Coping with Autism

In what was, to us, a surprising turnaround (sounds like an intro to the sport's news on your local network), doctors at MCV have decided that Peter does not need the surgery, at least not now. The following is from an e-mail I sent today to friends and family: The doctors at MCV have agreed that the cure is probably worse than the condition at this time. The surgery is extensive and in an older child the recovery is harder and painful. Peter shows no severe bossing (which is when the skull deforms and sticks out trying to accommodate the growing brain) that’s easily seen (his hair covers it—so no more crew-cuts for Peter) so the doctors and cranial-facial team would rather monitor him over the next few years to keep track of his skull growth. Next year at this time, Peter will go back to MCV and see the neurosurgeon, Dr. Tye, and the cranial-facial team. In many respects, this is a relief but, like the sword of Damocles, it still hangs over us. We have to watch out for symptoms of...

Well, tomorrow is it. My husband and I are both nervous about what to expect at the cranial-facial clinic. We think Peter will be okay as far as the stresses-of-the-day are concerned. But you never know with autism-- so we're praying that he's cooperative. I did talk to the coordinator of the clinic. This is how it works: we get to MCV (the Medical College of Virginia) in Richmond around 7:30 a.m., register, and then proceed to the neurology suites. There we'll camp out in the waiting room and wait to be called back to see a variety of specialists. Peter will see a psychologist, speech therapist, dentist, eye doctor, Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT), etc. Then he will see the cranial-facial surgeon, plastic surgeon and neurosurgeon at the same time for thorough exam that they will do jointly. We'll break for lunch and when we come back the team of specialists will meet with the families individually to discuss their findings. It's at this point they decide if your ...