There are over 60 million people with autism around the world. Campaigners are hoping that World Autism Day will focus on the struggles of parents, carers and people with autism across the globe. Over half a million people have autism in the UK and boys are four times more likely to develop autism than girls.
When David was born, Christopher and Nicola Stevens knew none of those facts. Their second son presented them with an enigma that at first they were reticent to explore – after all who wants confirmation that a much-loved baby has a serious condition that will keep him a child all his life?
A Real Boy: How Autism Shattered Our Lives - and Made a Family from the Pieces is an amazing book: uplifting and inspirational. The narrative draws in the reader form the outset. The humour and frankness with which the authors reveal their lives is incredibly moving. I almost cheered out loud when there was a major breakthrough with a half-hourly weekly music session!
At no time is the book depressing – in spite of some very depressing situations like Christopher watching a social worker steal their son’s bubbles! In fact the book is full of optimism:
“As David has grown, we have hung on to one constant hope. His autism ebbs and flows, and whatever improvements he makes soon fade away – but the improvements always come back, more strongly. ‘If he did it once,’ we say, ‘eventually he’ll do it some more.’”
David is now 11 years old, unaware of danger, oblivious to other people’s emotions and almost incapable of expressing his own needs as he has so little language. Fortunately for him, he has such a devoted mother and father.
Reading A Real Boy I realise how lucky I have been to have my own daughter, Olivia. I hope, if things had been different, I would have had the strength and determination Christopher and Nicole Stevens have shown. They are an inspiration to all parents!
A Real Boy is published by Michael O’Mara Books. To order a copy from Amazon click the link below:
A Real Boy: How Autism Shattered Our Lives - and Made a Family from the Pieces
