Success Stories

AARON’S RECOVERY STORY

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AARON:

Page 276 of “Saving my Sons – A Journey with Autism”

Life today with Aaron

Aaron has lost his diagnosis of autism. He can tell us what he’s thinking and where he wants to go, what he likes and doesn’t like, and just like any other little boy his age, he enjoys play dates, sleepovers at granny’s house and going to the movies. We got our boy back. We won the battle.

Home free

Aaron looks forward to our regular trips to the park with our dogs Rocco and Miley. He continues to surprise us and creeps into the hearts of all those who come across his path. Since he has full functionality, he’s been given a second chance to live a full life. Sometimes I have to remind myself that his autism really did happen, as it seems so unreal. Aaron found his way out of the darkness and into the light. No longer lost in the woods, he is home safe. Aaron is a happy boy who loves life itself, a miracle child who proved that autism is in fact something children can recover from. As I think about the path we’ve walked, I’m reminded of conversations with Aaron I haven’t had to miss; and of being able to hear him sing his songs. There are so many things to be glad and relieved about. Hearing his voice when I wake up in the morning and knowing whether he’s happy, sore or sad, because he can tell me how he is feeling. Searching the house with him to help him find one of his lost toys. Savouring every moment of watching him graduate from nursery to big school. Celebrating his birthday and choosing his cake and the theme for his birthday party. Reading him stories as he rests his head on my shoulder. Trying to solve his problems, which include not being able to take the dogs with him on holiday, and entails answering thousands of questions. Hearing the screams and laughter of his pillow fights with Elli fill the house and knowing his favourite colour and what he likes to eat. Watching when he gets a surprise or hearing his expression of delight when he bites into a warm slice of pizza. Taking him to the zoo and the farm and sharing in his interest and love of animals. Hearing him tell me he loves me and watching him call out “Daddy” as he runs down the passage to greet Martin when he arrives back home from work. Taking him to soccer and karate… All of this has been wonderful, and we’ve enjoyed and treasured every single minute of it. Even though it took four long years of an ABA programme, brave medical treatments, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears, it was all worth it and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

LEXI’S RECOVERY STORY

RECOVERED FROM AUTISM by Rachelle Cara Botha.

Despite knowing for a while already, we are thrilled to announce that Lexi has officially RECOVERED from Autism.
After just over 3 years of intensive intervention, a team of specialists has confirmed that Lexi no longer falls on the spectrum and has, therefore, lost her diagnosis. We are overjoyed!

It has been a challenging 3 years, but God has carried us through this journey and has answered our prayers. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and for choosing to heal Lexi.

Lexi has shown to be determined, intelligent, feisty, diligent and intuitive. Now the sky is the limit for her! Lexi will continue her schooling career in a mainstream school and we know she will blossom!
Lexi, you have exceeded our expectations for you! You have a bright future ahead of you baby girl and we are extremely proud of you!
There are so many people who have walked this road with us, but a special thank you to our family.
My mom fought for Lexi’s recovery until her last day. She made countless sacrifices for us on a daily basis and made Lexi her first priority. She was Lexi’s biggest supporter! We wish she could be here to rejoice with us, but we know that she is celebrating up in Heaven.

Dad, your sacrificial support, month after month, has made this all possible. You have given of yourself in every possible way and have been an example of Godliness to us. Lexi would not have gotten this far if it weren’t for you!
Melanie and Jay-Jay, your constant support, love and selflessness has been a blessing to us. You have loved Lexi as if she was your own and she adores your family!

And then to everyone from ‘The Star Academy’, you have been phenomenal from day 1. You truly were a God-send and we couldn’t be more grateful that you came along our Path.

We appreciate all your guidance, love, hard work, and everything that you have done to get Lexi here. You have been such a big part of our lives and we are going to miss you.

Finally, Lexi is a living reminder that miracles do happen and that all things are possible through God who strengthens us! Our hearts are bursting with joy and pride and we give all glory to God!

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FRANCOIS’S SUCCESS STORY

KAI NAIDOO’S GRADUATION FROM THE STAR ACADEMY

A success story written by Nicole Gokul. In June 2018 I initially became the lead on a case pertaining to a 22 month old… Kai N.

(In early 2019 I became Kai’s Case Manager however continued to concurrently work with him during his ABA therapy sessions twice a week until his last day at Star) .

He was non-vocal and had tantrum behavior due to the inability to communicate his wants and needs. This continued for 2months and suddenly… breakthrough! He began to babble, tantrum behavior decreased and was almost non-existent. How so? Might you ask… Well, this was due to PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). He began to fluently communicate using PECS which was consistent during therapy and supplemented at home. Before long, he began to provide vocal follow-ups to his PECS (this was not coherent initially), but was shaped into words via the Echoics lesson. His vocal language grew from words to sentences.

At the age of 3 he was accepted into Crawford Pre-primary. He completed Grade 000 without school facilitation and is currently in Grade 00 with successful integration. During the initial stage of lockdown, Kai’s sessions were pushed to Zoom. He was able to sustain his attention on Zoom for up to 4 hours daily (and this at 3.5 years old). He returned to in-person sessions after 4 months of Zoom and superseded further academically. His memory is impeccable and he has the ability to recall everything taught to him since his inception at The Star Academy. He is currently learning to read and mastered being able to tell the time at the age of 4!

Kai’s success is attributed to his therapy team, his parents and his grandparents who carried over everything taught to him at the centre to his home environment.

I am so proud of everything he has achieved! This is bittersweet as today marks his graduation from The Star Academy.

I will miss you dearly sweet boy.