By Tiffany Green
CRANE HILL — Greg and Leeann Riedle were married more than 10 years before they unexpectedly got pregnant. Overjoyed with the news, they had a beautiful girl. Then less than one year later a son and then another year later another son.
They began to see problems with their third child early on.
“He didn’t like to eat,” Greg said. “He didn’t like textures touching his mouth.”
For the Riedles, the not eating is what worried them the most about their son Brandon.
“Our biggest struggle is having him eat and wanting him to sit with us at the table and eat,” Leeann said.
“We tried everything, even a medicine dropper,” Greg said.
Leeann said their were problems at birth. His oxygen level was low.
“The doctor pointed out to me that he was delayed,” she said.
Major symptoms did not begin until about 12 to 18 months, Greg said. He did not smile much, had little eye contact with anyone and did not play with the rest of the family anymore.
“Around 12 to 18 months everything just stopped,” Greg said.
They said they had not even heard of the word autism until they shared with others what was going on with their son.
“When we heard the word autism and the symptoms, we knew that was him,” Leeann said.
Both Greg and Leeann said they were in denial when they first heard the term autism.
“We didn’t know much about it,” Leeann said. “I didn’t even know what it was. I’m still learning every day about it.”
Their other son, Kyle, now four, is being evaluated for some type of disorder also. Looking back, the two said there were signs in Kyle they overlooked.
“We think he may have Asperger’s Syndrome or PDD-NOS which is a form of autism,” Leeann said.
She said with both of her boys, doctors did not really know where to categorize them.
“At first they said he was a year behind,” she said.
With not much help from their insurance carrier, the Riedles have few options of care for Brandon.
Right now a specialist comes from Jasper twice a month to help with social skills, playing with others, sensory skills and helps him to learn to eat.
“It has been a great help for her to come,” Greg said.
But soon the help will end. The Riedles said the state will help through the age of three, but after that, it is up to the family to find assistance.
The Riedles have relied on the Blount County Autism Group and the local support group that meets at First United Methodist Church for help through their struggles.
“We saw that we are not alone,” Leeann said. “We learn so much at the meetings. When I knew there was other people, it made me feel better.”
“You’re upset, but then you want to do something about it,” Greg said.
“At first I was in denial,” Greg said. “I just thought he was slow. Denial was easy and quick.”
Brandon is almost three years old. He does not talk much, but his parents said he has his own language.
“He is starting to mimic us and things from the TV,” Greg said.
Autism affects each person who has the disorder differently.
“It is hard to explain what autism is,” Greg said. “We are still learning about it everyday.”
Brandon is the first patient with autism his local doctor has seen. Leeann said she is able to help his doctor learn about autism while she is learning too.
Autism is a disorder that can affect the way a child thinks, behaves, communicates and interacts with others. Children with autism are affected in different ways. Some show mild symptoms while others have severe symptoms.
Autism affects up to one in every 150 school age children, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. It is more common on boys than girls and is usually between 15 and 36 months old when signs and symptoms show up.
There is no cure and researchers are unsure of the cause.
For Brandon, many of the classic signs of autism showed. He does not show eye contact with others, prefers to play by himself, has poor social interactions, does not acknowledge others playing beside him, likes to line up objects by sorting them by color or size, and others symptoms.
“He loves to count,” Greg said. “Out of nowhere one day he just started counting.”
Greg said with a child with autism, it is the little things that matter. Many times children with autism do not show affection.
“About a month ago, he gave me a kiss,” Leeann said. “I called everybody and told them. We just cried and cried. I was so happy.”
Leeann said for a parent, being hugged and kissed by her child was the most precious gift she could have gotten.
Like others, the Riedles are confused as to what causes the disorder, but Leeann thinks it is genetic.
“I have family members with ADHD,” she said. “I don’t believe it is the vaccines.”
Greg was not sure either.
“It shows up at around the time of the vaccines,” he said.
Both Greg and Leeann are grateful for little accomplishments Brandon does.
“It is the little things that just amaze us,” Greg said. “We are grateful that he mimics and grunts.”
Just this week, more than 150 supporters of autism legislation gathered at the Alabama Statehouse to push for passage of two bills to improve services available to people with autism.
Just before the start of the rally, one of the bills received final passage through the Senate. The bill establishes a interagency council to coordinate services available for autistic Alabama residents. It is now before governor Bob Riley for his signature.
The other bill which would establish regional autism centers around the state, has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.
The bills are being pushed by Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., who has an autistic nephew.
‰ The Associated Press contributed to this story.
‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.
