#StemCells4Adiel

Hello my name is Adieli, Adiel Dorfman, and if I were able to, I would tell you my story but as I am nonverbal and on the Autistic Spectrum I have to speak through my Mommy & Daddy.

My journey into the world began on the 20 August 2012. Although I was breast fed, I strongly refused a dummy. I was a rather fussy baby and hated sleeping. It was even difficult for my Mom & Dad to hold or console me regardless of all the love they showered upon me. I held on to my breast feeding until I was four years old. A closeness with my Mommy that was very special to both of us. This was my only source of comfort in this hostile world; and hostile it was especially towards my parents always getting side glances and harsh words at my involuntary “shocking” and disturbing behaviour. People can be so cruel when they don’t understand.At first I enjoyed my bath time & being dried with the hairdryer in winter. I used to smile & laugh a lot at this time. Bath time was a treat and my extended family came to coo over me and I loved every minute of it. Especially the massage afterwards. Today I dread nothing more than the noise of a hairdryer, vacuum cleaner or lawn mower and such appliances.

All my mile stones were on cue until I was about six months old and then I stopped communicating and started to retreat into my own lonely world.

About this time I was taken to my paediatrician as my family felt that all was not fine. He assured my family that if they were worried about me being on the spectrum, they need not be concerned. He suggested that my parents take me to an occupational therapist to help me reach my milestones. This was proving more difficult than anticipated and I was getting completely unhappy & frustrated as time went by. I just wanted to retreat into my own world where I felt safe. My parents and family would constantly come into my world with me. This I did not mind however I did not want to leave the safety of my world and enter theirs.

Although my gross motor abilities were a bit behind I did make progress in this area however I did not progress very much in communicating with most people other than my parents and close family. I was then, and still am now, unable to speak. I can only express myself by laughing, crying, pulling my parents by the hand to show my needs; no other way as yet. If I can’t make myself understood, I get totally infuriated and my heightened upset turns me into being completely heartbroken and inconsolable.

Today, I am a mostly happy, loveable little boy with a huge sense of humour. I love my Mom & Dad; although I can only show this but am not able tell them this. One of my favourite pass times is to have fun with my extended family. My Mom and Dad are the centre of my world and I am seldom apart from them, both even working from home to be my constant mentors, other than perhaps once in a while to have gran & grandpa come to play, to give them some Mommy and Daddy time. Of course going to the park to play, slide and climb is a treat that I really like.

I still attend occupational therapy and speech therapy as well as a chiropractor to try and help me achieve my full potential. I am getting better about looking people that I know well, in their eyes for very short spells.

I love water play, climbing up ladders, jumping from heights that I constantly challenge myself to go higher! There are certain foods that I really find delicious but I am not too adventurous an eater.

I am not yet toilet trained and to be honest am not sure what it is all about however I do not always enjoy getting my nappy changed!

I do not have any friends, although I go to school, with either my Mommy or Daddy staying with me, for a few hours a week, as I can’t talk, communicate or do the various things that the other children can do. This being said, I am even in a grade with children much younger than I am. There are times that I do look at these children but it is as if I am invisible to them unless I am stimming (flapping my arms and hands) that unfortunately causes a disturbance or irritation or even worse at times when they are scared of me. I am not aggressive or a bully and this really saddens me. I am on the Autistic Spectrum and unfortunately that defines me. My best friend was and still is Igglepiggle from In The Night Garden, my favourite TV show.

Although my Mommy, Daddy and my whole family love me for who I am, I would choose to be able to be part of life like any typical child but unless I have Stem Cell Treatment, that holds great promise to improve my quality of living, I will be locked out/in forever.

Love Adiel xoxo