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The day I could no longer cope with my autistic son
lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk — This is a sad story, poor kid......When her son Dale was three, Nuala Gardner contemplated suicide. She reveals the hidden despair facing full-time carers - and how she kept going.
pizzler- 587 diggs
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- Jeffler, on 04/28/2008, -1/+40Amazing story. People don't get the effect an individual autism has on a family, let alone that person, and its great to see that they've all persevered.
- MarioWhereRu, on 04/28/2008, -57/+1FIRST
- friendlyman, on 04/28/2008, -14/+1It's ok to admit you have autism. There There *pat pat*
- Jeffler, on 04/28/2008, -2/+8That is extremely degrading to autistic people. This guy is just an idiot.
- weirddave, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2I'm not trying to be crass, but I don't think this is degrading to autistic people.
I don't think saying, "You might be autistic" to somebody with poor social skills (i.e. just saying "FIRST") is degrading to autistic people, any more than saying, "What are you, deaf?" to somebody who didn't hear you is degrading to deaf people. Still inappropriate, though.- friendlyman, on 04/28/2008, -6/+0Actually I was being very sincere and consoling with deep respect and love toward my fellow man. Now who's the idiot.
- weirddave, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2I'm not trying to be crass, but I don't think this is degrading to autistic people.
- Jeffler, on 04/28/2008, -2/+8That is extremely degrading to autistic people. This guy is just an idiot.
- blackdude, on 04/28/2008, -1/+5wow, fail is not the word for this comment...
- imbatman05, on 04/28/2008, -2/+6WANKER
- Jeffler, on 04/28/2008, -3/+6Actually you're second, and that comment was pointless.
I never got the whole first thing. I mean, I don't mind if someone says "First Post!" and goes on in that same post and puts in a legit comment. Or, with digg's system, posts "FIRST" then edits it afterwards if they want to reserve the spot for a legit post (though 90 seconds kinda defeats that purpose). But just writing first is stupid, and writing FIRST while placing in 2nd, is EPIC FAIL.- RetardIceCream, on 04/28/2008, -4/+0If you write first post and then write a full comment, someone will beat you to the punch! Plus who sits around pushing refresh waiting for a new story to appear to be first?
- friendlyman, on 04/28/2008, -14/+1It's ok to admit you have autism. There There *pat pat*
- nickcozy, on 04/28/2008, -29/+2I have a strong hunch that most diggers were autistic sometime in their childhood.
- imbatman05, on 04/28/2008, -0/+7What a silly thing to say...
- nickcozy, on 04/28/2008, -4/+2you are right ,silly me.Bury my head.
- curme, on 04/28/2008, -1/+5You're post implies that diggers were cured of autism in adulthood. Silly you? Idiot you. This is why public schools fail and we need vouchers for private schools. Kids are just learning to pass some rote test, but they are not learning an education.
- peaceninja, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2i'd bet most diggers are aspies
- EmileVictor, on 04/28/2008, -4/+1While nick's comment is completely retarded, it's probably true that many diggers have very mild autism. It allows for greater focus on a single subject (in extreme cases, savant behaviour) such as mathematics or computing, and (can) partly explain the reclusiveness of some.
I was under the impression that one has autism for life.
- imbatman05, on 04/28/2008, -0/+7What a silly thing to say...
- Elliottx, on 04/28/2008, -13/+1How sweet..... -_-........
- MarioWhereRu, on 04/28/2008, -30/+4What a selfish bitch,she was going to leave her son without a mother.
- wafla, on 04/28/2008, -1/+6Deal with it, child-man.
- wafla, on 04/28/2008, -3/+1Also, welcome to Digg!!
- MedHead, on 04/28/2008, -3/+2Pretty much what I was thinking, too, Mario. A rather self-centered article.
- LawnMowerKitten, on 04/28/2008, -17/+5I'm an excellent driver.
- Tamant, on 04/28/2008, -0/+31Dale grown up and an overall view on their story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/ ...- Lucas718, on 04/28/2008, -0/+4Great followup to the original post.
- altinnovation, on 04/28/2008, -4/+1Sorry, it was so long. So.... did he get cured?
