A Different World

 Words by KARROTS NAZARENO

Being a mother is the single most difficult, most excruciating, most stressful, and most important thing in my life

We learned of Luca’s autism at 1 year, 9 months. He was given what we like to call the entry-level diagnosis of GDD, or Global Developmental Delay. That just means that he was too young to be labeled with Autism proper, but was categorized nonetheless.

My husband, I remember, gave me a call from the office and said that he felt sad. Sad for Luca. Sad for the future. As for me, I went straight into denial. Ha! I think I still am. In denial, I mean. I immediately went to work researching anything and everything there was to know about this GDD. I went knocking on doors of intervention center after intervention center. I got waitlisted, was put on hold, and was downright not accepted. I would get hit by reality once in a while. Cry inside the car on a rainy day with Journey in the background, that kind of thing. But I always kept my eyes on the ball. I had to get Luca to therapy, and the sooner, the better.

To read the full story, grab a copy of BC Magazine's back issue (March-April 2011, Amanda Griffin-Jacob cover). Call 889-6904 or e-mail info@bcmag.ph.