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Meet the Children - Jackson Gilligan |
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Jackson Gilligan
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Age 10
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 Jackson
(Jax) is Amy and Patrick's only son. He was their first born, and it
was clear before his first birthday that Jax had developmental delays
that were significant. Before Jax was even diagnosed as having Autism,
he would undergo a rocky first year of life with other ailments that
would stunt his growth and development. Before Jax had reached three
months old, the family was told that he had suffered from Hip
Dysplasia, for which he was fitted with nylon leg braces. He wore those
for over six months. During this period he was also diagnosed with
Pyloric Stenosis; a condition where the lower part of the stomach
through which food passes to enter the small intestines, becomes
enlarged to the point where food no longer empties from the stomach.
This condition as an infant was the first of many surgeries that Amy
and Patrick have had to face as parents.
Jackson is now
ten. Like everything else he has done in the first ten years of his
life, he has moved rather slowly. Actually, not to put too fine a
point on it; he has taken his time. Jackson's best gift to himself is
that he does things on his own clock, absolutely... unapologetically...
in his time. Autism is an unambiguous diagnosis. The syndrome is an
all-encompassing definition to which the following detailed diagnoses
are made:
One - This diagnosis should be used
when there is severe and persistent impairment in the growth of social
interaction, which also might manifest itself in verbal and nonverbal
communication abilities.
Or,
Two
- This affliction might be declared if or when labeled behavior,
interests, and activities are present, but the conditions are not there
for an exact specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder such as,
Schizophrenia, Schizotypical Personality Disorder, or Avoidant
Personality Disorder. These disorders are referred to as, "atypical
autism". Fairly, there is a tremendous amount of disparity between
professionals when it comes to identifying the Autism label. What is
not open for debate are the sobering statistics associated with the
prognosis of kids with Autism. The data surrounding this affliction
often keeps Amy and Patrick awake at night, and these numbers point to
something positively bleak. About two percent of Autistic children will
attain normal functioning. After that the news gets a little brighter,
in that almost forty percent of children with Autism/PDD end up being
labeled as ‘high functioning' autistic. The children who are considered
high functioning will probably indicate oddities of behavior, and have
little or no social interaction. However, Amy and Patrick believe that
with the appropriate parental, familial, & social involvement, so
many of the autistic behaviors can be positively changed. This is true
to the point that Jax may appear, to someone who is not a medical
expert, no longer to have autism. The common thread Amy and Patrick
have found, is that as every other family faced with an Autistic child,
the more they learn, the more the message stays the same. On the one
hand, they have been told about the unlimited potential Jackson might
have, and, on the other, the sobering reality of the many limits that
are placed on his future.
Jax is a beautiful ten-year-old
boy who loves super heroes and his Mom more than anything. He draws
like Sisto and he would like to be, "big like Daddy". He likes quiet
time and a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa Len. He likes skiing and
swimming; and this year Jax was on the Eastern Massachusetts State
Champion Special Olympic Basketball team where his coach/buddy Steven
assisted Jax in banking five baskets all by himself!
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