Dear David,
I am amazed that it was just in June 2008 that I brought my son, Mike, to go through the Davis program for autism. If you remember, even though I had left a message for you to call me, I yelled at YOU when you called. I was at the end of hope and yet you listened patiently to a hysterical mother. What you promised me for Mike, then age 18, is that he would experience an “Ah Ha” moment of comprehension, that even though the school system and psychologists had failed him, there was hope for Mike to clear his confusion and fear.
Mike had his moment of clarity on day four of the week. I will remember forever the look on his face, the light in his eyes, his laughter as he said, “Oh my gosh. I get it!” I really didn’t understand what that meant, but I knew that he had overcome something in his mind that was huge. The transformation was an amazing experience to watch and one I will see clearly in my mind for the rest of my life.
I brought to you a confused young man with limited abilities and feelings. What I left with was a young man who claimed he could see colors he had never seen before, who could distinguish the difference between feelings of hunger and the feeling of being “full.” At the airport when our flight was canceled he made hotel reservations for us on the airport phone! He took charge of me, a tired mom, and guided us to where we needed to be. I stared at him when he was making the hotel reservations. He laughed and said, “I know! I don’t even like to order pizza!” “Look at me mom, I’m talking!”
In January of 2009 Mike decided to come back to California and go through the program for dyslexia to enhance what he had experienced 6 months prior. It was a good trip for us and I was so glad for Mike to have another week with you. Since that time Mike has graduated from high school and has decided to leave home in January for college. He is pursuing his love of music at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma. This is an exciting new program that is full of creative young musicians, many of whom have struggled with the type of problems that Mike had experienced prior to the Davis program.
I am still in a state of disbelief that this child whom I thought would not leave home for many years, is leaving to go to a different city and be on his own. There are no more meltdowns, he calmly asks for help with anything that he doesn’t quite understand and has developed confidence in his abilities. My friends who saw him after his return from working with you said, “This is not the same person who left here!”
David, I know that this program is hard to explain to those that come to you seeking help. All I can do is offer to share Mike’s story with those that want to understand how such a simple concept can be so effective. It works. I believe that you, with God’s help, gave Mike a life full of possibilities that he would not otherwise have had.
I thank you with all my heart for your patience, humor, and continued encouragement. Please feel free to pass along my email address to anyone who would like to speak with a person who has seen this program work first hand. I would enjoy sharing our personal experience.
With much love and gratitude to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Susie
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