EPISTLES

Our eldest son was diagnosed with autism just before he turned two years old.

To this day, we do not know what caused it, and it breaks my heart every day. I kept asking myself: Did I take something during pregnancy? Was it because of complications during birth? Was it because he was exposed to television too early? Was it God testing us? There seemed to be so many possible reasons.

Looking back, my pregnancy was not easy. I often got sick and worked long hours. Even so, I cannot remember taking any medication aside from my prenatal vitamins. We attended all my scheduled checkups and did everything we thought was right. There were no signs of any abnormalities whatsoever. We expected a healthy child.

When he was born, the doctor used a vacuum to assist with the delivery. I honestly do not remember much about it. I only remember having difficulty breathing at the time. But the moment I saw him, my heart overflowed with love and thanksgiving to God. All I wanted was to hold him, protect him, and keep him safe. He was perfect in my eyes.

At first, everything seemed normal. We attended regular checkups, and he appeared to be reaching his milestones. I breastfed him, and when he was four months old, I became pregnant again—too soon, I know. 🙂

Since we had no helper, my husband and I took turns caring for him while balancing work and daily responsibilities. It was challenging, but we were happy. We sacrificed a lot, but we did it together.

After our second child was born, I stopped working. I breastfed both children because I wanted them to receive the best nutrition possible. And yes, side by side—there is really no other way to describe it. Haha.

When our son turned one, we started noticing small differences. He had difficulty making eye contact. He lined up his toys. He always carried a spoon in his hand. He rarely responded when we called his name. Most concerning of all, he was not speaking.

The differences became even more noticeable when his younger sister started reaching her milestones on time—and sometimes ahead of him. She began babbling and making sounds before her older brother did.

We became concerned, and so did his pediatrician. We were referred for an evaluation because he had already turned two and still had not spoken a single word.

Accepting the diagnosis was very difficult.

For a long time, I blamed myself, and sometimes I still do. But I knew we had to stay strong so we could help him. We started therapy, but money was tight since only one of us was working. We searched for affordable options and eventually found a therapy center.

Unfortunately, every session was difficult. He cried from beginning to end, and we felt as though we were seeing very little progress.

At the same time, my mother became seriously ill. We decided to move closer to family and continue searching for better support for our son. It was a huge risk. My husband did not have a job yet, and I was unemployed with two very young children.

I was terrified of what the future might hold. The only thing that sustained us was our trust that God would work wonders through our difficult situation.

Eventually, my mother passed away. The growing tumor on her head made recovery impossible. It was one of the hardest moments of my life. But I had to keep going. I could not afford to fall apart. I had two children depending on me, and one of them needed extra support.

We found an ABA therapy center and received an official diagnosis. Our son was diagnosed with autism.

Just as he was beginning therapy, my husband found a corporate job hundreds of miles away. Then COVID happened. He was distressed because he could not come home to visit us as often as he wanted.

Not long after, our third child and youngest daughter was born.
To be closer to us, my husband eventually moved to another company that allowed him to visit more frequently. Around the same time, I found an online job, which helped tremendously with our growing expenses.

Our son is now eleven years old.
He still has autism, and although his progress has been slow, every step forward is a victory. His two sisters adore him, even if they sometimes become frustrated during his tantrums.
And here we are today—two parents and three children—continuing our journey together.

I am beginning to write about my experiences, joys, struggles, and lessons as a mother and wife. Through it all, I strive to see everything according to God’s will and under the loving protection of my husband, who works tirelessly to ensure that our family remains close to God and faithful to His Church.

My goal is not only to inspire but also to be inspired by other mothers and parents who are walking a similar path. As my husband often reminds me, quoting Saint Paul, we are all epistles—living letters through which God speaks to the world. By sharing our story, I hope to connect with others, learn from their experiences, and offer a message of faith, perseverance, and hope.

We are Ausome Parents. As living epistles, we share our family’s journey—the challenges of raising our son with autism and his two sisters, the joys that often go unnoticed, the sacrifices, the small victories, and the grace of God that sustains us through it all. Our prayer is that these reflections may encourage, strengthen, and accompany other families facing similar struggles. If even one parent finds hope, comfort, or renewed courage in our story, then this humble effort will have fulfilled its purpose.