Reader comments
Autism x 6: Family's kids all have the disorder

I have an autisic little girl she is 8 years old ,and a girl of 5 who is not autisic.
Life can be so challenging when you have a child with autism and can put a great strain on your relationship.(it did with mine)You seem to go through an emotional rollercoaster and still now you have days when you feel you cant cope,but as parents and human beings this is a natural emotion.
I really take my hat of to you both it must be extremely difficult .
I agree although difficult it has made me a better person ,and whilst challenging so inspiring.
I wish you all the happiness for the future and i will be thinking of your family.

Thanks Sarah for your kind comments. We are better people with all we've been through.

Hi Robin and John,

I have a niece that was diagnosed at Age 3. I am a nurse and I questioned her difficulty with communication and we decided to look into the reasons for this difficulty. Autism was the diagnosis. Due to her early "extra help" she is doing extremely well. She is now 12 years old and is high functioning. I know her parents went through some challenging times but nothing could compare with your challenges. My heart goes out to you as I sit here with both my children off to college and I just want to offer any possible help I can. I would love to have a card designed for you and we will go from there. I truly do believe in the SOC Message and the Carding for a Cure could benefit so many great causes. You will be in my thoughts and prayers and I believe that you must be the best possible parents as God has entrusted them to you. God Bless you Both and your Wonderful Children.

i have a daughter who is diagnosed pdd at the age of 2, she is now 5, still improving. In your case, i sincerely hope and pray that everything will be fine in God's will and time. I hope that God will show us the path into the wellness of our child/children. At first, when i found out that my daughter has pdd, i really questioned Him, why my child, i was really devastated, i cant work, i cant sleep, cant think straight. Even to the point that it put a strain to my relationship with my husband. But still God in His numerous ways will try to show us that He is the Almighty God and is IN CONTROL of everything. I didnt say that everything is fine already, we must learn to trust God. God Bless You and Your Precious Children.

My non profit organization, the Autism Spectrum ALternative Program, www.asapranch.org, would like to help your family. I have several ideas depending on your location. My program is an equine facilitated sensory integrtion program for families with children on the spectrum. We are in Arizona. I would like to offer riding sessions for ALL of your children, we have a non profit store, Gallery of Odds & Ends where we resale items, and Mission Fish which is the eBay of the non profit world where anyone can sell anything to benefit their organization/families. I would like to explore these and other ideas if you are interested, please contact me.

I have 4 kids, 3 are on the spectrum. Like yourselves we participate in genetic studies as my sister also has an autistic child, my mother has Aspergers and also my cousin.
It can be hard for people who don't understand Austism that your life is no longer 'normal'. For us there is no supermarket visits or eating out. No fairs or playgrounds as these are all extremely stressful for not only us and our children but for the people around us.
You have my greatest admiration for just being able to survive day to day with a sense of humour.
Wishing you all the best.

I also have a 3 yr. old son with PDD/NOS and he is a hand full and I admire you 100 percent because it takes alote to rise one and you guys have six may god bless you and your family.

What is the State of Utah and City and County and the LDS Church doing to help you? You so desperatly need all the help you can get. Would your Church send volunteers into your home each day to help you? You need better housing,etc. You need help with the children and money to buy them diapers and things they need. Is there a national Autistic Agency that could provide help?If only I had money or lived neary I would help you so gladly.

I am a mother of 10 yr old That is High functioning and he is a hand full I admire you very much It takes alot just to raise one but you have six I would like to say God Bless you and your family and remember your have six special gifts from God to make you smile!

My heart goes out to you I am the step-parent to an autistic child and I know how hard and draining that it is. Most children are diagnosed at approx 24 to 36 months, why wait till 5th grade to look into this. And I don't understand why they would look at your husbands age b/c he was 40 yrs old when your first child from a previous relationship also has autism??? I have heard one of the myths being said that autism has to do with the vaccines, have all your children gotten there vaccines? that this may have a play in it?

