Comments on: Tragedy, comedy, epic and autism every day: Sunt lacrimae rerum

By: Diane Dennis

Diane Dennis — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:38:05 +0000

Thank you Kristina! Have a good weekend and week!

Diane

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:39:42 +0000

Diane, thank you so much for writing here and for reading—please keep letting me know what you think. It means a lot. Am thinking of you and your family very much.

By: Autism Vox

Autism Vox — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 03:27:55 +0000

[...] Here are more of my thoughts about the Autism Every Day video in my post Tragedy, comedy, epic and autism every day: Sunt lacrimae rerum. ASD, Aspergers, autism, autism spectrum disorder, children, family, film, movie, parenting, PDD NOS, psychology, SundanceAdd to: January 20th, 2007 | Permalink | No Comments » [...]

By: Diane Dennis

Diane Dennis — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:35:54 +0000

Hi Kristina!

I have to say in all honesty that I read your post on a bad day (today)…

He was just released Monday from his latest stay and he was back to his tricks/issues/problems the very same day.

This morning we woke up to him cussing loudly and breaking things and after a week packed with appointments both doctor and state related and several poor night’s sleep his behavior this morning was just too much…

Thank you for helping me to remember that I need to find some good somewhere in each day. Unfortunately oftentimes that good is just looking forward to going to bed that night…

We’ve been told by many doctors that his prognosis is bad and that he’ll have to live with us forever, which wouldn’t necessarily be such a bad thing if he were a happier person but he’s just so angry all the time and it really affects all of us to such a great extent.

Today has been a day of tears for me…

Thank you for understanding and thank you again for being brave enough to post about what’s going on in your lives. While I’m jealous of your good times at the same time it kind of gives me hope that “maybe some day…”…

Diane

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:15:15 +0000

Thanks so much Diane. I haven’t had to go through what you have with your son, as far as ever having had to hospitalize Charlie; I’m never sure of what the future may hold for him. We’ve been through some terrifying times and maybe I try too hard to set things in the best light I can, but I long ago concluded I had to see some good in every day, no matter how awful, no matter how much violence happened, or what it felt like to have to police pull me over while Charlie was having some terrible moment in the car. I felt that if I did not, that things might look very bad indeed.

Thank you again—thank you.

By: Diane Dennis

Diane Dennis — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:50:12 +0000

I often read your posts but I’ve never taken the time to post a reply.

This time I’d like to say that while it’s wonderful that you have good moments with your child, it’s important to understand that many of us do not have those good moments.

At best we have “livable” moments. We (myself, my husband and our 15 year old daughter) don’t have laughter, joy and fun unless our son (13 years old) isn’t here (not here means he’s in a psychiatric ward).

When he’s here it’s difficult at best and tragic at worst.

I believe the reason for this is attributed to the co-diagnosis’ he’s dealing with (Bi-Polar, OCD, ODD, Depression, ADD, etc.), more so than due to his Asperger’s Syndrome.

So please, as you enjoy your son’s good moments, please do remember that there are many of us that truly do not have those good moments, but rather moments we are able to get through, at best.

Thank you for being brave enough, and for being able to find the time, to post about your life and experiences, and please do not take my post in a negative light, I’m just trying to point out that it’s true that many of us do not have the joy and laughter that you have.

Thank you again and have a good day,
Diane Dennis