Landon is autistic and cognitively impaired. When I was pregnant with him I knew something wasn't right. You see before Landon I had a daughter named Cheyenne and it was after her first birthday we found out we were expecting again. When I was pregnant with Cheyenne it was normal, she was a firecracker, always moving, feet in the rib cage, basically she was pretty active.... In Landons case it wasn't so...
Landon didn't move a whole lot. He would stay on the left side and just sit there. I was put on multiple stress tests and nothing ever showed. I even mentioned to my ob gyn that maybe there was something wrong. My gut instinct was telling me he was going to be different and boy I was right.
Six months after Landon was born we noticed his behavior as being peculiar. He wouldn't make eye contact, would constantly lay on his back and wouldn't make any sounds that most babies make. But our pediatrician at the time told us there was nothing to worry about..
At twelve months Landon didn't walk, sit up or crawl. Our pediatrician said there were no concerns. Mind you this man was named one of the top ten pediatricians in the state of Michigan. So I took matters into my own hands. I told him that since he wasn't going to help like hes supposed to I was going to get it myself. I then took Landon to a neurologist who diagnosed Landon with Motor Apraxia and cognitive impairment. She couldn't believe the pediatrician wouldn't do anything.
We were referred to the Early On program. He went through a evaluation at MISD. Was seen by a psychologist who then agreed with the neurologists assessment. So we were then sent to the Early Program to start Landon into physical, occupational and speech therapies because he was also non verbal.
Thanks to Macomb Intermeddiate School District and Early On Landon walked before his second birthday. I will never forget the day I was watching a movie with my daughter and looked over in time to see him pull himself up to the couch and take a few steps. I literally jumped out of my chair and started crying.. My baby boy was walking!! I called my husband at work and said "guess who finally walked?" My husband couldn't respond because he too started to cry. It was beautiful. We were told by the so called pediatrician that Landon would never walk. Never sit up. Well he did and the day he walked up to his physical therapist by himself she cried too. It was the greatest moment.
Now I bet you're thinking "I hope you got rid of that so called pediatrician?" Why yes we did after he told us that Landon wouldn't walk, sit up or crawl because he was "lazy". Yes he called Landon lazy. He wasn't lazy he was delayed. When we told his psychiatrist what the pediatrician said the psychiatrist called him and with me in the room said " how can you call yourself a doctor when you claim a two year old child is lazy when if you did your job you would've known that he is delayed!! As a doctor myself my opinion is that Landon isn't the only whose lazy. You're the one that is lazy and apparently shouldn't be a pediatrician since you suck at your job!! Then he hung up.
I sat there in shock. I didn't know what to say... But in my mind I thought.. Damn he just told him. lol
Landon was put through physical, occupational and speech therapies. He had his hearing checked multiple times because he was what you call a silent kid. He made no noises, sounds and spoke no words. For seven years not a peep. Until my mom died back in 2010 and all of a sudden a switch went on. He talks now. Not in full sentences just words here and there but hey its a start!
He goes to a special needs school. He is in a cognitive impaired class and he isn't potty trained but we are still working on it. Its a slow process but its getting better. He has shown great progress and we know he will continue to show it. We have faith in him and he has our love and support 100%.
This is a kid that was said to never walk but with the help of some awesome people. Who knew the doctor was wrong and worked hard to show it. They did an fantastic job. And the proof is in the pudding as they say because our little Landon participates in the Special Olympics every year and has almost 20 ribbons for track and field.
The hard work of a determined little boy. A little boy we love and adore, a little boy we wouldn't trade nor change for the world. Many say they want a cure for autism. I don't. If Landon was cured he wouldn't be the same person he is today. I can't imagine him any other way.
