Welcome to connect. I only wish that every child on the spectrum had the familial support you write about. Thankfully there is more understanding today, although I would argue that in many places and in many ways, some things remain the same. I love hearing about children and teens who are learning to navigate with an understanding of the differences. It is difficult enough for a child to find a path in the world, much less one who processes information in a completely different way. When you left the hospital sobbing, you envisioned a different life for your child, and without the understanding and tolerance of her differences her life may very well have been what you feared. Good for you, good for her, and thank you for sharing your story.