Cameron’s story
I received the information about World Autism Day in my personal email this year. This year I did something about it. With our digital content editor and the many wonderful families willing to share their information on faith, hope and the future; we created this section.
I watched as the stories came into the office and I read them. I read them and sent them on to members of our corporate executive team to read them. This is our industry. We connect people. People are not alone. I am proud to be part this section.
So, this year I wanted to stand proud with the many families that I know, or will come to know, in generating awareness for Autism.
My name is Joanne Hunt and I am the Interactive Media and Classified Director with the Herald-Standard and my life changed the day our son Cameron was born in 2004. I too, like other parents never knew how this little man would ultimately…. change my life.
With our son, most people don’t really know that he’s on the autism spectrum; diagnosed with PDD-NOS in 2008. But he is different and I tell him everyday before bed that he is my “gift from God – my special angel”. But before I really knew/understood his diagnoses, my understanding of him was less than optimal.
You see our son is very social. He loves to be recognized and talk with adults. He loves cars, jumping on trampolines, reading and watching movies. He seems every bit of a typical 7 year old, but he’s not. He IS special.
This is our son.
He has what I call quirks, repetitive motions that he sometimes can’t control (like rubbing his nose, blinking, hopping or asking the same question over and over). He doesn’t like bright lights or extremely loud sounds – although he does talk quite loud at times! When we are traveling or going somewhere, Cameron wants to know where, when and for how long we are going to be there. If he’s having fun he doesn’t like to leave. He has less than average gross motor skills and typical activities from soccer to basketball take a greater concentration level and practice regimen for him to feel like he’s good enough. Cameron is also very literal. If you say a phrase like “My head is pounding” he wants to feel it to see if it really is pounding.
He likes to be part of a group but doesn’t know how to join them. My heart breaks when I watch him observe groups afraid to join or when kids shun him because they notice his subtle uniqueness.
Cameron has the best memory. He can be in a room for 5 minutes and tell you things the typical person would never have even noticed.
I try to always make him feel like he’s connected. We belong to groups, participate in activities and have play dates. We work on social skills in ‘spare time’ and understanding others behaviors too – just so he can processes all of that and hopefully remember and understand those behaviors if he encounters them again. We strive to be every part of a 7-year old and I am very thankful for the many people that have crossed our paths from parents, friends, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, doctors and nurses.
Our son notices the beauty in life. He is what I refer to as an ‘old soul’ – he’s the first to ask you how your day was, if you’re ok and he’ll occasionally cry with you if he knows you truly are sad about something.
He’s the person I will always admire. He’s made me appreciate the road less traveled and he’s made me realize that life is about who’s in it and nothing else.
Our son will always make the world a better place and me a better person and for that I will always be grateful. For us, this journey is just beginning. We have many more years in life that will present new challenges and obstacles that we have to be ready for.
Autism does speak – and listening forever changes lives.