After Leah’s ADOS evaluation, the Psychologist gave me a handwritten note that that had five names on if. She told me to not hesitate and call right away to let them know that she was the one referring us to them. As I took the note, I had no idea why or whom I was calling but I knew it was something that I had to do.
Prior to this I prayed the hardest I have ever done so in my life, I prayed for guidance, I prayed for support, and I prayed for someone to answer my call. The list had five names of both places and individuals that provided behavioral therapy. As I started calling each person, I would stop say a prayer asking for much needed guidance and for someone on the other end of the phone to answer my call and to be willing to help my young daughter. As I got to the bottom of the list an incredibly special someone answered my call, she had an opening in her schedule and was able to take on an additional client.
This picture was taken a few months after Leah started behavioral therapy; the significance is that this is the outfit that I dressed Leah in when we first met her therapist. I look back at this picture and it helps me reflect on the troubles I had connecting with my young daughter. Prior to behavioral therapy Leah had a solid concrete barrier that was placed around her, and I felt that she was trapped inside her own world. Leah would not make eye contact, would not point to objects, ask for help, meltdowns and outbursts were constant because she had no means of knowing how to communicate.
As a mother, I am still unsure how I survived the first few years of behavioral therapy. Watching my young daughter sit and cry for hours until she pointed to a object in a book or waiting her out until she made solid eye contact. There were days where I could not help but try not to cry myself, but I knew I was doing what was best for my daughter. I had to hold strong and learn a totally unconventional way on how to be a mother.
But what came out of all of this was the one person who answered my phone call was also answering my much-needed prayer. This person is someone that I will forever be grateful for, she was the first therapist to help my daughter, but she also created a strong foundational team of therapists that worked with Leah 7 days a week. Yes, you read that correctly Leah had up to 35 or more hours of therapy per week. Her therapists became family and all though most have moved on as Leah got older, they all share a special place in our hearts! This was the beginning stages of Leah being the child who she is today!
