When Dain Gabrielson was six months old, his parents, Martyna and Randy, noticed something was wrong. Their baby, who once giggled and kicked his legs when they tickled his tummy, now rarely responded to touch or sound.
Over the next couple of years came more puzzling symptoms. At times the toddler slept nearly round the clock; barely moved from the couch when awake; was severely constipated; and would double over, screaming in pain from stomach cramps. He walked with an unsteady gait and couldn?t speak.
A battery of tests beginning at 18 months didn?t explain the gut problems and fatigue; but Dain was diagnosed with autism at two years old.
A plan came together?applied behavioural analysis (ABA) to motivate him to engage with people; speech and language therapy to teach him how to use communication tools (like picture boards). And occupational therapy and physical therapy to improve his walking and strength. Even as he underwent therapies, Dain grew weaker and became paper thin, so Martyna began diligently researching what else was out there to help her son. She learned that his physiological problems, such as the stomach pains and severe fatigue, could be connected to autism, and she is continuing to explore different treatment options.
There?s no known cure for autism?and in fact, many people argue that a cure shouldn?t even be the goal. ?The rationale is that you would be rewiring the brain in order to change the autistic mind, and this is wrong because you would be cha...