S-t-e-p-h-e-n

Notes from the author:

A special thanks to all those in Jeffrey’s life. You make a difference. Your kindness, understanding, and patience touch our hearts in such a way that we will never forget. Your love gives us hope.

A special thanks to all those families of other children with autism out there. You are angels. You fight a most difficult battle every day, a battle that many could never handle. I commend you and your strength. My heart and my prayers go out to you.

And a most special thanks to our heavenly father who has been with us every step of the way and will be there the all days to come.

About the author:

Lauren is Jeff’s big sister. There is a 14-year age difference between Jeff and Lauren. Lauren has been an instrumental person in Jeff’s life providing much love and support. THIS ESSAY is a follow up essay she wrote from a sisters point of view on Autism and the family.

Lauren wrote her first essay about Jeff, “Jeff’s Story Part I” originally as a high school junior and “Jeffs Story Part II” in late 2003. She liked the original Part I essay so much she used it as part of her college entrance paperwork. University of California of Irvine accepted Lauren starting in September 2001. She wrote her follow up essay “Jeff’s Story Part II” and will continue to follow up with new essays as Jeff continues to improve every day.

As a parent, I am so proud of Lauren and her accomplishments but most of all I am so proud of her as a person. She has a big heart, is very intelligent, funny and caring that she is an honor to have in our family. Parents are supposed to raise and teach there children, but to my surprise Lauren has been one of the best teachers to me in my life. I love you Lauren!