Good Day Pat. I saw you on Nancy Grace last night and thought I would check your web page. My husband and I adopted a beautiful boy in 1982. Matthew is our only child. At age 5, Matthew was diagnoised with insulin dependent diabetes at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At age 6, he was diagnoised by the head of psychiatry at Sick Kids with P.D.D.N.O.S., A.D.H.D.,and functioning in the mild range of mental retardation. Matthew spent 2 weeks in the hospital with diabetes.
When we left, I was educated and prepared to deal with this chronic illness. At age 6, with his new diagnosis ,there was no education, just a report to share with who I choose. Having the diabetes forced us into structure and this routine made Matthew's world predictable. The challenge was not knowing if we had created these unwanted behaviors and what could we do to change them. There was no information available for us during these developmental years. I too prayed to God for strength and guidance. I would ask if he gave me too much and why. I wanted everyone to love and accept Matthew as much as we did.
We have moved across Canada with jobs and each journey was a challenge and a learning experience. Each new experience because of the change was difficult for Matthew but somehow we all survived. At 15 Matthew started horseback riding. At 19 we bought him a horse so he could continue learning. Matthew competed against children without disabilities and once took a first place ribbon - How proud were we! After his lessons I would ask Matthew if he understood what the coach had said? He replied, "No not really". I asked him how he could do what she asked? "I do not know I just can".
Matthew at 26 can not work for competitive wages. Matthew does have a day job at a horse and beef cattle farm. He wakes up every day and wants to go to work. He talks non-stop about the horses, calling each by name. Matthew has so much knowledge inside his head that we never knew was there. We are blessed that Matthew has a good life and a sense of community with his job. All my questions have been answered.