Special Child - When Autism is not Autism. Strike Two on the Autism Spectrum

When he was barely two years old, Eman my second son with autism, he could say a few words - assembling a sentence was nigh impossible.  He woke one morning while I was folding clothes, he pointed a finger at me, and said "Mommy I am gonna take care of you".I smiled in my mind and wondered which movie or tv show he heard that on?

The kid could talk so I was never worried. I concentrated on Mardave, my first son who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was two years four months. He had every therapy he needed and given what possible treatment there could be to help him cope. In reality it turned out more to help his mom cope from the frustration of having a kid unable to express himself contrary the person she is. gregarious and very much verbal.

I took Eman, when he was five, to the same developmental pediatrician who diagnosed Mardave, just to make sure. Was assured he had no autism, but had, despite the fact that he can talk, had speech delay. Was advised speech therapy. But then again the good doctor in me just made do with conversations and school.

Fast forward to second grade when he was eight. His teachers told me he cannot sit still in class. Yet when asked any question he can answer them correctly. I was assured he would outgrow it.

Fast forward to third grade when he was nine. He started hitting classmates for simple or no reason like having a paper taken from him, or not happy with things said to him. In one day he hit nine kids. He kicked a male teacher in the shin once. He banged a classmate's head on the concrete floor and it scared me. Not for him but for the kid. I agreed to pay for the ct scan and medical expense for the kid.

I took him to another developmental pediatrician and he was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise classified(PDD NOS) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). Strike two for autism spectrum disorder. He was recommended for occupational therapy and special education.

School requested medication for him since, the principal then told me the school has no capability to manage his behavior. He was suspended for a week and threatened expulsion. I refused medication for him. I was afraid it would change the special kid i love in him.

He has gone a long way from the screaming, crying and hitting kid of yesterday.

He loves to bake and like any kid loves to lick the bowl the moment the butter is creamed with the sugar. He would spoon the brownie or cookie mix into his mouth with abandon.

He loves StarWars and would talk to no end about the movie with Mom. He still goes back to Woody and Buzz of toy story. He loves making videos and telling stories. Contrary to the definition of autism he can empathize.And yes he can communicate!

I was talking to special education teachers the other day in their school. He was working mainstream without a shadow although we had to work with his teachers to "accommodate" his needs. They told me he was an intelligent kid. Intelligent yet labeled. He refused to be called a kid with autism.

The moment he was off the shadow teacher and allowed to work on his own he believed he beat autism. And I believe so too with all my heart. I know he would go far!

Autism is a spectrum. It is a range of capabilities and mind. What is important is to allow them to work at their own pace and do their own thinking. It is called neurodiversity. You give them love and patience and trust they have their own mind set. They will go far if you allow them their freedom like all human beings.

We all have autism in us to varying degrees.  So we need to give each other the respect we would want and deserve.

Dr. Terrado welcomes your comments and questions about autism or medical and dental tourism - all comments will be moderated. If your questions are of a personal nature - 

Feel free to contact her at: dr.christina.boardcertified@gmail.com

Certified Dentists Internationale'

Find top Board Certified Dentists in top dental dental tourism destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Los Algodones, Guadalajara, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and others. You can save up to 75% on your dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, oral restorations and more while enjoying a vacation in an exotic locale.

Contact: Free dental tourism advice, estimates and referrals 
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Our First Journey With Autism by Dr. Terrado MD - A Personal Account

The story of Dr. Cristina Terrado's discovery her son was autistic - 

He was my first and he was my pride. He loved to laugh even with strangers. And though I never really made a fuss over what month/age  he can make goo goo sounds or take his first steps, he has his own idiosyncrasies, any mom would notice. After his 3rd month he was throwing up his milk more often than he can feed. My pediatrician says it is just colic. 

When he is riding in the car he loves to watch on the window which my would say,mom said he has takaw mata. 

He loves to munch on sky flakes (saltines crackers) even when he starts choking on them. 

