My son Eli was diagnosed autistic April 9th, 2018. I was told that he would also be non verbal along with finding out about his EOE a severe food allergy. My world was crushed, and after being admitted to the hospital on April 11th, 2018 where doctors did everything they could to keep my youngest daughter from being born four weeks early, I was eventually rushed away and had an emergency c-section on April 14th, 2018 just five days after Eli's Diagnoses, my whole world completely changed. I had it set up with my mother to stay with her for two weeks and then her and my father would also help with all of Eli's therapies while I recovered and focused on my new premature baby. 1 week after surgery my mother said it was to much for her so home I went. I will never forget how I felt learning I may never hear my son say mommy I love you, a simple sentence so easily taken for granted. Those words gave me strength and I was not going to sit and have my son stay angry and frustrated due to not being able to communicate. Even though I was only a week out of surgery and had two other daughter's the fight started. So starting my second week out after an emergency c-section our journey began. Driving was definitely a huge challenge, and the pain, my god the pain, maneuvering the car seats in and out, stairs with two kids, the diaper bags and car seats, but I held myself together because I was not going to just sit back and give up on my son. Eli had speech therapy twice a week, physical and occupational therapy outside of school, so therapy four days a week outside of his special needs daycare. His special needs daycare also provided him with speech, physical and occupational therapy. I truly was not going to believe that my son would never be able to communicate. Within six months of his therapies Eli learned American Sign Language and started gaining so many words. In the span of 4 years he has come so far and is now speaking in short sentences, his thirst for knowledge, and his passion for Dinosaurs and Super Hero's is truly amazing. Eli is truly one amazing boy and loves to make people laugh and smile, his heart is the biggest I have ever seen. He is truly a completely different child and an amazing little and big brother. I would not be who I am today if my son was not put into my life, my reason to fight and live again. Now I am able to help and pass on knowledge and be here as proof that it can and will be OK. We appreciate you all so much!