In 2008, shortly before my retirment, I got a call to go to the hospital to visit with a member of my church. The lady was one of my favorite people. She had married a man with three children all of which were challenged in one way or another. The youngest son had what was then called Aspbergers. She quite her job as a public school music teacher and dedicated her life to providing a good home for these three children. She was one of the most dedicated, loving and giving parents I have ever known.

I first met the boy when he was 12. He had the obvious issues that go with austism in it's various forms. As he grew into puberty and size, his temper and agression came out in ways she had not seen it before. He became uncontrolable. He could not accept not having his way in anything. All attempts to place limitations on his behaviour were met with agression. At the time of the hospital visit, he was 17.

At the hospitial, I visited with Janice who had taken a bad beating from the boy. We had a number of visits and discussions over the issue. The father chose the road of denial and pretended there was no problem.

I left in June of 2008 and next year that was an even more violent beating. She had to place him in a group home for young people with the same issues, as they could no longer have him in the home with them.

If ever a woman gave her all to try and love a troubled and emotionaly disable son, it was her, but in the end all the love and devotion could not win over the illness.