TWO YEARS LATER.....A NEW BLOG!

Well it has been a very long two years since I posted to my blog. In the last two years my life has been turned upside down, sideways and any other adjective you can use to describe what it means to survive. Throughout my tribulations in the last two years I quickly learned what it felt like to be unemployed and the effects a foreclosure can have on your life. In many aspects I also found out what a true friend is. I've loved, lost, conquered and survived! I'm proud to say that throughout all the darkness, I was brought back to the light! I'm still standing!! To God be the glory!!!

The Effects Autism has On Family

For the last fourteen years Autism has affected my family in so many different ways.My little sister Ciara has autism and it has literally taken over our lives. My sister just turned sixteen years old this past Christmas eve. The older she gets it seems the worse her Autism gets. Ciara is non-verbal and communicates with us through sign language.My sister is extremely intelligent and smart,she understands the difference between yes and no. Ciara is nobody's fool,when she does wrong she laughs..hmmm I know a few folks who have nothing wrong with them who acquire this behavior.

However,I have been helping my mother raise her ever since we found out her condition.I can say that it is extremely overwhelming and burdening to say the least. Ciara has gotten to the age where she likes to fight,she is extremely aggressive.When she doesn't get her way you can expect a bit of mayhem. There are different levels of Autism and my sister has an extreme case of it.I swear my mom and I have been through every possible avenue to get Ciara the help she needs but it just seems like nothing or no one is out there.We get so many agencies telling us well she has to be eighteen and this and that.When was it a requirement to help a child who so desperately needs it?

My mom is totally at her wits end and is ready to throw in the towel.I try as hard as I can to stay strong for her but there is only so much I can do.It is also saddening that we have so many family members but no one ever calls or comes over to see how she is or just basically spend time with her.Her father lives only ten minutes away and the goof isn't involved in no way shape or form other then the child support payments.His parents only send her gifts during Christmas but we never hear from them throughout the year.

Autism has had many effects on so many different families in so many different ways.I came to realize only the people who have the money for the type of treatments needed get all the help they want while the ones who really need it get shunned and turned away.My mom and I work with my sister as much as we can,but it gets old and tiring.For anyone who does not understand Autism...Feel free to ask me questions and/or comment! I will respond happily!

Also anyone who has information on Autism feel free to drop me a line and I will get back with you!