Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
While many people are celebrating 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day and New Year’s Eve with fireworks, bazookas, gunshots, laser shows and other stimulating activity, my son JJ is generally up all night vomiting, sweating, shaking in fear and experiencing sheer terror and massive anxiety attacks in the midst of all the stimulation from festivities in our neighborhood.
Up until our family received the diagnosis of autism concerning him, we were oblivious to his condition and responses. I’ve since learned that it is human nature not to concern ourselves with a thing if it doesn’t affect us directly. For most people, children like JJ are not apart of their reality — outside of passing them on the street or interacting in another type of environment.
JJ changed all that for us — opening our eyes to a whole new world. Despite the challenges, it has been a tremendous journey of acceptance and love. We have been changed forever by his wonderful life.