Day 2: Michelle

If you are reading this, I assume you already know, but maybe not.  Teenager number 2 has autism.  That has a tendency to throw a wrench in many "normal" things.  When Sam was small, going to the grocery store meant buying another box of Captain Crunch.  It didn't matter that we already has 6 at home.  We had to buy box number 7 because that was the routine at the grocery store.  Sam is older now and no longer needs to buy the exact same thing every time we go to the store.  In fact, this Christmas, we walked on the wild side.  He did not receive even one present that was a duplicate of something he already had. 

Medical treatment for the child with autism is not like medical treatment for other kids.  We don't just eenie, meenie, minie moe it through the white pages.  We have to look for very specific things.  Sometimes that means our only choice is the local Children's Hospital because they have the "hugger."  That's what it's called when your child has autism.  When you are watching "One Flew Over the Coo Coo's Nest", they call it a straight jacket.  The hugger comes in a variety of appealing cheerful colors.  Just in case you were wondering. 

Sam's first visit to the dentist was a hospital dentist.  There was lots of flailing, screaming, crying, and running around.  Sam was the screaming, flailing, and running around.  I took care of the crying part.  Over time, he learned to like the dentist.  I learned not to cry.  That is a story in itself, which I may get into later.  What is pertinent at this moment are these two facts.  One, I am a single parent with a limited number of days off.  I do not have the luxury of scheduling doctor's appointments on work days.  Two, Sam has made tremendous progress with regard to dental exams. 

I had a bad experience trying to get an appointment for Sam at the hospital clinic in December.  I called my hygienist to get suggestions.  She is the type who is up for anything and told me to bring him to the pediatric dental office where she was working.  I did.  It went really well.  He loved every plaque scraping, flossing moment.  That was the start to my new year.  I took Sam to the dentist.  A REGULAR dentist.  Like other parents do.  It was a little slice of dental heaven.

Today I am thanking Michelle for encouraging me to try a new dentist.