Chapter 84 Progress

Wednesday, January 10, 1996

When I went to the class to learn more about Laila, I asked the teacher how I should handle bringing Laila out in public. The teacher gave me some cards to hand to people. On the card it said, “You have witnessed a situation that can be hard to understand. I know you are just trying to help, but please know that I am handling the situation. If you still feel like you want to help, you can donate to the Autism Society.” There was an address and a phone number on the back of the card for the Autism Society. I was hoping I would never have to use these cards, but I also knew there were times I couldn’t avoid taking Laila to public places.

It didn’t take long before I needed to use the cards. Whenever Jared was with me, he would carry the cards. Jared wanted to be the one to hand it to people who would try to help with Laila.

Monday, January 22, 1996

Jared and Sarah had the day off from school, so I told them we would go do something fun. First, we drove Laila to her school. When we got there, Jared and Sarah went into the school with me to drop Laila off. I was carrying Johny and Jared was carrying Laila. This was the first time Jared and Sarah saw Laila’s school. When we got to Laila’s classroom, Jared looked in the window and could see the other children.

Jared turned to me and said, “Mom, I have a lump in my throat that I can’t seem to swallow.” I told Jared that the same thing had happened to me when I first saw Laila in the classroom. Jared held Laila even closer. Then he said, “Let’s take Laila out of here.” I told Jared I had the same thought when I first came here, but this is the best place for her. They have teachers here who know how to deal with her and teach her to better handle life. Jared brought Laila to her class. It helped Jared to see that Laila happily went into her classroom.

We stood outside and watched Laila through the window for a little bit. Jared said, “It’s so strange to see other children acting just like her.” I agreed.

Then we went off to the mall to watch a movie at the Dollar Theater.

Saturday, February 3, 1996

Richard just finished the monthly bills. He told me that I couldn’t use so much gas. I told him I went straight to Laila’s school and came straight home. He still wants me to do it using less gas. I don’t know how he expects me to do that. I have no control over how much gas it takes to get there and back.

Thursday, April 27, 1996

Over the past 5 months, I have been driving Laila to school in Salt Lake and picking her up at the end of her school day. It’s an hour to take her to school and an hour to drive back home again. I do some chores and then go pick her up again.

Laila has made a lot of progress. Laila is allowed to go to this school for the next 5 years. I don’t know if I have it in me to drive her back and forth every day for the next 5 years. Johny is in his car seat a total of 4 hours a day. I am worried about his development.

I made an appointment to talk to her doctor today. I told her doctor I have seen a lot of progress since Laila started at their school. The doctor agreed with me. Then he told me there was a school closer to where we lived that Laila could start going to. The doctor gave me all the information I needed for her new school.

I went to Laila’s classroom to tell her teacher that Laila would no longer be coming and to thank her for all her hard work. Her teacher got choked up. She said that she would miss Laila and that she had never seen a child make so much progress in such a short time. She told me if I kept up with everything I had learned in the classes, then she was sure Laila would be fine.

Monday, May 20, 1996

Laila has started her new school in Tooele. In the morning, a school bus stops just outside our house. It picks her up and drops her off again at the end of the school day.

During the day, it’s just Johny and me who are home. Since he is such a good baby, I have been able to get all our boxes unpacked. Laila is still not eating solid foods. I still nurse both Laila and Johny in the morning, and as soon as Laila gets home from school. I have been able to get her to eat oatmeal. Hopefully, soon she will get used to other foods as well.