Which would you prefer as a treatment for your child?

[Keggy]

Kristens post made me think about something I haven't thought about in awhile. When you think about what an ideal treatment would be for your child what would it be? Suppose if this would help your child become what you feel is normal. What are you willing or should I say hoping it would be? I am making it into a poll cause I just feel like it.

[Keggy]

dag nabit the poll thing didn't work...
Here are your choices....

1) Surgery
2) Dietary
3) Drugs
4) non invasive therapy
5) non surgical but invasive (injections etc)
6) other... explain

Remember, this is not what you think it would be, its what you would hope for and jump at.

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

That's easy...I'd hope for "other" as in a therapy type thing. Like the least invasive and painless type thing. We don't mind work around here, so putting in the long term effort (assuming it would be like a rehab kinda thing) versus going under the knife for a 'quick-fix' would be what I would rather.

What would I be willing to do... I'd like to believe (talking from an unemotional and completely hypothetical scenario) that I would do whatever was necessary...:rolleyes: but I'm not dumb enough to think that in reality it would be as easy as "book the OR room doc!" ya know. I'd just like to think that I'd be strong enough to say: "Ok" if it needed to be done. Also I think for me it would not just be a consideration of 'normal,' you know like "what would I do so that my son has a better chance at a typical lifestyle" important, yes...but I think my motivations would be much more grounded in the discomfort and unhappiness that my son experiences/d... So I think my answer might be different if I didn't see him 'begging' for help and relief, as he did.

[LIZARD]

As you know, I am now certain that Drew needs Chiari surgery at some point in the near future. Of course, I don't expect it to "cure" him (and really wouldn't want it to), but if it could make him more comfortable, alleviate his symptoms (or at least keep them from worsening), and (I hope) help with his language and sensory (which are his only serious issues), it needs to be done. That's the most important thing, aside from his therapies.

LIZARD :)

[milivica]

For autism, RDI hands down. For co-occurings, medical interventions just like for an nt child with a medical condition.

[Keggy]

ahh that four letter word that people hate.. Well, maybe cure isn't the right word, but if the cure means your kid have friends, a life, and a shot at independence then I am behind it 100%.
I do recall many years ago someone asking me what if the only thing to fix this was brain surgery. I am pretty sure I said no way, but that turned out to be pretty ironic in the end.
I think I asked the question wrong from my original intention. Sure my wish would be for a simple non-invasive therapy... but my gut tells me, considering how serious this is and what has been done so far, only something more invasive is going to make the differnece, especially as the child gets older.