Limitless Potential

I had the opportunity to be with a mom of a newly diagnosed child on the autism spectrum this evening. She was sad. There were tears. I distinctly remember my own confusion, fear, overwhelmedness, and pain at Sandis's diagnosis. I remember my own tears, and I felt this mother's tears as though I cried them myself. But I also had something to offer this mom. I have a different perspective having travelled this road post-diagnosis for approximately 8 months (I know, I'm no veteran but bear with me here).

Perspective is such a tricky thing. One moment in mournful desperation I have begged for something different and in the next I praise the Lord for the opportunities to learn and love that have been granted me. And in my perspective I had something to offer this mother. I had hope. I wish I could have i.v. infused this hope, but I could only show her what I have and what my family has gained post-daignosis.

Today I mourn for another mother's lost dreams. And I in turn celebrate that same mother regaining her dreams, albeit slightly different. Lastly I celebrate another child's capabilities being realized. Because that is what Sandis's diagnosis gave us. It gave us a key to Sandis; with all his joys and all his difficulties and all his potential.

Potential. All of my boy's limitless potential.

It is scary to think of potential when everywhere you turn post-diagnosis is a litany pertaining to assistance that will be needed for life.

But you know what? I need the assistance of insulin for all of my life to live my life, well, at all. My daughter needs the assistance of her braces to help her walk in a way that is fluid, safe, and effective. And who would say to either of us, despite our indefinite need for services, that our potential is limited in any way?

I hope that I gave this mother a way to find her own key to her daughter, with all of her beautiful joys, all of her frustrating difficulties, and most of all.....Her limitless potential.