The Junior Prom was last Friday, a rite of passage for all high schoolers. But it was an event that we NEVER thought he’d be able to go to. So much has changed…
I can remember when we first realized that something was different. He couldn’t hold his head up, was really undersized, and didn’t react like Megan did. But each kid is different, I told myself.
Then he was diagnosed hearing impaired and global developmental delayed. My first thought was, “What will his life be like?” I wondered about school, friends, his future. And those worries were realized when he was young. There were a lot of looks, stares, and laughs. He wanted to play with the other kids, but there were no play dates, no parties, no sleepovers.
He had friends from his class, the small circle of other autistic children who were in the same boat. They were invited to each other’s birthday parties, but that was basically it. So many times we had to comfort Jeffrey when Megan or Christian had something planned with their friends and weren’t home and he didn’t understand why he couldn’t do those things.
Things began to change once he got to high school. His smile and personality began to infect PHS. And something is different about today’s high schoolers – they see the big picture so much better than when I was there. Kids began to embrace Jeffrey. We couldn’t go anywhere without someone seeing him, yelling his name, or giving him a high-five or a hug. Megan became known as “Jeffrey’s sister” to a lot of people!
But there was still something that wasn’t complete to him – the dances. In middle school, Jeffrey attended all of the dances with his buddy Frederick and was carefully watched by his teachers and aides. He attended the freshman formal with Frederick and their dates….Megan and her friend Caroline. He went to the sophomore dance with his autistic friend whose mother was a chaperone. Even though he was at the event, there was still a watchful eye on him at all times making sure nothing went wrong.
And that leads us back to Friday night. The first time in his life that he attended something of this magnitude without a family member or other adult specifically designated to look out for him. And the best part about it was we weren’t even worried about him.
What a feeling to have after 16 years of constantly wondering if he was alright – not only safe but also having a good time with his peers.
His date was not a family member or someone from his small circle of autistic friends, but a wonderful young lady from his “Best Buddies” club who cares for Jeffrey and has his best interests at heart.
As I reflect on this night a few days later, I can truly say that this was the best night of Jeffrey’s life, and we are so blessed to be able to share this with all of you.
~Dan
