Your child has just been diagnosed with Autism and your world has become a scary whirlwind of questions, fears, choices, and decisions. Which treatment to try? What medications or dietary changes will be required? Is there any hope?


This is a story of our family and our little boy's struggles and triumphs. In this book you will find important information, facts about Autism, options you may want to consider, but most importantly, HOPE. This is a story of my "Little Champion" and his success and triumphs through a course of hard work and our faith in Jesus Christ.


When her son was diagnosed with Autism, Judy Ann took her faith in God, and made a choice to do everything she could to help her son. Judy and her son now reap the rewards of her dedication and their hard work. She is now dedicated to reaching out to other parents, like her, helping them deal with the struggles, heartache, and joy of raising a child with special needs.

This is the story of Anthony's life. His diagnosis, treatments and how we made it through the past 10 years. It is a story of hope and faith. I am sharing this experience with you to give you hope that your story can have a good outcome, through faith in Jesus Christ.

One month before Anthony turned three years of age we finally got
a diagnosis. Autism! Anthony was given this diagnosis by
displaying the following symptoms:
1. No imaginative or social play.
2. Impaired ability to make friends with peers.
3. Inability to have a conversation with others.
4. Repetitive use of language.
5. Patterns of interest that was abnormal in intensity or focus.
6. Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals.
7. Preoccupation with parts of objects.
Autism is a social disorder that affects every child differently. I am
thankful that Anthony was actually diagnosed as high functioning,
which meant there was hope for improvement. Anthony was one
and a half to two years delayed in almost everything, was sensory
sensitive, and considered hyperactive. In the beginning, he was
hearing sensitive and then later became partially deaf. He could
not stand certain textures on his body or to touch. It was
sometimes difficult to keep clothes on him; he pulled his clothing off
several times a day. He was orally sensitive to the texture of foods
and would not eat very many varieties. He would first smell the
food, and then touch it with his tongue before it ever entered his
mouth. He could not eat a lot of food because of its texture. He
only ate a few basic things; including anything with cheese. To this
date has to have ranch dressing and or ketchup with any food he
eats. He has never liked or ate snacks like Twinkies, cupcakes,
pastries, cake, or cookies. He only likes plain chocolate candy, no
taffy or anything chewy or with nuts and he can't tolerate gum in
his mouth. Anthony loves chocolate ice cream with lots of chocolate
syrup, but will not eat whip cream on top.
The first feelings I experienced once we received the diagnosis
were mixed. I had already pretty much diagnosed him myself by
then. OK God, now I know what it's called, but what do I do about
it? How do I help him to just be able to cope and make it through
one day? I began to read every book I could get my hands on. I
thanked God that my child was not as severe as some of the ones I
had read about. Some of the books were both scary and
depressing. Some of the children I read about ended up being sent
to hospitals or special homes because it was too difficult for their
families to care for them at home. When my older children and
other family members were told of Anthony’s diagnosis, it was not
really a surprise to anyone. My family and older children have
always been supportive in every way they could, and have always
tried to help with Anthony and believed the best for him.
The following week I attended a singles group meeting. This was
just where God wanted me to be at this particular time. Have you
ever felt desperate and you went to a church service and it was
totally meant for God to minister to you and your problem? God
knew exactly where I was and He met me there. I entered that
room that night quite overwhelmed and discouraged. I needed
something from God. I was a single mother trying to face all of this
alone. There is no known cure for Autism and the doctors don't
even know what causes it or prevents it. As I sat there and
listened to the minister God spoke to my heart. This minister was
telling a story that had taken place some years ago. His son had
been in the hospital very ill. Although he was only an infant he was
struggling just to stay alive. They were given a diagnosis and told
what to expect. This man turned to God on behalf of his son. He
put his total faith in God and then reminded God, what His Word
says. I Peter 2:24 says “Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we dead to sins should live to righteousness
by whose stripes we were healed”. (KJV) Anything less than a
perfectly normal child was unacceptable to him.
Those words stuck in my mind through the difficult and hard years
to come. At that moment I also claimed that healing for my son.
Did my faith in God instantly bring about healing for my son? No it
did not! But it gave me enough hope to begin a journey of a
healing in progress.