FoggyRock General Forum

I guess I would feel guilty in a way because I would always have the nagging doubt that a part of me would do it to make things easier...for me.  Of course, I would really be doing it for Gage, but there would always be that feeling that God made Gage this way for a reason.  But, yes, I am sure I would do it, too.

In a heartbeat. She is going to need someone to help her with living a simple life, much less doing anything complicated. Who will be there for her when I'm gone (the gramma), when her daddy is gone (he will need help himself in the future as he is dealing with Parkinson's), and when her mommy is gone? That's a big burden to put on the shoulder's of her sister who has strong ADHD and it may interfere with her making a life of her own.

If she could become someone who could manage all the everyday tasks that neuro-typical folks don't even think twice about there wouldn't be any choice at all for me. I would want that for her. It would open up a whole world of choices that it doesn't look like she will be able to avial herself of as a person with Autism.

I might get stoned for this reply, but ABSOLUTELY!!!!  I would give that pill in a second.

My son was not born with Autism.  He was a typically developing child who regressed at the age of 17 months.  His personality was already there for us to enjoy.  That same laid back, loving and silly boy is still visable, but complicated by the brain/body changes from Autism.

His Autistic traits are not 'him'.  I hope that makes sense. 

Granted, it would be another adjustment, but I don't think I'd miss the slow processing speed, anxiety, language delays, GI distress and bug phobia one bit!  THAT is our Autism.

We love Benjamin's quirky "weirdness" and would never want anything to take that away (we are also quirky and weird) BUT I also know that Benjamin is so often frustrated and miserable because of how his disability affects his life.  We have always stressed to him that he needs to be proud of who he is but that he also should understand that he has a disability that can make many things difficult for him so that he can hopefully have a better understanding of why he is so often frustrated.  It would be wonderful if there were something that could ease some of that frustration and give him (and yes, the people he loves) some peace.  OK...BUT...I have read Flowers for Algernon too many times to not be very aware that there is no easy answer and the results of "miracle" interventions can result in worse nightmares!

I feel all of you have covered ever point I have thought about.
I do know that for my other two boys , it's hard . I feel they are going to grow up
resenting Sammy. My oldest wants to be a scientist to make the "pill"
he has always wanted to just play with his brother. I feel I would be doing it for selfish
reasons.I love so many things about Sammy he has Autism but Austim is NOT HIM I don't want o change him. I think about it this way. If he had a broken arm I would want to fix it, not leave it there hanging. I want Sammy to be the best Sammy he can be inside and out.I have learned alot from him .

After reading everyone else's posts and thinking about it for awhile...I'm still torn..There's a part of me that wishes that Nolan was "normal" and there's a part of me that wouldn't change him for the world. There are days (more than i'd like to admit) that I'm very frustrated because of all the repeating and  the meltdowns.