Last fall, a family I know received a devastating blow: their 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism, “a complex neurobiological disorder ... (which) impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines,” according to the Autism Speaks Web site.

Then came the double whammy when the parents learned the State of Georgia does not recognize autism as a disease, therefore leaving many families of autistic children to face the challenge of expensive treatment without insurance. Many are not able to privately afford these necessary treatments, some of which cost $75 an hour, the parents learned.

And then a third blow: The parents are agonizing over whether to delay their newborn son’s MMR shots because questions are being raised, in connection with autism, which is gentic, such as “Are there adverse events from vaccines that impact neurodevelopment over time?” and “Does the use of combination vaccines or the practice of giving several vaccinations in one day confer increase risk for adverse events?”

But just as there are rainbows after a storm, so are there points of praise for which the couple is grateful. (Their names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.)

“Alexandra is such a blessing to us, and we are so honored by God that He has entrusted her to us. Carson, too!,” their mom said. “We thank God for all the doors that have been opened to us, and the friends and family that have been so helpful. We thank God for every skill she has that so many other autistic children don’t:

— She wants to communicate and does somewhat. She is verbal.

— She makes great eye contact in comparison to other children with autism.

— She has friends and likes to play with other children.

— She can hold a pencil and draw.

— She seldom stems (performs repetitive things like arm flapping), and when she does it’s barely noticeable.

— She loves to be held and cuddle. (Most autistic kids will not let anyone touch them.)

— She has started calling me ‘mommy’ finally. (That’s so much more fun than answering to a shrill scream.)

— She is learning to read.

— She has great physical skills.

— She’s otherwise healthy.

“Thank God that I am able to stay home and focus on her and Carson ... Thank God for (my husband’s) job successes and flexibility that has enabled us to do so many things for her.”

But she covets the prayers of friends and family to face the challenges ahead.

“Please pray for strength in our marriage,” she wrote in an e-mail.

“Eighty percent of the parents of autistic children get divorced, and it’s easy to see why.

1. “Extra strain on our finances since insurance will not pay for treatment. They still don’t acknowledge autism as a treatable disease or a physical one depending on which idiot you talk to.

2. “It is so time consuming researching and learning about the disease, the treatments, the legal rights, the diet, the therapies, documenting, making phone calls, cooking GFCF (gluten-free, casein-free) foods, and the list goes on and on.

3. “A detoxing 2-year-old. Need I say more?”

The parents had been concerned about Alexandra’s speech and developmental delays for a while.

“Although the diagnosis is hard to hear, we are very encouraged,” the mom wrote in January. “She is on the very mild end of the spectrum, and we are making progress already. She has been off gluten (wheat proteins) and casein (dairy proteins) for over a month and has been in speech therapy for two months. We are also planning on starting ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy at the Marcus Institute (in Atlanta) and a mommy’s day out this month.”

There’s also hopeful news on the state front as far as insurance is concerned. Autism Speaks has partnered with several groups in Georgia to introduce a bill in the 2009 Georgia General Assembly to require insurance companies to recognize autism as a disease and therefore provide coverage for necessary treatments such as speech and occupational therapy. Senate Bill 161 was placed in the Senate Hopper Feb. 12 and is waiting to be considered while HB 426 had its second reading on Feb. 18.

Those interested in learning more about autism and treatments can go to the Web site http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/autism/aboutautism.htm.

Perhaps you have an autistic child and are willing to share some of the challenges (or joys) you have faced. If so, e-mail me at elizabeth.butler@gaflnews.com.

Elizabeth Butler is the Lifestyles editor of The Valdosta Daily Times.