**April 3, 2024**
The day that changed our lives forever.
On that day, my two-year-old son was diagnosed with Moderate Level II Autism.
As a mother, my heart shattered. Deep down, I had known something wasn’t quite adding up since Kyle was an infant. There had been so many signs pointing to this, yet hearing the words out loud—words so many parents fear—was devastating.
I remember getting into my car afterward, feeling completely numb.
*What do we do now?
Will Kyle ever get better?
Will he be able to function as an adult someday?*
The questions swirled endlessly in my mind. I felt like a failure, as though I had done something wrong to cause this for my child.
Yet, when I looked back, everything at first had seemed perfect. From pregnancy through Kyle’s first nine months, I had zero complications. He was born healthy, and even the newborn phase was easy. He slept, I slept—it was a dream.
But at around nine months, I began to notice delays. While other babies were crawling, Kyle was barely sitting up. When other toddlers were walking, Kyle was only beginning to crawl.
And then there was the speech issue. Beyond the usual baby sounds, there were no words. Kyle couldn’t communicate, and in my heart I knew something was wrong.
By eighteen months, Kyle was in physical therapy and speech therapy. Soon after, he also began occupational therapy.
My sweet boy was behind, and this mama was worried.
Eventually, we were referred to a neurologist, where we finally received the diagnosis.
After the shock wore off, I realized this was not the end of Kyle’s story. When people told me he would likely be nonverbal for life, I refused to accept it. I believed with all my heart that God had plans for my son.
That was the moment I made a vow: I would do whatever it took, no matter how far outside my comfort zone, to give my son the best future possible.
I enrolled Kyle in Early Childhood Special Education. That meant putting my barely three-year-old on a bus, traveling twenty miles from my workplace. It was not an easy choice, but I knew it was the right one.
Through this journey, God has been with us every step of the way. Time and time again, He has reassured me that His plan is greater than my own. He has guided me toward the right decisions for Kyle, and now we are beginning to see the fruit of those choices.
Kyle is learning new words every week. He is beginning to interact more with his peers. He can count past one hundred and read basic words—skills many children don’t develop until late kindergarten.
Through God’s peace, Kyle is receiving the help he needs. Without even knowing it, he shines the light of Jesus to everyone around him. He is joyful, he is thriving, and his laughter is absolutely contagious.
Even in the hard and confusing moments, God’s hand is present. Because of His goodness, we can hold on to joy, even in the valleys.
Rays of Sunshine inc 