A Christmas Miracle: It Truly is a Wonderful Life

Let me begin with an ending. Two years ago my Mother dropped dead in front of the Christmas tree after a very long drawn out battle with rectal cancer. I worked diligently over those years taking care of her. It was just me and my son who also happens to be a person with Autism who is non-verbal. So he doesn’t speak. We put everything we had into saving my Mother because she was young and we were assured her cancer was survivable.

Six months later I joined hubpages. I was having a hard time getting over the death of my Mother. I was and am still going through child support court in which the Father has not paid a dime ever. So I thought writing might be a good way to start over. It was. It helped me start to organize my thoughts which were very scattered. And I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote. I also made a few wonderful friends along the way.

I never expected to be gainfully employed as an internet writer. I knew that would take a great deal of time and creativity which I did not have. I was grieving the loss of my Mother and had been isolated by her cancer for many years. But there were some terrific hubbers who stuck with me and saw me through my dark days. I did manage to make a little money though which I used to create a non-profit to help children with Autism.

The first Christmas I expected to be terrible as I missed my Mom but much to my surprise I thought the second one would be better. It still hurts as I still miss her. Actually the second Christmas was harder because I realized I was not as healed.

Life has marched on. I have now worked on hubpages for over a year and in that year I conducted research, started a non-profit and I have created a new treatment modality for children with Autism. It is a lot of work. I am also starting to get out and I am making friends. It was weird at first because I haven’t been socializing but now I am making new friends. It is wonderful. So I have been very busy and now I am waiting to find out if I will be asked to present my research internationally this year.

Earlier this month my son specifically took out a book of Snoopy and a Christmas tree and asked for it. Emotionally I was not ready for a Christmas tree but my son was so I pushed through it and put one up.

Since we still haven’t received any child support I am short on funds. The people around me asked me to make a list of what my son needed. I never thought they would be able to get any of it but perhaps a t-shirt or the lastest Batman Movie. My son loves Batman!! But I put high end things on the list and then low end things. I mean it can’t hurt to ask right? But I really didn’t expect to my son to get anything.

Last night my friend showed up and she had a few things for my son which was very nice and then something for me. I was embarrassed because I had nothing for her. She told me not to worry about it. I admitted I was a little blue this holiday because I still miss my Mother. It is hard for me to look at the tree and not remember what happened.

So I had prepared my son that he was only getting necessity items for the holidays. After all we have been promised a lot of things in our lives. He was pretty happy with the tree.

But this morning Santa’s Elves showed up and they brought everything that was on the list and a present for me. More importantly my son received an Ipad 4 with enough money to download augmentative communication. This is critical for my son who is non verbal. The elves also brought the entire series of Batman and more gifts then he could have ever imagined. As they showed it to me I felt my heart beating hard and for the first time in a long time I was happy. It was an emotion I didn’t think I would be able to feel during the holidays ever again. I cried happy tears which I never thought I would again. They even brought my son a new bed for what we now affectionately refer to as the Bat Cave/his bedroom.

I will download what I consider the best commercial software for children with Autism who are non verbal for the Ipad which is Proloquo2go.

This year I am certain elves are saints in disguise. I am boiled over with the progress and sensitivity the leaders in our community have towards my son who also has autism. My son is literally bouncing off the walls with excitement this Christmas and I am so humbled and in such aw of the people who donated and worked to provide my son with his communication but also his gifts. I never knew there were such wonderful people out there in the world who were so sensitive and caring. No matter what I do in my life I doubt it will ever be as grand as what everyone has done for my son this Christmas. It is inspirational, humbling and so generous that I had to share it with all of you. My son is finally loved and accepted within his community despite the fact he has autism. That is a miracle and the greatest gift I could have ever received this holiday. I am crying happy tears as I write this to you as it truly is a wonderful life!!