The Grocery Connection

Since APD has often been called an "invisible disability", I have decided that this disability will remain invisible to most of my friends. Why? I'm not ready to discuss it. I'm sure great things will come when I open up about it. I already have found great solace in the few who do know. But, I'm just not ready for the "well, at least it's not {enter horrible thing like brain cancer or cerebral palsy}" or "if lots of kids have it, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal." Should I give my friends more credit than that? Probably. But, as you can tell, my emotions are running the show right now and I'm going to wait to shout it from the mountain tops.

Which leads me to the episode that occurred last week: As I was grocery shopping, I ran into a familiar face - Lisa. The very first thing she said was, "I heard Jared has a processing issue." I can't describe the emotion I felt at that moment. I was in shock, briefly, before she said "MiKayla has one too!" Whoa. Did I just meet my first empathizing partner in this journey?  I felt my heart smile.

We talked for nearly 20 minutes. Her daughter attends the same school as Jared and MiKayla was evaluated by the same administrator, Mrs. Flynn. Lisa had asked Mrs. Flynn if anyone else was dealing with this disability and my name was mentioned (probably because our families know each other).

MiKayla is 8. Lisa and her husband have been struggling so much and it was hard to listen to her stories of reading, homework, teaching, etc. I hurt for that family. I mean, we're nearly 3 years behind and not even on the cusp of primary education with a processing disorder. They are living it out every day. They are wondering if they are supposed to hold MiKayla back a year in school. It was then that I decided to research even harder, and call even more doctors. I was no longer working for my family, but for someone else I knew... another mother who's frustration was written all over her face.

As I mentioned in my last post, I did find a doctor. I contacted Lisa immediately and she called them and MiKayla is on her way to clinical help. Jared turns 6 the very day that they have their first appointment with the doctor. We are praying that this office will take Jared at age 6, as we can't imagine waiting another year.

God knew that I wasn't ready to shout it out to the world, but He was ready for someone to shout it out to me... in the middle of a grocery store.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 (NLT)