I agree with Barbara that perhaps there is something that your ward or stake could do to make the burden lighter. Your family situation certainly needs some compassionate service. Have you considered talking with your bishopric to see if teams of ward members (or possibly stake members, since you're in Utah where boundaries are small and your problem is overwhelming) would be willing to give the two of you an occasional night out or some in-home assistance with the children? Young Women also occasionally have service projects, and they should also be considered as possible helpers. Also, you might want to check with BYU and University of Utah psychiatry departments to see if you could get any of their students into your home as interns. Good luck, and God bless you.

I find your family remarkable and your humor necessary to endure what you do day-in and day- out! Too bad many people in "human services" roles cannot react to humorous sarcasm with that understanding. To be forced into humility is often difficult in the process, but so beneficial in the long run. It seems you've weathered the worst well. Be proud of yourselves.
My daughter was tested for autism when she was 3, and was found to have speech development delays as her primary issue. She has been receiving some form of speech therapy since she was 2 and receives it still as a 5 year old. She also needed some moderate physical therapy but has "graduated" out of that program. There never is a good time to hear that your child or children aren't perfect. But the amount of support out there is amazing when you really need it.

Keep up the good fight and never allow yourselves to lose that killer wit and humor. Some people may not get your sense of humor - but there are plenty of those out there that do!

Wow! I keep saying that, and said it many times while reading your story. Our family has 6 people, and one PDD. Our son's been bounced all over the spectrum, we don't know where he falls. We've moved so we could get better jobs, and health insurance, and found out some states don't have a way to help family's with austistics. Or what they do have is so limited and expensive that I try not to think about it or I'll cry. It's actually been daily therapy I've adapted that's moved our son out of tantrums. Although we do have make-shift barracades around our home.
It amazes me that 90% of the people I talk to have never heard of this disorder. I say he's a little like 'Rain Man' and the most challenging thing ever put on my plate. People have asked why I chose to have 3 more kids. Well I didn't choose God did, and I wouldn't have laughter without my children. We will keep our hope for all of us 'parents of autism' will pave the way for those without a path. 'Do your best with the information wisdom and energy you have at the time'

We have a 34 year old daughter with Autism. Not as much help was available when she was diagnosed with Autism. We didn't even know what it was but we soon learned. We love her dearly.She loves Alf and we enjoy getting thing with Alf on them and she collects other things. She still can't carry on a regular conversation but gets her point across and is very quick and smart. We adopted her at 5 weeks and didn't know she had Autism. People have said why didn't you give her back, we love her. She is not a used car to trade in !!! She is very special in her own way and we feel God made sure of all the adoptive couples to chose us.

My daughter is high functioning on the spectrum, and we love her so much, but sometimes I worry so much about her and her future. I understand why you said the thing you did and understand that you didn't mean it. There is a natural grieving process that occurs. Please know that it gets better. God bless you and your children.

Hi,I have a 15 year old,we found out when she was 2,it was not easy for me with one,i take my hat off to you & your husband keep up the good work & continue to love each other & pray.

My grandson has autism. He is a twin and his brother does'nt have autism.
He lives in Florida and is getting a lot of help being that there are many special schools and programs and he's made some progress..

God Bless You and Yours!!

Regardless of what anyone on the outside may say I think you are proof beautiful people do exist. Your children are blest. I have 9 children and 5 have mental illness. It takes special with great skills, alot of love and faith to hang in there. You have my prayers. Those kids are worth our time. They are our most valuable assets in the world.

bless you both in your endeavors. I do believe God does place challenges on a select few, for whatever reason.....who knows? but i pray it is for your continued and ever growing strength. you are an inspiration to us all. peace, rob

Dear Robin,

I bristled when I read your comment about God knowing you were up to the challenge so He gave you 6 autistic kids. I believe with all my heart that our Loving Father blessed you with wonderful coping skills and that He supports and guides you on a very difficult journey, but did God CAUSE these beautiful kids to be autistic? Absolutely not! No loving human father would do that, so I cannot/will not believe that God our Loving Father would do what no human father would?

Mariposa