As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth

of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves.

Mahatma Gandhi

​

I was asked many times what I have done differently than other people that gave me those extraordinary results with Luka. And the answer can be pretty long and complex but what I always say is:

"I didn't stop!

I didn't stop thinking, researching, and doing things for Luka. I have pushed more than I could. For me, nothing else existed except that single focus to do everything in my power to help him overcome his condition. 

 

 

To better understand our story I am going to open the old door, to peek into his world together.
 

Luka came into our lives as the most precious gift in December 2006. We were holding in our hands the most beautiful and divine creature.
Although many of the parents fall in love with the first contact with their child, we were overjoyed with his purity and energy with whom he emitted.
 

Raising Luka was pretty challenging, it was clear that he needs a huge 
portion of our love and attention. I as a mother knew that motherhood requires infinite "giving up" for the benefit of a child, along with huge patience.

But Luka required beyond that...Many sleepless nights turned to sleepless weeks, months, and years. He needed me more than other kids need their mothers. I was puzzled why, but all I was getting is "He is just a high maintenance baby that's all" by his pediatrician.

 

He developed into a beautiful child and we enjoyed watching him grow. But his personality was very unique. He looked like he knew everything, and like he has already been here before and he came from someplace, already experienced with all the knowledge of the world. Very strong-willed. 
At any moment he knew what he wants and what he didn't want. Sometimes he seemed that he is not acknowledging his surroundings. He was always busy, and very highly focused and committed to things which he did. Like a little scientist.

 

He was different from other kids, in some beautiful mystique way. We had doubts that something might be wrong, but no one had any explanation for us at that time. That was also noticeable in our environment, from people and friends. That difference grew along with Luka until we faced certain situations.

Luka was only 2 and he knew 15 letters of the alphabet. He would recognize one of those favorite letters and spend timelessly flapping hands in front of them. Those kinds of situations became every day common to us and every park visit meant Luka's occupation in front of the alphabet board showing us his favorite letters. Other kids would run, climbs, and go down the slide ...But Luka would stand in ecstasy like he was reading some saint script only important to him. A fear which was smoldering in us has started to erupt...

 

July 7th, 2009 Luka ( 30 1/2months) was diagnosed with Autism. Our world collapsed, it seemed like everything stopped, except that sentence which was coming back again ... and again "I know that you don't wanna hear this, but Luka is meeting all criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder."

Atypical and delayed development, the non-verbal cognitive level at an 18-month level, bought his receptive and expressive language were at the level of a 6-month-old baby,

no eye contact,  his obsessions were strong, extreme difficulties with transitions, sensory issues, and sensitivity to different environmental inputs (noise, light, smell, more than two people in the room was overwhelming for him). Constant vocalization of a high pitch noises, jumping up and down, and flapping hands. He was seeking deep pressure and needed to be held a lot. 

Besides our great sadness and countless fears, Luka stayed dignified and content. Luka was 3 years old and with him, he was caring unique external and internal beauty, but also his inner impalpable world. Because of the lack of communication, he did not have too many friends and the main actors in his world were stars and the Moon. Whenever he went and wherever he came, he was seeking them as friends.

In every game he played, the Moon needed to be involved and be somehow part of it. When first time he started to share stuff, he shared them with the Moon...he was waking up with Moon and he was going to bed with it. 
When he sees it in the sky shining with its magic light, he is feeling safe, secure and at home.
Always watching the sky with inner peace and shinny eyes he communicates with far worlds.

If you wanted to be his friend you had to enter his world with an open heart and accept it as it was, with unconditional love and commitment. But not everyone could do that, and for him, the Moon was always there, it couldn't disappoint him, and would always shine for him with a smile. 

 

We learned to accept life as a mystery. To overcome our fears for the future. We have learned to let go of the shores of safety and predictability, the shoes of our world, and sail with Luka into his.

To get to know every edge of it and help him trust us. We made sure he was not alone there and he felt safe. With all interventions, the biomedical approach of healing Autism, and many other healing tools he merged his world with ours. After so many years of work we completely got our boy back and well.

 

As a fully functioning well balance boy today, Luka is passing all of his classes and his grades range from 96-100%

In our meetings with teachers and the school personnel, we only hear the best things about Luka. And his engineering teacher reported that he is one of the very few kids that will make an effort to help others who are struggling near him. Overall, teachers report that he is confident, attentive, friendly, and respectful. 

 

His passions are mechanical engineering, drawing, music, and sailing. 

A healthy lifestyle is our way of living, even though Luka is able to expand his diet we stay on our course where we know he will be well-nourished and thrive.