- duster, on 04/28/2008, -0/+5autism doesn't get "cured", but it seems he's turned out to be pretty well adjusted
- Neph, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1Autism 1, ADD zero
- mjoshi, on 04/28/2008, -0/+18I'm parent of kid with special need. Call it coincidence but today is anniversary of my younger one who was diagnosed with OMS (Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome). It is really challenging to take care of kid with special need and come out without any life chaning experience. You grow differently as a parent when you child is going thru trauma of extremely rare disease like OMS. Please check this link to see what OMS is and how it changes a normal child forever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opsoclonus_myoclonus_ ...
- dukeeeey, on 04/28/2008, -17/+1It's the mercury in the vaccines which is doing it.
You can either believe the mercury in the vaccines is good for you -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNsbNmRRUZs
Or you can believe it causes autism -> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6890106663 ...- 2612, on 04/28/2008, -0/+9Please don't lay out your opinion as gospel "the mercury in the vaccines which is doing it." Have you read studies proving that? I wish it were that simple but autism is not. There are genetic factors but its believed there may be an environmental trigger, too. But its foolish and irresponsible to prevent your children from getting vaccinated because of something unproven.
- dukeeeey, on 04/28/2008, -6/+1yeah i read the studies
did you know that legally if you dropped a vaccine on the floor it would have to be considered toxic waste due to the mercury content- Magnus150, on 04/28/2008, -0/+5No, it would be toxic because it contains possibly active pathogens. The mercury (which is no longer added to vaccines except possibly cold vaccines, I don't remember) is too insignificant to really matter. Besides, its ethyl mercury which is harmlessly passed in the urine. Methyl mercury is the harmful one that stays.
- dukeeeey, on 04/28/2008, -6/+1yeah i read the studies
- xenuxenuts, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3while I wouldn't be surprised if it's environmental, a lot of things have changed in the last several decades. There are a lot of chemicals in the environment now. While investigating vaccines might make sense, I wouldn't suggest people give up on other possibilities.
- Kaitsu, on 04/28/2008, -0/+5The government is putting the mercury in your vaccines on purpose to keep you unaware of the UFO conspiracy. But you just keep fighting the power, man. /salute
- 2612, on 04/28/2008, -0/+9Please don't lay out your opinion as gospel "the mercury in the vaccines which is doing it." Have you read studies proving that? I wish it were that simple but autism is not. There are genetic factors but its believed there may be an environmental trigger, too. But its foolish and irresponsible to prevent your children from getting vaccinated because of something unproven.
- stonklit, on 04/28/2008, -4/+1Well that was anti-climactic..
- purzzzell, on 04/28/2008, -2/+4did you miss her almost killing herself?
- KhanneaNL, on 04/28/2008, -24/+4Gods am I glad I never had any of those *****. Birthing a healthy child would be abhorrent, but actually having one with a serious disorder? I'd dump it as a hospital within a week and forget it ever existed.
- purzzzell, on 04/28/2008, -3/+7As hard as it would be too imagine living what this couple lives through, NEVER, EVER have children - you don't deserve them.
- KhanneaNL, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2Trust me I wont, I do not WANT this little vermin.
- zantos420, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3wow
- Shaggy63, on 04/28/2008, -3/+6OMFG, Welcome to my ban list you *****. I have a son with PKU and yes he is a lot of work but He is the most loving fun and well behaved kid i've ever seen. Hes only two.
I hope you can't have kids.- KhanneaNL, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2Don't worry I had surgery to make sure. And I am voting for any political party that enacts population controls.
And thanks for saddling the rest of society with your geneticly damaged larva.- decyx, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2We don't even have a need for population control in the United States, because the average couple only produces two children. This is common for first world countries. Birthrate goes lower and standards of living increase. That's fact and you'll find several diagrams and studies to back this up. Most of our growth is actually attributed to immigration.
I can't understand why you'd say something so ridiculous considering the fact that some of your previous comments were fairly insightful. Severely disabled people have just as much a right to live as anyone else. - Buckeye17, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2@decyx
"Severely disabled people have just as much a right to live as anyone else."
Just to play devil's advocate... what if the disabled person doesn't know they are alive?- decyx, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1You bring up a good point. I was speaking in terms of severely disabled, but still self aware so I don't really have a response for that other than my own personal belief.
- decyx, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2We don't even have a need for population control in the United States, because the average couple only produces two children. This is common for first world countries. Birthrate goes lower and standards of living increase. That's fact and you'll find several diagrams and studies to back this up. Most of our growth is actually attributed to immigration.
