Over the next 2 years we started addressing dietary needs – removed artificial colorings & dyes, high fructose corn syrup, & most preservatives.. and played with the gluten free casein free diet. We also removed common household chemicals from our home and integrated non-conventional means to address the autism like reiki (energy work) and focused mediation. Within 5 months life the 'fog' was lifting. She gained about 10 functional words. She successfully began using pictures to communicate. And was enrolled in mainstream kindergarten with a para-professional.
When Sahara was 6, we learned about a group of central Ohio moms who were using Young Living Essential Oils with their kids on the autism spectrum. Although we were skeptical.... we decided to give it a try. Within 5 days of trying Brain Power we saw amazing 'shifts' … an increase in attention span, more cognitively present, fleeting eye contact, a couple new expressive words and improved receptive communication. Not only that, BUT the professionals working with her noticed too (OT, PT and Intervention Specialist). We decided to give it 90 days....
Well, it has been 3 ½ years and Sahara's life is already forever changed!! Over time, we integrated many young living essential oils and oil combinations in addition to these. We were positive this was the cornerstone of her sudden progress. She started talking more and more. Her Sensory issues were lessening. Her socialization was blooming. Every aspect of her autism changed for the good.
However, this past year, we began using YL Reconnect. It has been the year of milestones. She went from talking in 2-3 word fragments to holding 20 minute plus functional, expressive conversations. Scripting is gone. She used to make this constant high pitched humming oral stim noise.. soon after starting this new oil blend, she asked me to listen. And it was deafening quiet. I said, “What happened?” She replied, “It just stopped. No more (and she demonstrated the noise).” About 3 months into the new oil she was walking down the side walk and told me that everyone could talk and their mouths worked. Then she said, “My mouth works now too. It's not broken. I am a genius, Mom. I am a genius!” She thought her mouth was broken because she was nonverbal!! She had the thoughts, the words... all the time, but just couldn't get them out!! That is profound. And the communication this demonstrates awareness is even more profound.
Her memory recall improved within weeks of beginning the new oil. She started asking us if we remembered things we did and experiences we had when she was catatonic.
We updated her IEP (individual education plan) in May 2013. The education team expressed their concerns about the goals and objectives I was advocating for. We finally compromised, however they still felt I was setting her up for failure. We started the new blends in July 2013. School resumed in August. The previous summer break she had marked regression in her academics. This time she had retained the information and made improvements from Spring. Not only that, but we had to update the IEP with an addendum because of the goals (that were supposed to be too high) were met by Christmas break.
Her sensory issues are 90% resolved. Her clothes and the rain.. used to hurt her skin... in fact, I couldn't go in the rain because she thought it hurt me too and a meltdown would ensue. She used to be naked all the time because of her sensory issues. NOW, she wears her clothes everyday and loves to play in the rain.
Her obsessive compulsive behavior has improved too. You know that autistic kids need routines. When we go the store.. we have to walk in the same pattern of the store each and every time. One day soon after starting the new blend she went to the store with me and not only didn't have to walk the same path of the store, but it was self initiated!!
Since starting Reconnect oil her appetite has increased a lot. And she is making better food selections. (this is a child who only ate 6-10 consistent foods her whole life). So to start eating new foods is epic.
The morning I started Reconnect I put 12 drops in the home diffuser and ran it before she woke up, then I put another 12 drops in and ran it while she played in her room. By that evening my husband and I were discussing how differently her cognition, attention, and speech was that day. It was as if it went to a new level over the course of the day.
Today, Sahara is not institutionalized as recommended.. she is thriving in public school with an aide, and doing many things we were told she would not... YLEO is the cornerstone of her intervention at this time!!!
We were told she would never talk, and today she can hold functional expressive conversations!!! When you hear & see your previously catatonic and nonverbal child talking and thriving in every area of autism that effected her from sensory issues to cognition, you can't help but get excited about how YLEO has forever changed your lives – her life!! I want that for other kids and families!!!!
I know we still have a long way to go, but I am no longer hopeless about her future. I think about the strides we have made in just 3 ½ years and just know that our long term goal of our daughter will achieving an outstanding, meaningful, productive life is a reality!!!
Thank you Young Living and Gary Young for all you do.
Susan Richardson
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