the results are in.

We had a meeting with Dr. MAL on Monday. It was one of those appointments where I couldn't wait and yet dreaded it at the same time. She wanted us in the office and requested to see Maddy. Gulp. She hadn't seen Maddy since the ABA training in September and she hadn't had Maddy in the office since the beginning of July. I know that sounds weird for anyone not directly involved but this is quite typical. Most appointments, while they were entirely about Maddy, did not involve her. And frankly, you can get alot more accomplished in a meeting when there are no children present, autistic or not.

She was planning on "testing" Maddy in many of the areas of ABA that she has mastered here for us. And while, I KNOW that she knows her stuff, it's nerve wracking. It's alot for a 2 year old.

Dr. MAL had moved her practice to join a group of psychologists in another building (we'll call it The Institute) and so everything about Monday was filled with anxiety. I had to arrive 30 minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork, so Justin dropped me off in the middle of Maddy's OT therapy and went back to get her. I sat anxiously in that office for 30 minutes. By myself. The so-called paperwork that I was supposed to fill out had already been filled out when she first moved and anything else that I needed to fill out, the secretary (that's an entirely different story) wanted to wait until Dr. MAL was there to see what she needed. Great. So instead of at least having my husband to wait nervously with, I was alone. Staring at the decor. (Just think scary psychology offices from the 80s and you will picture where I was sitting)

It was like I could feel the clock tick every second away.

Finally I heard the rambunctious squeals from Maddy in the hallway and then walked in Justin and Maddy. A very nice distraction. Then Lori came from EI. Whew. My reinforcements have arrived. The secretary then handed me a 5 page document to read and sign................

Sigh.

Dr. MAL's office was nice. Nothing like the lobby. Very warm and comforting. There was a little playhouse on the floor for Maddy to play with and another big wooden activity block. She happily sat down on the floor and picked up the dolls and began playing appropriately with them. I followed Dr. MAL's eyes as she watched Maddy and I could see that she could see what we are seeing in Maddy. Relief.

I think I could write books about how that meeting went but the basic synopsis is that Maddy's progression is not typical. Not. At. All. She is progressing so fast that we are all astonished. Dr. MAL didn't even bother "testing" her because of how well she was interacting and playing in the office during our meeting. At one point we were talking about introducing foreign languages.

Stop.

There is no way in July that I could have imagined that we would be discussing foreign languages in November. No way. Maddy has only been doing ABA for 2 months. In 2 months' time, she has gained amazing eye contact, answers to her name, can follow basic instructions, can imitate, knows her body parts, can identify (with pointing and speaking) 9 different colors, understands verbs like running, kicking, crying; requests things, plays with her sisters, can identify basic nouns like cat, dog, car; gives hugs, holds hands, gives kisses, and is starting to ask questions like "how are you?" "Okay, Mama?" "where is green?"

At the end of the meeting I asked Dr. MAL if she would reassess Maddy. She said she will in March.

In many ways, I know that she will not meet the criteria for autism in March. Will she still have a diagnosis of PDD or such? Yes, most likely...but not autism. Not that anything will change yet. We have alot of work to do and we will keep doing it, regardless of criteria or not. But it's outstanding.

Phenomenal.

We've been sharing the news intermittently with people and while everyone is super excited and thrilled for us, there is a subtle, underlying question that a few people have asked.

So...was she misdiagnosed?

NO! I know many people that ask this question do not mean anything by it. They just want to make sense of things. I can understand that. Heck, I think I probably would think that too if I wasn't directly involved.

But no. She was not misdiagnosed. And in assuming that, that belittles every single thing that we are doing. In ABA, in speech, in OT, at home, and in prayer. No. Maddy has Autism. When I started all of this in April, I knew in my heart every single red flag. I could read books on other children with Autism and it felt like they were writing about my child. Dr. MAL is highly qualified to make the diagnosis. She studied under many of the pioneers in Ohio that are still working very hard to continue what Lovaas did.

God is working. In all of us and in Maddy. I firmly believe that. Saying that her diagnosis was human error, belittles Him too.

But this is psychology. There is no medical test to confirm autism. No extra or lagging chromosome. No blood test. No definite. There is always room for interpretation and it will probably always be there.

Is she recovered?

No. Not yet. Who knows if and when. She is still very much behind her peers on several aspects. She is gaining. Her exponential growth speaks volumes but unfortunately, that is what is required to catch up with a group that is also growing volumes every day.

We have alot of work yet to do.

So what are you saying?

I'm saying this: ABA is working. Speech is working. OT is working. Prayers are being answered.

That is what I am saying.

It's working.