April is Autism Awareness Month.

Dr. Meika Roberson, Chief Medical Officer of CarePoint Health – Hoboken University Medical Center is a devoted advocate of autism awareness. Along with the staff of the dedicated Children’s section of the Emergency Department, she has been an active advocate for properly assessing and interacting with children who are on the autism spectrum and their parents.

“In the our pediatric emergency department, we will take your cues while you help us to understand, communicate, soothe and calm your child in a safe environment. CarePoint Health – Hoboken University Medical Center is dedicated to training and educating our staff so that we can help you and your child if the need for emergency services arises,” said Dr. Roberson.

This blog post is dedicated to Davey Cronin.

Common signs and symptoms:

• Little or no eye contact.
• Resistance to physical contact
• Unaware of surroundings
• Abnormally loud or quiet speech
• Repeats words or phrases
• Sniffing, licking, spinning, rocking, humming, tapping, sucking
• Screaming
• Biting
• Head banging
• Running
• Sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells or light.
• Laughs or cries for no apparent reason.

He sat on his bed watching him sleep, trying not to move and disturb the brief hours that he finds peace. Davey is not a sleeper. Davey runs.

Parents we understand your pain, but we are not you.

Davey was diagnosed at age 18 months, he was regressing. He had no real language, and it took months to teach him the 5 words in his vocabulary. But, he was brilliant. His mind worked so fast. It was a pleasure to watch him paint, color, draw, finish a puzzle, and rearrange his toys. I knew what he wanted without speaking.

Parents, only you are your child’s voice.

He went broke trying to give his son everything. His son was not a project, but a gift. He was an amazing person to watch and grow. But he also needed help every minute. He needed his father to guide him and keep him safe, help him from running into the street, jumping off the jungle gym, shedding his clothes in public. He needed his father to stay awake with him, figure out what he would do when he grew-up. Group home? Assisted living facility? Would his older brother keep him safe? Davey didn’t know the agony, and struggles of his father. Davey was laughter and giggles. His father did everything he could to keep him safe, but Davey lost his life when he was 6 years old. His father wouldn’t have changed his son, he was a precious gift.

The life of a parent of an autistic child will never be easy. It is filled with sleepless nights, painful days, pleading moments, and loneliness. You are not alone.

Shared with the permission of Care Point Health