There is a piece of me that never left this beach after that day.
The sands of Tybee Island hold a memory etched forever in my heart. Under the blazing afternoon sun, amid jellyfish-dotted waves, our surfing session ended with quite the spectacle – my quiet, mostly non-verbal son, a patient volunteer surfer, and a wayward surfboard all making an ungraceful landing on the beach. But what happened next stopped time itself.
My son, diagnosed with non-verbal Autism at age 3, was about to show me how God works in mysterious and magnificent ways.
After exchanging warm hugs and enthusiastic high-fives, Ethan settled into the sand. What happened next left me breathless – he began drawing the map of the United States, his finger tracing the coastline as words flowed freely: “We surf here, and here, we surf here, we surf here, and here, and here, Daddy!” Complete sentences, clear and purposeful, tumbling out like they’d been there all along.
In that moment, the power of faith crystallized before my eyes. It reminded me that life’s journey rarely follows our carefully laid plans. Instead, it’s about trusting in something greater, finding peace even when everything seems to be spinning off course.
Six years of struggle, countless doctor visits, missed milestones, and a difficult move away from our support system – all led us to this Georgia beach where my son found his voice in the water. Our path changed forever that day, this time illuminated with hope.
This journey with autism has taught me about consciousness and miracles in equal measure. While my family’s life isn’t always an easy road, it’s paved with hope, resilience, and unwavering belief. It’s about seeing the unlimited potential in every person, regardless of their differences, and working toward a world that embraces neurodiversity with open arms.
As the sun painted the sky in farewell, I felt hope surge anew . Even when time seems to slip through our fingers like beach sand, faith can indeed move mountains. Let’s keep believing and fighting for that better tomorrow.