And I never noticed him look in my eye or say mama/mom or point at things. And at 2yrs four months I knew something was wrong when still he only has animal names he can utter correctly. So we made an appointment with the developmental pediatrician. Along the way, I knew at the back of my mind, being in the profession, it was autism. Yes the developmental pediatrician confirmed it after about 30 or 45 mins allowing him to play and talking to him. Typical of me I never reacted or maybe it just did not sink in just yet.  

Next day his father who at that time was already out of our lives, came to visit. I told him he has autism and this time I started to cry. He was completely clueless as to what it is and told me “why do you cry, he will grow out of it.”   And here started our journey with autism spectrum disorder.

He was diagnosed on a December, he started therapy in March. Still thinking yes he will grow out of this. Symptoms of denial. It was altogether a rough and bumpy ride.

I was raising two young boys virtually on my own. Both very precocious, climbing all over, messing up toys and furniture, refusing to eat what is being served, insisting on what they want or what they see fit for their young minds.

i was a nonconformist who is definitely an out of the box idealist, at the same time I learn from all that drops on my head or in front of me. My faith kept me steadfast to what i believe would be the best for my boys. With very traditional parents who fear anything and everything that might befall their grandchildren, at some point in time the clash of ideals would explode.

A gregarious, outspoken, and very talkative person handed a child who cannot say his name or say what he wants or even allow eye contact. There was plenty of screaming, frustrations, and fighting  just to be sane in a day.  He would just run off in his own, eat only what he knows(spring rolls at that time) and all I know to make him remember is face the wall or remove from him what he loved. 

I remember one morning he was off to school, already in his uniform and ran off outside the village gate. I did what I knew how at  the time, told him in an angry tone he is not going anywhere, he is to stay at home so he remembers not to run off on his own. I heard my mother telling me that I was a harsh mom, and that I did not know how to take care of my boys. It was not how they taught us to be. 

There was a time I made him face the wall for what I cannot remember. And he asked if he can go make pee. I knew it was one of his manipulative strategies. My father heard him and told him to go make pee. I told him to stay on the wall. And it was me and my father butting it out with disciplining an autistic child. 

One day  skipped work, squeezed in grocery shopping and ran home, my father meeting me on my way up the stairs screaming at me “you are an irresponsible parent!” There was no caregiver, he wanted to play in the shower, he slipped and had a huge bump on his head. I put some ice compress on his bump while I languish at the pain of being called irresponsible. It was a pain that stuck in me like a knife, every now and then being skewered inside every time they see anything and everything that is not in accordance with what they know is right in raising a child. 

Even the one person who I thought would understand or even at least know how it is, called me in denial. It was another clash or maybe sibling rivalry or professional rivalry. That I do not know any better with the rehabilitation of my son. That he has to be in an institution, and that he has to be at his age doing these things or that. She was comparing my son with a friend of hers who has a son with autism is doing this and that progress. That she has consulted with experts and know what autism is. She has no idea what she was talking about. She was only a doctor. I am a doctor and a mother raising a son.

My son with autism got lost at the mall thrice, me crying the first time, second I was calm enough to know who to warn and what to do and where to find him. Third time it was just a breeze. He also went biking off on his own. The first time around the downtown area of the city where we lived. He was caught by a poso (public safety officer) halfway across the city proper. He was good at remembering roads, his usual route. And he was so shrewd as to getting thru the guards at the gate of the village. 

Once he went biking on his own and one guard who saw him leave the gate told me he got out. I asked the guard why he did not stop him. He reasoned "I don’t have my gun with me." To this I almost fell to the ground laughing.  This time he did not take his usual route downtown.  Called the poso office to watch out for him . An hour later nothing still. So I drove around his usual haunts. Nothing. Two hours my sister was calling precincts to the next two towns in case they see a boy on his bike with the description of the clothes he was wearing. 

I was calm and composed believing if I break down I would be no use to him. In my mind I was praying, Lord just keep him safe from anyone who wishes him harm. I was not scared of him getting hurt, I know he is being watched over.  I was scared somebody who would see him as a beautiful boy might keep him or even ask for ransom. 

