Aaron's Disabilities
or should I say ABILITIES
Hello my name is Judy
And my son Aaron Michael has
ADHD, OCD, ODD, Bipolar and
Tourette's Syndrome and in November of 2003 he was diagnosed
as Autistic at UCLA Hospital Autism Center.
He also deals with many sensory issues and two disorders that are called
Intermittent Explosive Disorder..
and Seasonal Effective Disorder..
So many of these disorders are so
much alike that is makes it really hard sometimes to
distinguish one from another. It
is called Co-Morbid.
I made this page so that other parents
would understand that there is help
out there for our children.
And most important that they are not alone!
This is Aaron with Nathan he is a very dear friends son who
is like family to us , Nathan calls him Uncle Aaron.
Aaron is 16 years old and has been on
medication since he was 3 1/2.
Without medication we had no life.
We could not take him anywhere without
a fight and a struggle.
Outsiders would look at him and think
that he was a spoiled child,
throwing a fit because he was not getting his way.
There is one thing I have learned from Aaron
having these disabilities.
Never judge other parents when you see
them out with their children you do not know what kind
of problems that child may have.
The children that have these kind of disabilities
are usually very loving, caring children
They are truly called
"The Misunderstood Child"
THE MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD
I am the child that looks healthy and fine.
I was born with ten fingers and toes.
But something is different, somewhere in my mind.
And what it is, nobody knows.
I am the child who struggles in school,
Though they say that I'm perfectly smart.
They tell me I'm lazy - can learn if I try -
But I don't seem to know where to start.
I am the child who won't wear the clothes
Which hurt me or bother my feet.
I dread sudden noises, can't handle most smells,
And tastes - there are few foods I'll eat.
I am the child who can't catch the ball
And runs with an awkward gait.
I am the one chosen last on the team
And I cringe as I stand there and wait.
I am the child with whom no one will play -
The one that gets bullied and teased.
I try to fit in and I want to be liked,
But nothing I do seems to please.
I am the child who tantrums and freaks
Over things that seem petty and trite.
You'll never know how I panic inside,
When I'm lost in my anger and fright.
I am the child who fidgets and squirms
Though I'm told to sit still and be good
Do you think that I choose to be out of control?
Don't you know that I would if I could?
I am the child with the broken heart
Though I act like I don't really care.
Perhaps there's a reason God made me this way -
Some message he sent me to share.
For I am the child who needs to be loved
And accepted and valued too.
I am the child that is misunderstood,
I am different - but look just like you.
to try and get the therapeutic medication levels right.
In the past 11 years he has been on medications such as....
Mellaril, Prozac, Neurontin, Wellbutrin, Depacote, Zyprexa, Clonidine, Adderall, Moban, Thorzine, Topamax, Cogentin, Topriamate, Tenex, Lithium, Tegretol, Ritalin, Risperdol, Concerta, Cylert, Seroquel, Haldol, Paxil, Strattera, Abilify, Trileptal, Geodon, Atarax, Celexa and Trazadone.
These are not all of the ones he has been on but gives you an idea of the number of medications there are out there on the market to help our children.
Sometimes when a child has ADHD along with other
disorders the medications will not work, in fact
some stimulant medications can make
those with Bipolar lash out and even get more angry.
Aaron attends a Non Public School for
children with special needs and learning disabilities
for children who have problems similar to his.
Sensory
Modulation Disorder Link
Currently his medications are..
Zyprexa, Lamicital, Celexa, Dextroamphetamine, Ativan and Trazadone.
These kids at times can be quite destructive
And they have so much energy
and are always running.....
Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids who don't always get A's,
The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,
And noses that go on for days . . .
Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids they call crazy or dumb,
The kids who don't fit, with the guts and the grit,
who dance to a different drum . . .
Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids with the mischievous streak,
For when they have grown, as history's shown,
It's their difference that makes them unique.
This is Aaron's Blues Brothers look..
Medications
I guess this is one of the things
that irritates me the most is when
some people discuss medications.
There are many people out there
who label "US PARENTS" as
DRUG PUSHERS
Well they are so wrong and they
obviously do not have a child
with Severe A.D.H.D. and or
other disabilities.
Of course I would love not to have
to give my son medications......
But the reality is my son can have no similarity
of a real life without some help from medications.
"Zombie?"
This comment is consistent with the
view that medications are evil.
First of all, calling medications
"Drugs" is word loading.
By putting negative spin on the word,
you pass judgment on the people
who do use them.
Zombie is also an inaccurate word.
Anyone who uses the word to describe a child on Ritalin
or any other type of medication for their disability
is probably a parent whose child DOES NOT have A.D.H.D.
Ritalin and other medications do not have that effect on a true ADD'r.
If an unfavorable reaction does occur,
it might be because the dosage is wrong,
not because the medication doesn't work...
You should not pass judgment on those who use medications.
We, as Aaron's parents
will sometimes ask why? As well as I am sure of many of you, who have children with similar disabilities have asked this question. Even though we should not question
God as to WHY? We still do it because we are human and often times we blame ourselves, thinking it must have been something we did to cause Aaron to be born this way.
But then I think of the Scripture in the Bible and I apply this scripture to Aaron's Disabilities.
John Chapter 9 Verses 1-3
9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
So when I look at things in this perspective I realize
that God gave Aaron
to us for a reason and we may never know the reason why.
The Bible said the works of God should be made manifest in him. Maybe God is using Aaron to show people that you should not be so quick to judge. Things are not always black and white. And just because Aaron looks perfectly normal on the outside, he has many mental issues on the inside. Some people need to realize that spanking a child is not always the answer. I do not believe that when God said spare the rod, spoil the child that he was speaking about a mentally
handicapped child. As a parent of a child with multiple mental handicaps I feel this is the one area that gets to me the
most. When the people who claim to know everything, say all he needs is just a good
spanking OR if Aaron was my child he would be spanked. Well, I tell these people that is why God gave Aaron to me and not to you.
Maybe what the County comic Bill Engvall applies here. Here's Your Sign. (smile)
Parents more than anything always be Patient
and give your child lots of hugs and remember...
Always say
The Midi you are listening to is TWIN PEAKS by Enya....
