Letter to the Editor for the Week of May 1

Reader shares view of autism story

The child with autism is locked away in his or her own part of the world that they have and know. Having a form of epilepsy and going through surgery to help the physical form improve I still can feel some of parts of what is going on with this, like feeling that I am in my own small little world in my mind and always by myself. My parents, who recently passed away, never understood how I felt or what it felt like when I was growing up. Thanks to the Almighty I am learning every day. I found and still find it hard to study and receive a higher education like my sisters and brother, but I have made my own life through other forms of creativity.

I never had too many friends and was always scared or shy in going along with crowds. My sisters and brother were scared of me because I always acted differently than them, used forms of words that I never meant to say and that upset them badly. They did not understand or want to learn and know how to cope with me. My dear husband always saw me as an achievable person and my little sister, who is a child psychologist could somewhat understand what I was going through. I can somewhat relate to [local resident] Victoria Swanson having gone through my kind of illness.

All these neurological problems are a complete mystery to the people who have it, the parents who live through this on daily means and the doctors who see so many patients. The doctors need to understand these feelings and problems, and all we can do is give it our best and simply live our life to its fullest and to the best with what we have.

Medicine is still trying to unlock all of the mysteries behind these mysterious/scary illnesses. Some day there will be a medical cure to each and every neurological illness but for now we have to keep up with our daily routines, daily tasks and just be ourselves because we are all one and we are all unique. As I say to myself, if it does not work the first time don’t give up, try and try harder next time!

Anna Victoria Reich
Stafford