A Joyous Reunion!

Last weekend we interrupted our outdoor chores for a most joyous reunion. Our goddaughter(SB) stopped by for a visit with her 2 1/2 yr old son! My post of 9/15/05 explains the circumstances of Thor's birth. A LOT has happened to SB since the birth of her son.

As I expected, SB called us when Thor was 6-months-old. Thor's first few days on earth were spent wired to machines in the neonatal intensive care unit. SB spent every minute she could beside her newborn, willing him to live. Thor gave SB the focus she needed in her life. From the moment he was born, Thor's life became SB's #1 priority.

Throughout the following 2 yrs, SB would call me every couple of months with news of Thor's progress. During this time, SB sought help for her bipolar disorder, with devastating results. SB is SEVERELY bipolar, with accompanying psychosis. The only meds that worked for her had extreme side affects. The meds she was taking had a chance of destroying her organs. Every 2 weeks, SB had to have a needle biopsy of her liver. The doctors warned SB that she shouldn't get pregnant again, as she would have to quit the meds. Without her meds she would more than likely have to be institutionalized for her own safety.

A couple months later, SB called to say that she had moved 3 hrs away from her BF. BF had told her that she wasn't the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but she was welcome to live with him until "someone better comes along". SB said "No thanks!", and moved in with her aunt and uncle in Duluth. Within a month, BF was literally on his knees, begging her to come back to him. Their relationship is still rocky, but BF is a devoted father.

A year ago, SB called with more bad news. Thor's development didn't seem right to her, so she scheduled him for a complete battery of tests. Thor is "marginally" autistic. SB immediately enrolled Thor in a daycare program for autistic children. She and BF have taken all the classes available that help them work with Thor at home. Despite her dyslexia, SB has read everything she can find on autism. We are soooo proud of the way SB is working to give her son the best life he can achieve! Early intervention will make all the difference in this little boy's development!

During one of our chats, I convinced SB to contact her Grandma(my Boss). Boss eventually persuaded SB to re-establish her relationship with her Dad and BF's Mom. Last month Thor's grandparents got to meet him for the first time. This led to SB and Thor making the trip up here with her Dad and BF's Mom. All of us are ecstatic to have the family reunited! BF still refuses to communicate with his Mom, but we're all hoping that he will come around eventually.

I, too, have extensively read up on autism, so I didn't know what to expect from Thor. Imagine my amazement when SB walked in the door, with Thor in her arms, and Thor immediately smiled and reached his arms out to me!! Tears of joy ran down my cheeks as Thor wrapped his little arms around my neck in a hug!

The hug didn't last long as Thor wanted to get down and explore our house. Thor doesn't talk much, but he is addicted to Old McDonald. Eyi-eyi-oooo, is his mantra! Thor is a highly intelligent child that loves to draw and will sit quietly paging through books and magazines. He has autistic "meltdowns", but SB handles this with patient efficiency. We're all sooo proud of the magnificent mother she has become, and the amazing difference she has made in her precious son's life!