Recently here at AutismSpot, we’ve been shining the spotlight on parents raising kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As we continue our “Spotlight” series in December, we’re featuring mothers from the Dallas/Fort Worth area found in the final photo of The Autism File Autism Mothers Unite Worldwide 2011 Calendar. Click here for more information about our “Spotlight” Series.

Today, it is my pleasure to share Leigh Dusek’s story about her family’s journey with Autism. Leigh’s story has taken many unexpected twists and turns in recent years but she asks for advice when she needs it, shares tips and solutions with others when she can and looks to God for grace when things get especially rough.

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When my husband and I decided to have children we were still newly married and completely excited. I had always wanted to be a mother since I was a child. I love to care for others, and I especially had always loved babies and children. I had worked in the mortgage business and quit to stay home with what was going to be many children we had planned. Steve, my husband was working in a restaurant while attending the Fire Academy. We have 3 children, Noah, Reagan and Gavin. Noah is currently 6, Reagan 4 and Gavin 2.

Noah was the perfect baby. He slept all of the time and ate great. He was so happy all of the time and I was impressed that he could play by himself and that he was so active. But, after Reagan was born I started becoming more worried about Noah’s speech. After 12 months I was worried and the Pediatrician said that it was common for boys to be delayed. However, it was now 18 months. He was yelling all the time and only using vowels. I have a friend that suggested I have him evaluated by ECI (Early Childhood Intervention). So I did, and they started services right away. We had speech every week for a little over a year with not much difference. I didn’t know what else to do. Then in 2007, he turned 3 and got to start in the PPCD(Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities) in the local school district. He then received Speech Therapy at school. A couple of months after he started there I asked the school to test him for Autism. A family member had asked if I had looked into the signs for autism. When I did, to me the “typical” signs on all of the websites didn’t apply to Noah. So I wasn’t sure what to think. While waiting for all of the testing which takes months, Noah started having seizures. At the hospital he was diagnosed with Epilepsy. He then had to be on anti-seizure medicine which severely changed his personality. We found a different medicine and got him closer to the same little happy boy he was.

Later that year we got the diagnosis. He was Autistic, specifically PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). I wasn’t shocked, but it was still a lot to absorb. After the diagnosis the school noticed he needed Occupational Therapy for his fine motor skills. He excelled in the therapy and after 1.5 years and he graduated from his goals with advanced skills. In the summer of 2010 we started him in Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy at Our Children’s House at Baylor. Besides his speech disorder they diagnosed him with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). They have been a tremendous resource and a great benefit to him. We love it there, they are like family.

In 2008, months after his diagnosis, we started him on a supplement to help calm him. With his SPD and ADHD bedtime was very hard. Later, we continued with different supplements and considered it an official biomedical treatment with everything he was on. He is currently on 5 supplements after his daily vitamins. We hope to try 3 new supplements in the next few months. We are also trying to find the right Social Skills group for him. Noah is a ton of fun, but he specifically loves to run away. I’ve had to drop everything (baby carrier, purse, etc...) just to chase him into the street. It’s such a fear for me, but we got him a watch type device that can locate him if he gets lost from EmFinders. It’s been such a comfort as he gets older and is out of our sight more.

When my younger son Gavin was born in June 2008, we got information about a study that Washington University in St. Louis was doing. They were/are doing an Infant Sibling Study for siblings of Autistic children. We have done MRI’s and developmental testing from age 6 months to 2 years. We just got back the clinical research from the study 1 month ago and were told that Gavin also is Autistic, specifically PDD-NOS as well.

In early 2009 Gavin was nearing 1 year old. His speech was severely delayed as well. We started with ECI and worked on speech therapy. He improved slightly, but we knew that he needed more. We got him evaluated and he is currently receiving Speech and Occupational Therapy at OCH Baylor as well. He is improving in Speech by leaps and bounds, however we still have a ways to go. He also has SPD and is always seeking sensory input. We have a therapy swing at home for Gavin and Noah and we spend a lot of time running outside or at playgrounds, chasing, tickling, and bouncing.

At the beginning of this school year, Noah started Kindergarten at his local Elementary. He was doing well, but having behavioral problems with transition. We had to move and I currently homeschool him and he’s doing great with his school work. He still goes to therapy 2x a week. Currently Gavin’s speech is improving, and his social skills are blossoming.

It’s been a hard transition the last 2 1/2 years, but it’s also been eye-opening and a huge blessing in our lives. I am so thankful to my sons first teacher Ms. Donovan, my email support group, and specifically my friends Leigh and Stacy. We wouldn’t be where we are now without all of them and their support and knowledge.

My husband and I now see everything in life in a different light and wouldn’t have it any other way. We feel blessed that now we can see the world through our sons’ eyes. They are just another miracle of God.

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Leigh Attaway Wilcox is a writer and editor for the projectLD family of companies. Leigh is Assistant Editor of the internationally acclaimed AutismSpot.com and her work can be found on many of the pLDNetworks sites. Leigh is a guest blogger for the Dallas Morning News on the Dallas Moms Blog and is the author of ALL BETTER: A Touch-and-Heal Book published by Piggy Toes Press in 2007. Leigh lives in North Texas with her husband and young son who loves reading, LEGOs, Mario Bros. and also happens to live with Asperger's Syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder.