I touched a little on it recently, but Alex’s new home’s upper management seem to be significantly more concerned about doing what’s best for Alex than his last home. This is just one of many reasons I’m thinking this year could be the first one where things really start looking up.
In 2010, Alex was placed outside our home. That was probably our worst experience, and he went to places that weren’t able to really help him move forward. Even after the actual crisis placement, the homes were still focusing on keeping him safe more than keeping him happy. (And sometimes they weren’t even doing much to keep him safe) We moved to Albany so we could be closer to Alex, who had been placed temporarily in Salem. Right before Christmas, he was moved to the longer-term home about an hour away from us.
Even when we moved to Eugene, Alex was still a good 30 minutes from us, making daily visits impractical. We kept with the MMJ on our 3x a week visits, but it wasn’t likely often enough for him to really get much out of it. Just before Christmas of 2013, Alex went to KKI for six months, and obviously it wasn’t worth keeping him on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. KKI was literally across the country, so cannabis wasn’t an option.
When he came back from KKI, the only available home was in Salem again. So he was over an hour away again from June through most of December of last year.
Just before Christmas, he moved to Eugene. Ten minutes away. I’ve even biked down there in about 15 minutes. This was the first year since 2009 we were able to feel like a family for the holidays. It was absolutely amazing.
Alex is closer to us. Alex is in a home managed and staffed by people who work hard to keep him safe, happy, and engaged.
But as if that weren’t enough, his proximity means we can start looking into MMJ again. And recently dispensaries got legalized here in Oregon, so we’ll have a lot of options for figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Furthermore, recreational pot will be legal in July thanks to a surprisingly decisive vote on measure 91, which will mean a lot less BS trying to make it so both my wife and I can legally transport medicine for him. (For those unaware, there are three spots on a normal MMJ form that allow transportation and possession of cannabis: the patient, the grower, and the caregiver)
Put it all together, and I have to say, I’m very optimistic about Alex’s future for the first time in years.
Hello, I am now an adult woman suffering from autism. This for certain works for me as well. I NEED to use mmj just to be out in public and function in my home or I am bombed with overwhelming my senses. When I was a kid, this wasnt even a concept, let alone treat us with autism in this method. I could have benefitted so much from this then, it has felt like such a waste. I still cannot work at a conventional job but my life is improved. I am just happy I live in WA state and we have progressed so much into opening our minds about medical treatment recently. I really wish your son the best. I am happy he is living in a time he is able to get something that can help him. Poor little guys pictures are intensly sad to see.
Best strains for autism: AC/DC high in CBD (for seizures); white widow (for appetite), cannatonic, white russian and San Fernando Valley OG (for pain)
Hi Terrance, I’m looking into treating our son. I would like to know more about you recommendations. I’m in Oregon, Eugene area. Is there a location you recommend that would know about the best treatments? devaudgrl@yahho.com Thank you
What lovely parents. And such a beautiful child. It should be downright criminal for anyone to get in the way of you giving your child a medically prescribed dose of cannabis anywhere! This is discrimination, since it’s okay to give a child Haldol or Thorazine (two of the most dangerous drugs known to the brain and used to control behaviors in autism)….so why on earth would anyone in their right mind not being bending over backwards to help get an “Exception” in licensing for the group home, so this medically prescribed drug can be given. It’s medically necessary. He’s got a prescription. You have video evidence to show it works. If caregivers can give suppositories and other medications they damn well be able to give medical cannabis as a health and safety issue. Ask for an Exception to whatever foolish backward policy is in place thwarting the group home from being able to give it as part of his PLAN OF TREATMENT signed by a doctor.
My body & soul hears your cry. My autistic son Noah, now 17, is a blessing as well. I understand exactly how it feels to watch your child suffer in their own skin. My son as he has aged, has become much happier and understands his world somewhat better. However, I advocate HIGHLY for this purpose! I have seen in my days of nursing, too many that would have been better treated for many disease and disorders with THC etc. than the traditional ways. I would love for my son to perhaps have 10 words versus being non-verbal and would certainly attempt a natural form of treatment like this. In time this shall come to pass, it’s just sad and pathetic that our choices are not choices. Bless you for your hard work. Sincerely, Tammy S. Henschel
I commend you as parents and I stand by your fight to provide your child with treatment that has shown significant promise. I think it’s high time Politicians step up to the plate, surrender any kickbacks your getting from these drug company’s and do what needs to be done. How would you feel if this was your child? You want to talk about the effects on a child’s developing brain. Then I ask you what is more likely to cause harm to this child or any other child’s brain? The disease that is destroying the brain with every seizure, every pounding against the wall? Maybe the drugs that are toxic and lethal and have been proven to not provide significant relief? How many children have to die or loose all sense of a normal life before you finally act to protect them?
Our autistic daughter has been subjected to many anti psychotics that only made the self abuse worse. Not until we tried medical cannabis did we find any relief. However, I must add, it was with the combination of other meds like Morphine during painful events that would trigger incredible surges in self mutilation. We tried in vain to rely on doctors. On ER trips. On conventional medications. All failed. Not until we combined medical cannabis did we find any relief to our daughter’s pain and confusion and upset. I can only hope that legislators will understand how intense, how critical, how hopeless parents feel when they see their children suffering, despite all the conventional drugs, that they will look deeper into things like medical cannabis to stop such needless and mindless suffering and allow our children to live more productive and meaningful lives without the harsh side effects of drugs like Haldol, Ativan and Risperdal and Zyprexa and Seroquel. Enough already. Quite torturing us with these ineffective drugs! We need better alternatives. Alternatives that don’t leave our children with elevated liver counts, extra pyramidial effects and damaged kidneys. We need real help. We need more supports and services. Better group homes that can handle these children. Please, for the love of God, stop delaying effective treatments and supports.
Lothario, would you be willing to contact me at lhart520@yahoo.com? Our daughters sound so similar and I would love to ask you a few questions…
Such caring parents and the community support is there so keep up the good work. It’s getting ridiculous that whole plant extracts can’t be used when needed and the Medical Marijuana legislation is the only thing creating this problem where people can’t get medicine and it’s sickening.