About Dougie and His Mommy

This is Dougie and me.

Dougie came into the world in the usual way — with ten fingers, ten toes, his father’s nose, and as the absolute most beautiful person his parents ever met.

Before Dougie could even scream at the terror of the delivery room’s bright lights, he was grabbed by a team of 13 doctors who sucked fluid from his lungs, measured his vital signs and spoke gibberish back and forth to each other.

He was placed in my epidural-numbed arms, after 10 long minutes of dealing with the white coat wearing men who called him “perfection.”

Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits rang from the speakers above my bed – melting the sound of the many wires and pumps that were still connected to me. I felt so blessed to be a mom, and Dougie was ecstatic to be a baby. He slept in my arms for hours.

Don’t even ask if I slept. He was just too amazing to look at!

Dougie got his first immunization before my epidural even wore off, and I signed consent with numb fingers. I would do everything in my power to keep him healthy and happy!

Dougie took his first steps at 8 months old, while I was out to lunch with a girl friend – isn’t that always the case? He said “uh oh” at 9 months and could identify colors at 12 months. At this point, my husband and I reveled in the wonder of our

little genius who ate organic, loved his zucchini and never needed medication!

Then somewhere between 12-24 months, Dougie changed.

He experienced chronic ear and throat infections, and suffered through 5 rounds of back to back antibiotics. He lost language and skills. He became insensitive to physical pain. He tantrummed all day and night. Now, our little zucchini loving toddler would only eat PIZZA!

I knew that I was looking at autism.

The one concept that didn’t click with me, though—was the whole “mystery” behind autism theory. I knew that I had a brilliant child and that I would get him back.

So, against pretty much everyone’s advice – Dougie and I took a journey through natural healing, beginning with the Body Ecology Diet. Addressing the digestive tract infection helped take care of his pizza cravings, and soon after introducing healing foods like young coconut kefir, his body craved what it really needed. We are now discovering a boy far more brilliant than I could even imagine.

Dougie is 3 and a half now – and just recently received an official diagnosis of autism, after about a year of evaluating him through the Chicago Public School System.

These days, Dougie has started his own cover band, covering songs from stars like Kanye West, Jason Mraz, Gwen Stefani and Elmo. He performs at whim. He has a knack for reading words and takes the time to point out that skill throughout the day. He also enjoys a good green smoothie and a ride down the big slide at the park by our house. His favorite supplement is cod liver oil, and if I’m not careful, he will find the bottle and sneak a drink.

He has begun to speak in complex sentences, show emotion when hurt and dispel every other stereotypical belief that’s connected to the autism label.

Dougie is my inspiration. Dougie is a blessing to our family.

And, so I have created this site to show that we can heal from anything – and we can do it artfully.

Please enjoy reading this site and become inspired like I am. Join us in creating art to raise consciousness for the many children affected by autism. And, by all means, contact me if I can help you in any way.

-Gina

ginalaverde@gmail.com