Once upon a time, a wonderful man and his bride were expecting a little princess. The day she was born was the happiest day of their lives. Everyone thought she was the most precious thing to grace their family in ... well, in just a really long time. That sweet little princess began to cry. A lot. No matter what the wonderful man and his bride tried - the crying would not stop. They still thought their little princess was as precious as ever, as the bride rocked her for hours and paced the floor endlessly. That little princess grew and grew, and she couldn't have been more loved. Before she was 18 months old, the wonderful man and his bride became worried about their little princess. She wasn't starting to talk and didn't like hugs. Come to think of it - she had never babbled either. She behaved strangely, and would have times where she would scream for hours and bang her head on the ground. Then the seizures started. The wonderful man and his bride took the little princess from doctor to doctor. Medications were prescribed to stop the little princess from having seizures. The medications did not work. No one seemed worried (except the wonderful man and his bride) that the little princess still wasn't talking, and couldn't follow directions, nor could she be taken anywhere because of her propensity for 3+ hour tantrums. Finally, when the little princess was about 3 years old - the wonderful man's bride took her to a new neurologist, Dr. Ira Lott. Dr. Lott diagnosed the little princess with autism. Shortly after, the little princess was enrolled into the local school's special education preschool. The wonderful man and his bride cried the first day the "short" school bus pulled up in front of their house. The kind old bus driver escorted the little princess onto the bus. The bus driver's assistant buckled the little princess into a car seat - and off they drove. The wonderful man and his bride stood on the sidewalk in front of their house, held each other, and wept quietly. Year after year the little princess would get on a short yellow bus to attend special education class at school. Preschool turned into elementary school. Elementary school into junior high school. And finally, high school. The little princess wasn't little any more. But to the wonderful man and his bride - she was still their princess (even though they had been blessed with 4 more children by then). The princess no longer screamed and cried. She had come a long way. She could speak beautifully and carry on a conversation. She was an avid reader, and loved riding horses. The princess had even discovered how wonderful hugs and snuggles were. She no longer needed to ride the "short" bus. She now rode the regular bus with everyone else. The princess made friends at her high school too. She fit in, and even when she didn't - the kids, and the teachers loved her anyway.
One day the princess came home beaming! The wonderful man and his bride were excited to find out what wonderful news their princess had for them. The princess burst out with the news that she had been chosen to be the Junior Class Princess of the Homecoming Court at school! The wonderful man and his bride showered their princess with hugs and kisses. They rushed out the door....they had to go dress shopping! The next day, the whole family...the wonderful man, his bride, the princess, and their 4 other children arrived at the high school to watch the homecoming football game. At half time, there was a flurry of excitement as 4 girls, and 3 boys stepped out onto the football field. It was the Royal Homecoming Court. And among them was THEIR princess! The princess was wearing a beautiful, sparkly, long blue dress. She was arm in arm with the Junior Class Prince, who was in his football uniform. As they announced her name - she was given flowers and a tiara was placed on her head. The wonderful man and his bride stood in the bleachers, held each other, and wept quietly. Their little princess was a real princess after all.
No comments:
Post a Comment