Yesterday was Izzys last day with therapist Extroardinare, Jasmon. Monday she starts a new therapist, and her newly defined goals. It’s something they do in ABA, rotate therapists. I now see the reasoning and need for that, but we’re gonna miss Jasmon.

Izzys first 6 mos of ABA are under her belt and she’s progressed so much. We’re looking forward to May when she will complete her program and enjoy a free summer before returning to public school in the Fall. Where she will be going is still to be determined.

Izzy started with Jasmon in September, And she has been so great for the whole family. Izzy and Jasmon started in-center, did in-home for 5 weeks and are now back in-center. Jasmon pushed Izzy like no other. She immediately identified needs and goals for Izzy and she dove right in on getting those accomplished. And the results—a daily routine, no defiance, communication, interacting successfully with others whom Izzy doesn’t like interacting with, ability to do virtual learning and virtual conversations (zoom), chores at home and the center, sleeping in her own room/bed, picking out her own clothes, showering frequently, keeping her room clean(ish), eating her breakfast downstairs, having a morning routine that gets us out the door on time(ish) and doing her schoolwork independently. All of these changes in addition to having fun while doing it. Izzy adores Jasmon.

Izzy still pulls her hair, although apparently not at the center. Which makes me happy she doesn’t pull at the center, but a little frustrated that she pulls at home/around us. And Bearbear is still very much her comfort item. And they are not going to try and “get rid” of Bearbear as a part of her program. And for that I am grateful. If we are honest with ourselves, we each have that comfort item in our own life. Mine is a teddy bear who sleeps in my bed…and also my hair. I twirl my hair when I’m anxious. No one asks me, or expects me to leave those items behind, and no one will ask that of Izzy. She will do it in her own time…if she wants to.

Our clinical director came to the house this week to review Izzys progress and upcoming program goals with Todd and I. It was so encouraging seeing the progress in her report and hearing how proud Angela is of Izzy. Hearing so many good things about her and the things she does at the center was refreshing. (We haven’t had many of those discussions in the past). Angela was practically gushing about our girl. They have her looking at clubs to join in school and ways to make some good friends once she gets back to school. They have her identify her values and her goals, and encourage her not only thinking about what she wants to do after HS, but researching those ideas. Izzy can visualize being a baker or chef, or a vet or vet tech, even a business owner some day.

Angela sees compassion in Izzy as she interacts and assists the other kids at the center (some much more impacted by their autism than she is). And she sees how Izzy learns about and accepts others who are different than herself. Izzy has a huge heart, and she loves fiercely to those whom she lets near. This week, Izzy had to come back to my office with me after ABA for a meeting I had. I asked Ashley and Tammy to go in and speak to her and let me know how Izzy reacted. My report from both of them was exciting! She talked and answered questions (without eye contact) appropriately and even wished Ashley a “good night” Major stuff.

I avoided ABA for so long. I wasn’t educated on it and what it could do for my girl. Without the push from Brad, I probably never would have actually looked into it. And without Brad and my wonderful support system I never would have enrolled her in it and dealt with those first few weeks where she was so angry, sad and scared about being there and I just wanted to tell her we’d quit. Think of the progress we would have lost had I done that.

As we travel the road of these last few months of ABA we will work hard on increasing Izzys self confidence, and furthering her strategies for those tough situations. I asked Angela what we do if she forgets those strategies and starts to revert. Her answer was simple: We work with her, and if that doesn’t help, we call Angela. How comforting it is to me that she’s there for Izzy even after we leave the program. Jasmon told us the same. What a blessing.

I have a wonderful friend who has travelled this road with us, who has been trying to get her daughter diagnosed for years, but because they were so proactive with therapies beginning at a very young age and her daughter has so many good strategies, no one would diagnose Autism. Her daughter had testing at the center last month. This week, they got the diagnosis they’ve been wanting, and not wanting, all along. I celebrated and cried with her. I know that mixed bag of feelings oh so well. I was right there in her shoes less than two years ago. But as she will now see, and I learned so quickly with the help of others (Tatia and Vicki and Jane), now they can get all the services they need.

I can’t thank our village enough these past 6 months (and ALL the months prior). I have been allowed, without judgement from my coworkers, to come to work at 9 and leave at 4 to get Izzy to and from the center. I will never be able to thank my doctors and Ali and Ashley enough for that bit of grace.

We are loved by those who celebrate the victories and encourage in the storms. Our storms are few and far between and our victories many right now. After years of struggles, we are breathing in the beauty of that statement.