We just received another piece of Xander’s puzzle.
Although I knew what the SLP (speech language pathologist) was going to say in her assessment I am still a little overwhelmed. For some reason it’s completely different to read the words to describe my son when they are written on the Alberta Health Services letterhead.
Our appointment with her was amazing. She was kind, soft spoken and very friendly. She fell victim to Xander’s sweet nature like most people do, and of course that caused us to love her right back.
She was very upfront and at the end of the appointment she told us that by her testing Xander had a severe receptive language delay and a mild expressive one. She commented extensively on Xander’s behavior and what she thought about it all, and I breathed a sigh of relief with every comment she made about Xander’s beautiful quirks.
Weird right?
“He doesn’t make much eye contact, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t anymore.” Deep breath.
“Does he always line things up like that? Like those chairs?”
“Yes he does. He groups like things together. Sometimes in lines, sometimes in bags, sometimes in boxes.” Relief.
“All of these toys here, and Xander has been focused almost exclusively on that hand sanitizer dispenser for 20 minutes. Is this normal behavior for him?”
She sees it. She gets it. She understands!
You see, from the moment you “know” deep down in your gut that your child is special it becomes a tug of war. You try to assemble your team, people who see what you see, people who love your child like you do, and then you pull with all of your might to get your child’s needs addressed. I cannot express my gratitude to the very important people who took me seriously from the very beginning. Patrick, our family Doc, and the family members who began to add themselves to our team. Soon after that we had a Pediatrician, and other medical professionals have come to our side of the rope.
When I sat down and read the SLP’s report this afternoon I knew that we had yet another team member.
” Xander’s attention, behavior and communication difficulties place him at risk for difficulties in school, and difficulties interacting with other children. His parents are doing an excellent job using strategies to improve these difficulties and are accessing an extensive support system.”
“He would benefit from the opportunity to be with other children in a structured, language-rich environment, with particular support in the area of communication and behaviour.”
When I came to you all and asked for your help and guidance you really pulled through. We are still struggling, still pulling to get Xander’s health addressed and I will never stop fighting. But thanks to you all, and to every single person on our team, I am not the only one pulling.
We are doing this, and we are surviving it with our sanity intact, with your help.
Thank you.
>
She sounds like a wonderful person. May all of your “team” members be like that and all on the same page.
I am glad you are finding a team. I feel for you. Keep us posted. You’re an amazing mom.
You sound so much more hopeful and upbeat! So glad you’ve found a team!
hugs from paula
So happy you are getting the support you need. Your relief is evident in your writing! Your SLP sounds like a gem!
Progress…..!!!!!!!!
Yes, yes yes! And I love how your post makes the diagnostic process and his team the puzzle, rather than making HIM a puzzle piece. (The autism puzzle piece analogy drives me kind of nuts, but they way you’ve done it here, it feels so perfect.) You are getting there, and you’re doing exactly the things he needs. Your little guy is awesome, and as he celebrates the big 03, he’s got some awesome people behind him, starting with you. I love this lady for acknowledging you and your husband.
I am glad to hear that you have found another team member and another resource. It is good to know you are feeling like you have more support.