Fourteen years ago, one mother’s heart overflowed with love as she held her five-month-old son in her arms. It was a moment she would never forget — her little boy, Christian, smiling widely after surviving a major surgery just three months earlier. His tiny hands clapped together in delight, his legs crossed, his laughter filling the room. For her, every breath he took was a reminder of hope and resilience.

From the very beginning, Christian was special. His journey was marked by challenges that tested both him and his family, yet love and perseverance carried them through. Over the years, his mother has watched him grow, fight, and thrive in ways that words can barely describe.

Recently, life brought another chapter to their story. After a long day at Vanderbilt Medical Center, she and her sons, Chandler and Christian, received results that confirmed what she had quietly believed for years — both boys met the ADOS criteria for autism. It was a day filled with emotions, not of shock or fear, but of recognition and clarity.

“I knew,” she shared. “I’ve always known. It explains so much — the delays, the exhaustion, the daily challenges. But it also gives us direction.” Though the news carried weight, it also brought peace. It wasn’t an ending; it was understanding. It meant seeing her sons for exactly who they are — bright, unique, and full of potential.

She admits the day was emotionally and physically draining, but also filled with a deep sense of purpose. Now, with answers in hand, she is ready to create a plan that helps her boys move forward with confidence and support. Every new discovery is a step toward helping them shine in their own way.

As she reflects on the 14 years since she first held Christian, her thoughts return to that moment when love first transformed her life. “Fourteen years, 39 weeks, and one day of loving you,” she wrote. “Since the day I met you, my life gained meaning, purpose, and calling. But truthfully, I loved you long before you ever existed — even the idea of you.”