My seven-year-old son Tyler amazes me every day with his intelligence. He loves learning about history, has the reading ability of a 12-year-old, and often has his nose buried in a Harry Potter book. But while his reading and writing is exceptional, he struggles with basic tasks, like getting dressed and going to the loo by himself, and I have to watch him constantly to make sure he doesn’t do himself harm by drinking shampoo or eating something he shouldn't.
When I found out I was pregnant with Tyler in July 2012, it felt like a miracle. His dad Danny, then 22, and I had both known we had fertility problems for a couple of years, but dreamt of having a family and being young parents, so had gone to see an IVF specialist. But fate intervened, and before treatment began, a pregnancy test came back positive. Tyler arrived in March 2013 and, after taking out a loan the following year, we had one round of IVF at a private clinic in Greece. Luck was on our side again, and in November 2014, Annabella Rose was born.
Then, when Tyler was two, my mum, Ingrid, then 42, who works with children, started noticing behavioural traits in him linked to autism. He made specific noises, like squealing, reacted in distress to certain sounds, had an excellent memory and was very clever. Meanwhile, the coach at his football club said while other kids followed instructions, Tyler would just spin in circles, even licking the walls.
‘WE DIDN’T WORRY OR PANIC’
Denne historien er fra July 20, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
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Denne historien er fra July 20, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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EAT WELL (even on a budget) - Easy meals that make the most of your store cupboard, and won't break the bank
Courgette and pesto pasta
The CATCH
The house was perfect - so why was it so cheap?
Elizabeth and THE RAIN
She had made Lisa's life a misery- and now she was back
I won't stop taking my daughter out of school... - TO GO TO THE BEACH!
One mum tells us why fun, spontaneous days are sometimes more important than being in the classroom
Where's the JUSTICE?
Catherine Wardle's son died over a senseless Snapchat spat
Fat-shamed BY MY MUM
Gemma Hall, 28, showed off her snaps and got a dose of tough love
Fighting for SURVIVAL
When Danielle Camilleri collapsed at 40, the diagnosis was devastating
Finding love AFTER LOSS
As Kelsey Parker moves on after losing her husband Tom, we investigate how difficult it is to find love again in widowhood
Phil's revenge
Phillip Schofield is back on our screens after a 16-month hiatus and it seems it's all-out war between the former presenter and ITV.
'I'm too scared TO HAVE SURGERY'
Christine Lampard on gratitude, staying in shape and date nights with husband Frank.