You hit home when you said: "I can't even begin to tell you how long it feels like I have waited to hear my son's voice!!" I cry every time Dre says a new word, or uses his pointer finger, or hugs me on purpose and on his own, when he uses interactive play. Non Autistic parents don't really get it. You have your child and you see them thinking, playing, dreaming and they don't have the need to share. The get frustrated and they hold it in, ignore it, or have a tantrum, because they can't express it. It is very daunting and I just really wan to find the key, not to change him but just to let him express it.

Thank you for sharing and it is nice to read another parent who sees the greatness, not just a problem :)