Written by: Odile Swartz
Article source: JOY! Magazine
“You cannot eradicate ignorance by remaining ignorant yourself.” When God dropped this word into my spirit, it felt like a mammoth task. My son was diagnosed only two years ago, and my knowledge was minimal compared to those who have been on this journey for 20 years. Yet, in the last eight months, God has given me countless opportunities to educate others, proving that nothing is impossible. Eradicating ignorance means educating one individual at a time, which can lead to an educated family and, ultimately, an educated world.
Phoenix and Mom Odile
Progress over perfection
Parenting an autistic child is both beautiful and hard – but isn’t all parenting, whether your child is neurotypical or neurodivergent? The word “autism” first entered our lives after a phone call from my son’s preschool principal, Jessica – a beautiful soul we will forever cherish for her bravery. Had it not been for her, our son may have continued to regress and withdraw. The label “autistic” became part of our lives less than a month later when our then three-year-old was formally diagnosed.
God’s hand at work
The wisdom and grace with which our lives have evolved can only be attributed to God’s hand at work over our son. Phoenix has always been a fighter, breaking stereotypes since birth. He was born unresponsive at 28 weeks and five days, with a condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart condition affecting premature babies. Phoenix spent ten weeks in NICU, but through fervent prayer, God supernaturally healed him. He was discharged weighing just two kg at two months old, without needing heart surgery. Today, looking at Phoenix, you’d never guess his early struggles. At five years old, he towers over his peers, weighing nearly 25 kg.
Acceptance through faith
Autism has changed our lives in ways we never imagined. When you pray for your “next”, be ready for whatever God sends. As Bible-believing Christians, we chose to accept our son’s diagnosis. This was our breakthrough moment. Many may disagree, arguing that doctors don’t always have the final say. I believe God places doctors on this earth for a reason. While we accept Phoenix’s diagnosis, we are now able to pray with knowledge and understanding, trusting God specifically for his milestones and any challenges he may face.
Family at Christmas (mommy Odile, Phoenix, and daddy Jeremy)
Learning and growing
These two years have been a journey of research, advocacy, learning terms like “stimming”, “sensory overload”, and “neurodiverse”. We’ve experienced errors and victories, as well as miracles, big and small. The life we envisioned for our family has changed. God has given us a new mandate – to join the beautiful special needs community and to advocate for education.
A new way of raising our son
Autism is an explanation, not an excuse. We’ve had to unlearn many things to raise Phoenix according to his unique needs – how he sees the world, his learning style, and interacting with others. His way of seeing the world, learning, playing, and interacting is unique. Before the diagnosis, we noticed Phoenix had an exceptional memory and loved watching the same parts of videos repeatedly. Now, we know he is a Gestalt language processor. We adjusted our teaching methods, and today he’s thriving – step by step, day by day.
Miracles along the way
Two weeks after the diagnosis, Phoenix joined Neuro Kids SA, a learning centre for children on the spectrum. Since then, we’ve seen miracles: improved social skills, eye contact, toilet trained, and an expanding safe foods range, to name a few. We’re currently working on skills like kicking a ball, scissor cutting, and pencil grip – activities Phoenix finds challenging due to sensory processing issues.
Phoenix at 2 years old
To God be all the glory
This August, we reflected on two years of our journey. All we can say is, “To God be all the glory.” We are blessed with an affectionate, energetic bookworm who loves letters, numbers, and singing. Of course, there are days when I shed tears, but then I see all God is doing in my son. When Phoenix unexpectedly answers without scripting, the joy and shock fuel my determination to encourage other parents that this is not the end, but merely the beginning. With God, we are empowered to walk this road with joy and strength.
A journey of faith
There remains a lack of education and a stigma around autism, making this a lonely journey at times. People withdraw, but God sends others who love and seek to understand Phoenix. To our village – thank you! Your support makes a significant difference. The road ahead is long and unknown, as Phoenix is only five. But as a Christ-centred special needs family, we have, by faith, taken on this baton of education and advocacy, and with Christ leading the way, and in His might, we will fulfil this mandate.
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Date published: 23/11/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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