- KhanneaNL, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2Don't worry I had surgery to make sure. And I am voting for any political party that enacts population controls.
- Trichomonas, on 04/28/2008, -3/+2He was being sarcastic...
- purzzzell, on 04/28/2008, -3/+7As hard as it would be too imagine living what this couple lives through, NEVER, EVER have children - you don't deserve them.
- maximus434, on 04/28/2008, -1/+7What a terrible burden it is to have a severely disabled child
- footodors, on 04/28/2008, -1/+7Bottom line; I couldn't do it!
- stradf, on 04/28/2008, -23/+6If I ever get an autistic kid, I abandon him in the forest and declare him "stolen" (or do we say "kidnapped" for children).
I'm serious- glialisback, on 04/28/2008, -2/+8I have an autistic son, who I'm sure is far more intelligent than yourself, judging by your grammar. If only you would have been left in the forest, now that would be justice.
I'm serious.- RetardIceCream, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2Who ***** a give about grammar it's a damn comment board not a ***** master's thesis
- glialisback, on 04/28/2008, -2/+8I have an autistic son, who I'm sure is far more intelligent than yourself, judging by your grammar. If only you would have been left in the forest, now that would be justice.
- WillieEvercome, on 04/28/2008, -20/+5Well, if I were in her shoes, I'd take that messed up fetus out back and smash it with a rock and try again
- brummers, on 04/28/2008, -5/+1It was the day he was born...
- Puisapres, on 04/28/2008, -1/+7What's with all the horrible comments every time someone posts a story about autism? Some people have never seen firsthand what it does to families...
- RetardIceCream, on 04/28/2008, -13/+1If natural selection was allowed to run its course these people who are useless to the human race and dragging down normal people would just die off. Contemplate suicide? How about contemplate dismembering the whining little bitch and throw him in the river. When you're bashing his head in with a hammer, I'm pretty sure he won't understand
- grock900, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3I don't understand why you would post something like this, You have no sense of logic and I hope that was a joke
- Gunsdead, on 04/28/2008, -0/+5You totally suck as a human being.
- RetardIceCream, on 04/28/2008, -6/+1World is overpopulated...We can use the useless people not taking up space. (Enter the chain of replies of "You're useless, you retard")
- Ansem, on 04/28/2008, -3/+5Just another reason why I am not having kids.
- Alael, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Good idea! Personally, I've never wanted to be a parent because I would have found a neurotypical child too difficult to manage.
- tehHardcorez, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3I'm not a big fan of the sausage touching the beans either. Gets a little sweaty.
- RetardIceCream, on 04/28/2008, -8/+0YOU ALL ARE RETARD FANBOYS. Which makes me a fan boy because I accused you first!
- billyocean, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3Solid Digg, good to see some on the Digg community still has a soul. "Why Apple/Linux/etc are more awesomer" articles still get most digs tho.
- mrzack, on 04/28/2008, -12/+2Vaccines cause autism.
- Classico, on 04/28/2008, -6/+3Eugenics ftw
- Spoomeister, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1Similar sad story: seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004377874_johnsons28m.html
- volando, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3Can't these diseases be diagnosed in vitro and the fetuses aborted? What's the point of bringing such a child into the world? The only reason I could see for not aborting would be religious (some blah blah about souls). The less suffering for both the child and the parent, the better.
- Todamont, on 05/02/2008, -1/+1Some diseases like fragile X and down's syndrome can be diagnosed in the womb. I used to live with a guy who did just that, looked at chromosomes under a microscope all day so parents could know and decide what to do. Unfortunately you can't tell a child will be autistic until they start showing symptoms somewhere around age 2...
- jeremyadam, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1i worked with special needs children for four years, many with autism. I spent only 8 hours a day with these children and was emotionally and most of the time physically tired at the end of that day. I can only imagine what these parents must have felt like. But it was amazing to see how many parents are able to handle it no problem.
- Kikinou, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2It'd be to both the child's and to the parent's benefit for the child to be euthanized. What quality of life can this child ever have? And what happens when the parents become old and infirm, who will care for him/her then?
- tchynerd, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Some might say the same of you....
In the comments someone posted what his response to this was. He is now a (somewhat) normal and adjusted person
- tchynerd, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2Some might say the same of you....
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