. I can’t thank her enough for the help she has given us. A little bit about our family! We moved from Maine to South Carolina when our son was 18 months old. My husband, Patrick’s dad, is a State Trooper and I am a stay at home mom. In my gut I knew he wasn’t a typical…

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A Conversation with Cooper’s Brother

November 26, 2017

Last night I was putting my four year old to bed after a particularity hard autism day. I’m to the point in our journey where I can openly admit when autism is hard. I can also admit when motherhood in general is hard. I have two amazing kids. Cooper, my funny, silly, train loving boy, who has autism, is six years old. And his brother Sawyer, is my energetic, smart, curious four year old. Together, they are the perfect storm of joy and chaos. Yesterday, Jamie and I had reached…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Son’s Speech Therapist

November 26, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Samantha Fawns and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor and thank my son’s Speech Therapist, Mrs. Marti. We are who we are today, because of Mrs. Marti. My name is Sam and my first child, Carter Rue has autism. All I ever wanted to be was a mama. From the day he was born, I spent every minute with Carter. Playing with him, trying to read to him, trying to teach him words,…

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A Message to the Parent of a Newly Diagnosed Child

November 25, 2017

Your child has just been diagnosed with Autism. You heard about me from a friend of a friend. Or maybe you found me on Facebook. Or you emailed me at 1 AM as you were frantically googling autism in the middle of the night. You are so confused and scared. You feel like you’ve lost control of your life. I see you. I understand what you are feeling. I was you. I am you. You are going to look to me for hope. You are going to search through hundreds…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Daughter Selena

November 25, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Christina Abernethy and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor and thank Selena, my understanding, passionate and kind hearted daughter. There are many people that I could write about that help our sweet ‘Bubba’ but she’s the one who stands out the most! Selena is 15 years old and the best big sister to our twin boys Ethan and Braidan.  They are six years old and in first grade. Ethan (nickname ‘Bubba’) is our…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Husband

November 24, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Jamie Happel and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor and thank my husband, Chris Happel. He is an absolutely amazing husband and father. Chris and I met last year at the hospital we both work at. He is an Emergency Physician and I am a Radiographer and Mammographer. Fast forward a year later and we are now a crazy, fun and loving blended family with six children. Our children are ages 20, 13,…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Amazing Daughter

November 23, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Jennifer Hood and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to honor and thank my 24-year-old daughter Keegan. Or as she is known in our home, Sissy. I’ve raised an amazing daughter and I want her to know how truly thankful and appreciative I am for her. A little bit about our family. My husband and I have five children total. His, mine, and ours! They range in age from 4 to 24. When my 4-year-old…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Mother-in-Law

November 22, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Cathy Fitzgerald and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) My name is Cathy Fitzgerald and I am the mammy to a beautiful, funny, cheeky little 4-year-old train obsessed boy named Caelan. Along with his daddy Ed, we all live in Boyle in County Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland. This November I want to honor and thank my Mother-in-Law Trish, the best Nana ever. Caelan was diagnosed with ASD on February 14 of this year…a valentines I will never forget.…

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And Just Like That, Hope Bubbles Up

November 22, 2017

There is a funny thing that happens when you have a child with autism. When I walked out of Cooper’s diagnosis appointment, I felt every single emotion possible. We waited for 7 months for that appointment. The day came. The appointment happened. We got the diagnosis. We left. I cried. Everything was immediately different yet exactly the same. I was not the same woman that I was just a few minutes prior. I was an autism parent. A special needs parent. I had a label. I was immediately different from…

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I’m Thankful For You: My Best Friend

November 21, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Gina Schaal and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.) This November I would like to recognize and give a huge thank you to my best friend, Sanna Jensen.  She is not only my friend but my son’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA) and lifesaver for our family! First, some background about my family. I live in Minnesota with my husband, Dan, my two sons, a cat and a dog!  My oldest son, Carter is currently 13 and is nonverbal. As an…

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