Together, Amy & Jacob make art.

Jacob is a 10 year old, non-verbal, autistic child who also has Phelan McDermid Syndrome. He shares the same diagnosis with 1,500 people in the entire world.  A few years ago we discovered that Jacob really loves painting. If you could only see his smile when he paints; its really amazing.. it leaves me speechless.  I had a wonderful collection of Jacob's painted canvasses hanging up and I thought it would be cool to use what he started and paint something on his canvasses.  Well two years later and over a hundred or so paintings... we are still creating together. I love this discovery and love to create something special and unique with each new project.

Here's another writing by Amy, Jacob's mom.
 

I am glad most people will never know this feeling. The sadness. The hurt. The pain. 
I am glad that most families will never have to put their child in a group home for any reason at any age.
This feeling... this right here.. hurts.

Jacob is doing very well. Let's start there. Some behavior issues here and there. But doing so much better.

For the past 2 weeks Jacob had an aversion to meals. We brought him to the Dr a few times to check his throat...ears...lungs.. he was fine. It was behavioral... he lost 4 pounds..  He has already started to eat again. But we still don't know what caused this type of reaction..

I went to the group home on Friday to visit him. Manny was there also to pick up Jake for the night.

Hilda took Jacob gently by the face and got on his level to talk to him. He was so distracted by things. Random things. But he finally focused on her. She said "Jacob you have to listen to daddy. You have to eat your food and be a good boy.. or you can't go" AND he began to cry.

This was the FIRST time I saw him have this kind of reaction to any verbal communication
I cried when I saw this. 
I can't even describe what this means.
It is monumental
It's bigger than monumental
He understood her words and emotionally reacted.

I miss Jacob. There is no question about this fact. 
But I am also thankful that he is being taken care of so well. I am blessed that he is safe and healthy and loved.

I am glad that most will never have to experience this. But I do want others to know that it is okay.
If and when the time comes to place your special needs child or young adult into a residential facility... it will be okay.. 
It will be okay.
It will be okay.