And I knew when it gets dark, he knew it was time to eat chicken, and then take a bath, and then go to sleep. Three or four hours later a tricycle stopped in our front gate, his bike on the back carriage and he stepped out saying “mommy it’s nighttime, let’s go to sleep." I allowed my parents to do the talking to the men who brought him home.  And I allowed my fears to rush thru my tears.  He was already in the border of the third town away from us. 

He was wanting to go to Enchanted Kingdom. He took the same route we usually take when we go to Enchanted Kingdom. The men who caught him said he can only say krystaville when asked where he is from. And they searched where that place was, in a city about 20kms away.

When he was older , because I trained my boys to enjoy a jeepney and or a tricycle ride, he decided to take one on his own. because classes have been called off for three days then, he got bored. After his bath, he put on his uniform. I was off to work then. My sis was home and saw him out on the lawn thinking he would not leave the premises. Wrong! Apparently, he walked out to the back gate where he knew there was  no guard at the gate. 

Took the way out of the connecting subdivision and out to the main road. He took the jeep. The driver thinking he was a regular kid who knew where he was off to took him in. When the driver realized he did not get off anywhere along the route or paid his fare, he asked him the usual questions in tagalog. 

Because he was near the poso office, the driver dropped him off there. The poso officers had to figure out how they can make him talk or answer their question. One persistent poso went on to investigate. He traced where my son got on the jeep and took him there. It was where tricycles were parked at the connecting subdivisions. And there he found his way to back our gate. And so goes the fabled jeepney ride.

Every time he went off on his own I knew an angel was with him for he too was an angel.

Life has mellowed so much as he grew older. He is now 12 years old and is capable of engaging one in a simple conversation of all things he is interested in. And he is a work in progress every single day, in every aspect in his life. I will live my life a million times over with him to show how pure and beautiful a person like him is. I will live my life a million times over to tell everyone of people like him. 

And i will live a million lives over believing he has every chance to make it in this world like every child is. Quoting Bill Parrish on his definition of love…”Multiply it by infinity, and take it to the depth of forever, and you will still have barely a glimpse of what I'm talking about.”  I love you my Mardave.

• Dr. Terrado welcomes your comments and questions about autism or medical and dental tourism - all comments will be moderated. If your questions are of a personal nature - feel free to contact her at: dr.christina.boardcertified@gmail.com

Certified Dentists Internationale'

Find top Board Certified Dentists in top dental dental tourism destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Los Algodones, Guadalajara, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and others. You can save up to 75% on your dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, oral restorations and more while enjoying a vacation in an exotic locale.

Contact: Free dental tourism advice, estimates and referrals 
Visit:  www.certifieddentists.org/

The Best Dental Tourism Dentist Will Always Be Board Certified!

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BOY FAKES OWN KIDNAPPING TO AVOID DENTIST - Dental Anxiety, Autistic or Artistic?

Maybe this boy is autistic, schizophrenic, has ADD or is just a clever lad. You decide.


A Case of Dental Phobia For Inspector Clouseau...

By NATE JONES





It was a tale straight out of a French thriller.

A 12-year-old boy on the way to see his dentist was supposedly snatched off the street by a mysterious scar-faced visitor. The kidnapper drove to Saint-Gervais, near the Alps, where the boy was able to make a lucky escape.

The boy gave Saint-Gervais police a detailed description of the man – he was European, muscular and slightly shorter than average, wearing a black shirt and light jeans.

But despite their efforts, investigators could make no headway in finding the man. He had vanished into the thin Alpine air.

This was because, as French paper Midi Libre reported, he never existed in the first place.

After a month of searching for their man to no avail, police went back to the source. They examined security-camera footage from that fateful day in Bagnols and found no hint of the scarred man in the black shirt and light jeans, and no sign of his vehicle, which the boy had so dramatically described. 

Photo: Inspector Clouseau, fake French detective famed for busting the Pink Panther

They decided to interview the boy again. In the face of newly skeptical police questioners, the boy recanted everything. There never was a scar-faced man, and there never was a kidnapping. He had made it all up. 

