Beautiful Autumn

2003

Today, I am celebrating Autumn, my daughter, and her will to heal and choice to live life to its fullest regardless of her physical delays. And, in order to do that, I have to say thank you’s to the people who have helped her most in her achievements. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the depth of my soul for the care you have given to Autumn – I know it is what has moved her from the "floppy" baby I held on my lap at her first Transformational Gate to the fully aware, compassionate, willful, ready to take on life to its fullest little girl she is today. At 6 months of age, I was told by the medical profession that Autumn would most likely not be able to function in society – that she would be disabled for life.

At 6 months old, she was hypotonic (weak, muscles not contracting) in the trunk and spastic in the extremities, slightly autistic, and having seizures. She could not even prop herself up when lying on her stomach. After her first Transformational Gate, she began to use her paraspinal muscles for the first time. All she wanted to do was stretch like an airplane for weeks. That was the beginning. After her second Gate, she began to pull to a stand and speak. After her third Gate, we rushed her to the hospital because of her first extreme asthma attack – the beginning of her intense emotional healing. She has not had an asthma attack for a year now. The real reason for this letter is that yesterday, I was told by her school that Autumn will be attending a regular Kindergarten in the Fall regardless of her physical, motor handicap. She is actually more advanced cognitively than most 5 year olds! And her physical therapy and occupational therapy have her on target to walk by 7 years old. None of this would have been possible without this care. I truly believe that her “cerebellar atrophy” (MRI diagnosed hypoplasia vs. atrophy after birth) was the result of a vaccine she was given 3 days after birth (before I was educated about vaccinations). I have read a couple of articles which stated that less than 5% of children exhibiting the same impairments as Autumn at 1 year would ever be functional, physically or cognitively.

The healing process my daughter and I have walked together has been painful, loving, and arduous at times. But, we both thank you for being in our lives, and being a guide for us on our healing path.

All my love,
Tiffanee

When asked if we could share this story, Tiffanee replied…

Of course you can use the story about "Autter pop". Love to share the gift of what Donny has given to me -- my daughter's health! You know something else amazing that I have seen with her, as she has grown into a 10 year old in third grade, is her sense of self. As a parent, it is easy to worry that your child may not have friends because they are different. Autumn walks with a walker. And what I have noticed with Autumn is there is no need to worry! She has so many friends we can't keep up with the playdates. At school they call it Automania! And whenever a child asks her why she needs the walker, Autumn calmly and compassionately explains without any tone of “poor me”. She is amazingly self assured and one of the most courageous people I know. She is my teacher. Yesterday she took her first ballet class. Yep, I cried. Thank you for wanting to share the story about Autumn. I celebrate that!