Jessica’s Early Years with Autism

In my last article, The Day I Saw My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I discussed how Jesus helped my wife and I get through a difficult time with Jessica hospitalized as an infant with meningitis and was on life support for more than a month. With this article will be the first in a series that gives you insight from a fathers point of view into Jessica’s life from the point she returned to us from her battle with meningitis to her current age of 19 years.

Jessica Stonecipher in the photo. This photo is the sole property of the author Chris Stonecipher and cannot be used without the authors permission.

Around the age of six months old, Jeanette noticed that Jessica still wasn’t sitting up on her own and had terrible crying spells that would follow with blank stares. Jeanette took her to see the pediatrician and he referred us to a neurologist for further testing. The neurologist told us after testing that Jessica was having grand mall seizures. According to Mayo Clinic Staff, “A grand mal seizure — also known as a tonic-clonic seizure — features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It’s the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general.

Grand mal seizure is caused by abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain. In some cases, this type of seizure is triggered by other health problems, such as extremely low blood sugar or a stroke.” The neurologist prescribed Phenobarbital which is used to help with seizures and reduces anxiety. However, this did not help much and caused more irritation and anxiety and was eventually switched to a different medication.

With Jessica not achieving typical milestones for infants and toddlers, we were given a referral to have Jessica tested for possible developmental disabilities. I remember vividly when the social worker told us that Jessica has autism and is severely delayed. I was angry and when she asked me what I think is wrong with Jessica, I told her I thought she was being lazy. I left the office and went right to work and remember telling my boss, I needed time off because I found out my daughter is retarded. This is not a word I am proud that I used but at that time in my life, I didn’t know anything about people with disabilities, what is appropriate to say and what to expect. I was angry because God gave me my precious child back which is what we wanted but left her a life where she would struggle in. I did not understand that the Lord had a different path to follow which would eventually lead me into social work.

Jeanette got Jessica into an early intervention program where they provided physical therapy, cognitive therapy and occupational therapy. These programs are designed to improve motor functions and help reach milestones that are currently missing. I loved Jessica with all my heart but I had no idea what to do to help her so I maintained the more traditional role as a hard working bread winner. Stay tuned for sequels to this article.

You might be interested in:

Washington State Fathers Network Annual Conference  

Straight From an Epileptic: What to Do for Seizures

The Governing Body for Special Education and Its History

Special Education and Secondary Transition Services Policies