The motive? He didn't want to go to the dentist. 

Running away seemed to be the only option. It's unlikely the boy will be charged with a crime, but he will likely face an even worse punishment: a trip to the dentist. Let's hope lying doesn't cause cavities. 

Originally published by People Magazine  - UPDATED 07/4/2015 

DO YOU HAVE DENTAL ANXIETY?

Are you afraid of the dentist? Approx. 10% of the public is. You will feel more relaxed and comfortable when you visit a Board Certified Dentist for your important dental treatments as they have an array of sedations and technique to make the day go better. 

If you have a Special Needs family member ie. physically, mentally or emotionally challenged - some certified dentists in the US and Mexico work with hospitals who will provide backup facilities to accommodate your loved ones. - Dra. Cristina Terrado MD

Post By CERTIFIED DENTISTS INTERNATIONALE'

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AUTISM CARE NEWS by Dr. Cristina Terrado MD

Support for people with autism and their care givers, the latest news and articles aggregated from CNN, Time, BBC, healthcare workers, get facts and information and family support

By Doctor Cristina Terrado 

• Mother of 2  children with autism(person with autism), President. Autism Society,Philippines, Dagupan City Chapter, Medical & Dental Tourism Patient Adviser for Board Certified Dentists Internationale'

PROFILE:

Dr. Christina Carino Terrado MD

President of Autism Society Philippines Dagupan Chapter

Medical & Dental Tourism Patient Adviser 

Certified Dentists Internationale' 

Hello Everyone!

 Welcome to my blog where I will present articles and information on a subject near and dear to myself and family - autism.

My main occupation at this time is Medical & Dental Patient Adviser for Certified Dentists Internationale' formerly the Board Certified Mexico Dentist Association.

I am the mother of two boys with autism, professional doctor and nutritionist in the Philippines - but being a mom is the best job I have had. A sweet life.

I worked as a doctor with the Philippines Department of Health Ilocos Region for 17 years following a dream of helping humanity. I lived that dream. I saw how it is to live the way of the Pinoy. Poor, yet they know how to laugh their cares away and generous enough to give all to those who are in need.

I have felt in my heart the honor of holding a life in my hands. Of saving that life you hold or making a difference in their life. That was one of the best chapters of my life. I have seen so much, traveled a lot, and experienced how it is to live a simple but beautiful life as a mother and helping others with their medical needs.




Now I am living my passions. WRITING, which I remember my college literature prof encouraged but I have put aside for half a lifetime. I believe I  am ready now, have experience and knowledge to share and am happy to be working as an online medical and dental patient adviser for Certified Dentists Internationale’.

 I am ALSO starting to understand autism which has been in my life since my older son was two. I never realized my denial until I accepted in my heart their neuro-diversity.

People with autism are often very Intelligent persons trying to make out the world with the gifts they were given. And just like when I was a doctor I intend to make a difference in their world. My legacy to my sons. There is so much to do. And I intend to live a long life to achieve what I was created in this life for.

If you have any medical or dental issues, questions about health care tourism, or autism - please feel free to contact me.

Bless all.

Dr. Christina Carino Terrado MD

Patient Adviser

Certified Dentists Internationale’

Website: www.certifieddentists.org/

email: dr.christina.boardcertified@gmail.com

Dr. Terrado welcomes your comments and questions about autism or medical and dental tourism - all comments will be moderated. If your questions are of a personal nature - feel free to contact her at: dr.christina.boardcertified@gmail.com

Certified Dentists Internationale' has top Board Certified Dentists in Mexico's and Asia's top dental dental tourism destinations including dentists in Cabo San Lucas, Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Los Algodones, Guadalajara, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and others. 

Contact: Certified Dentists Internationale' for Free dental tourism advice, estimates and referrals 
Visit:  www.certifieddentists.org/

The Best Dental Tourism Dentist Or Doctor Will Always Be Board Certified!

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