Pediatrician Visit: July 2005

I honestly can't remember the original reason for this particular Dr. visit, but the result of this appointment still shakes me to my core at each and every remembrance.

My son, Jacob, now two years six months was so hyper and out of control all the time that he had to be strapped into a double stroller so that he didn't run out of the building or run into the street. He was a big boy and I'm sure people wondered why I didn't make him walk. Jacob didn't know how to walk, he only knew how to run and he was quick!

I pushed the stroller into the patient room and we waited for the nurse to come and attempt taking his height and weight, this was always interesting to say the least with a child whom NEVER stopped moving...(giggling as would later refer to it!)

The Pediatrician we had chosen was an older gentleman whom epitomized the term gentle-man. He is the kindest and most warm man I have ever met and being a Physician is truly a call on his life, because he is amazing with children. I loved the way he spoke to me and I loved even more how he treated my children...like they were his grandchildren, his flesh and blood, he wanted to see them well and achieve great things in life. This is Dr. Thomas Page of Poway, CALIF.

Dr. Page spent some time reviewing my sons recent diagnosis from the San Diego Regional Center and spending even more time asking me questions and talking to Jacob. He handed him toys and watched him quickly lose interest and regain interest in some other toy (toy-hopping). Dr. Page spent nearly an hour asking questions and listening all the while interacting with my son before he turned to me and said, "Mrs. Smith, I don't know, I just don't know, but I'm NOT sure Jacob has Autism." One more open door, one more glimmer of hope, could we all be missing something huge? What is it, or Lord open our eyes and let us see, bless my child and heal his neuron synapses was my prayer every night when my son would finally slip into sleep.