Marc PipitoneCan one small pill really change the entire texture of a family living with autism???
August 2nd 2008 16:52
It takes a community to raise a child, they say, but sometimes raising a child with disabilities feels more like chronic isolation-- a world completely built on you and your child. Before my son, I belonged to countless "communities." I was a student, a wife, a neighbor, an employee, a student of Tae Kwon Do.... every day I moved through the various social spheres of my life, taking in all the benefits and offerings of belonging. These days, however, my spheres can be counted on one hand and if it weren't for my supportive family, I don't know how I would manage.
My family has been an endless source of love and support, both for myself and for Max. They are the people I can count on to provide respite when I've spent the last of my energy; they are the people who get me out of my house and let me breathe. The job of finding trustworthy, competent and reliable Personal Care Assistants borders on impossible, but again, my family fills the gap. What do parents do without this support? I can hardly imagine.
Two weeks ago, we made the difficult decision to finally put Max on Risperdal. As I mentioned in earlier posts, it's been a tough summer with Max. He was getting extremely aggressive and hurting people on a daily basis. One minute you would be standing next to him and the next he would be pushing you down the stairs, laughing uncontrollably as you broke through the window at the bottom of the stairway. The worse he hurt you, the more he laughed. Every intervention, no matter how creative, was failing and the medications he was taking were no longer tempering his impulsive, dangerous behaviors. So, we decided to try Risperdal and so far, it is just short of miraculous!
In two short weeks, Max has become so much happier, no longer falling to the floor in devastating frustration over every little problem. He is loving, sweet, playful, silly, and inquisitive. He is talking (unintelligbly) non-stop, practicing his letters and numbers and even pronouncing a few of them with the appropriate sounds. He is coping better with transitions and enjoying the company of his cousins and peers. His summer school teacher, who was not told about the change in Max's medication, said that the past two weeks have been Max's best days all year! He hasn't hurt anyone, not even Murphey, our family dog (though our cat is still hiding out in the basement just to be safe!). Autism teaches us not to get too optimistic, after years of broken promises. But I can't help but to relax into this new Max. He has given more self-motivated affection (mostly quick hugs and kisses) in the past two weeks than in the past eight years! My heart is melting!
Risperdal is also re-opening our social spheres. We have taken Max to places that normally end in disaster. He had a wonderful time at my brother's house, playing with his two younger cousins and never once hurt either of them! This was a first!
My parents were able to take Max and his cousin Izzy to the Star Wars show at the Minnesota Science Museum. He had a wonderful day at the Minnesota Zoo, where he giggled at the roosters, touched the goats, and chased his cousin through the grain tunnels. These are all experiences that would have been totally different before the Risperdal. Max would have screamed, hit, thrown things... anything to refuse social participation. And if he had chosen to interact, it would have been done inappropriately and/or dangerously-- by throwing sand at his cousin, for example.
Tonite, we're taking Max to my friend's house for a birthday party/BBQ and I'm not filled with anxiety... I can actually having a sucessful night out with my son and that is nothing short of a miracle. And while I know there is a lot of controversy around the issue of prescribing psychotropic medication in children, when I see the constant smile on my son's face, I can't help but believe we made the right decision.
Max with his Grandma and Grandpa
Two weeks ago, we made the difficult decision to finally put Max on Risperdal. As I mentioned in earlier posts, it's been a tough summer with Max. He was getting extremely aggressive and hurting people on a daily basis. One minute you would be standing next to him and the next he would be pushing you down the stairs, laughing uncontrollably as you broke through the window at the bottom of the stairway. The worse he hurt you, the more he laughed. Every intervention, no matter how creative, was failing and the medications he was taking were no longer tempering his impulsive, dangerous behaviors. So, we decided to try Risperdal and so far, it is just short of miraculous!
can one little pill really change everythingg?
In two short weeks, Max has become so much happier, no longer falling to the floor in devastating frustration over every little problem. He is loving, sweet, playful, silly, and inquisitive. He is talking (unintelligbly) non-stop, practicing his letters and numbers and even pronouncing a few of them with the appropriate sounds. He is coping better with transitions and enjoying the company of his cousins and peers. His summer school teacher, who was not told about the change in Max's medication, said that the past two weeks have been Max's best days all year! He hasn't hurt anyone, not even Murphey, our family dog (though our cat is still hiding out in the basement just to be safe!). Autism teaches us not to get too optimistic, after years of broken promises. But I can't help but to relax into this new Max. He has given more self-motivated affection (mostly quick hugs and kisses) in the past two weeks than in the past eight years! My heart is melting!
Risperdal is also re-opening our social spheres. We have taken Max to places that normally end in disaster. He had a wonderful time at my brother's house, playing with his two younger cousins and never once hurt either of them! This was a first!
Max was able to pet the goats even with his severe sensory issues!
Tonite, we're taking Max to my friend's house for a birthday party/BBQ and I'm not filled with anxiety... I can actually having a sucessful night out with my son and that is nothing short of a miracle. And while I know there is a lot of controversy around the issue of prescribing psychotropic medication in children, when I see the constant smile on my son's face, I can't help but believe we made the right decision.
| 108 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Anonymous
~ Heather
Comment by Deirdre