Sebastian was born February 2013. He had a hard start in life, was delivered via c-section and put in intensive care unit for respiratory distress. We were discharged 5 days later, he was a healthy happy boy. One early morning, when Sebastian was 7 months old he was playing when my husband noticed his head went back, eyes rolled up, turned blue in the face and started shaking. Ill never forgot that day. It was the first of many seizures to come, I have lost count. Sebastian was diagnosed with Epilepsy. We were told to keep an eye out on his development. My husband knew there was something wrong. When Sebastian was 15 months old he started showing autistic traits. No communication at all, only babbling, no pointing, hand flapping, bringing objects close to his face and shaking, having to always have two objects in his hand, not playing with toys and he really sat still. He also has an obsession with socks, he has to have socks in his hands. Sebastian was diagnosed with Autism at 19 months, one year exactly to the date, after our epilepsy diagnose. I cried and cried, what more can my little boy go through, it’s so unfair. I hope that his little sister who is 5 months old doesn’t endure the same fate. We are waiting to get him into an early intervention programe starting next year. In Australia there is only one government funded place in each state, the waiting list is huge. If unsuccessful then we will enrol him into a private funded place, it’s so expensive. I can’t wait until he says Mamma or Dadda and gives us a big cuddle and tells us he loves us. I hope that day will eventually come.

Violet M
Melbourne, Australia