Stories of Hope

"My 37 year old son has nonverbal Autism. My experience has changed really drastically. When I think back to the beginning there was so much struggle and desperation. In the beginning, you're kind of fighting it. You don't want this to be true. You love your child, so there's that conflict, but you don't want this to be happening to you and your child. Then in time...."

"I suddenly found myself within the space of a year, going from living my life quite happily to where I suddenly felt that everything in my life had changed and changed for the worse. I entered a very dark stage where I felt that I had no future. Really. I felt that all I was confined to doing was dispensing medications and changing nappies really for the next 60 years..."

“I did not believe that I would ever experience my daughter and her cerebral palsy as a positive. With a new understanding of how my mind works I see that I have a choice to experience this in any way. I previously had thoughts a child with a disability was a terrible situation to be in, then I had a deep realisation, that is not true. It is exactly as it is meant to be."

“The birth is still a fresh experience in my mind, but it feels very different. It used to feel traumatic, a punishment, the beginning of the end. Now I've learned that life is not defined by those feelings. That there is hope, and that I can live a happy life, enjoying my daughter, our family and the future without stress and worry. A positive experience is always available."

Michael is married to Nina. They live in Los Angeles and have three children.

In 2015 Nina was diagnosed with breast cancer. Michael speaks very personally about their experience and what it taught him.