Small client. Big honor
I'm too tired to be writing, but I'm scared if I don't get the words down, I'll forget what happened today. Which is absurd because I don't think I could actually forget.
My friend Angela has a 6 year old son, B. A few years ago he was diagnosed as being 'on the spectrum'. This wasn't a huge surprise to Angela, who had already figured that out. (It wasn't a surprise to the kid's older brother, J, who happens to have Asperger's.) I've been working with J for 7-ish years now, and we've had some great results. So when B came along, and especially when he got a diagnosis (such as it is) we started suggesting to B that he get a little massage time, too.
He was not impressed. For a while he would avoid me when I was at the house, or just completely ignore me. "Hey, B, do you want to try massage today?" was always answered with, "No." I would say, "Okay, maybe next time." On his funnier days he would reply, "Probably not." B has watched his brother get massage, and last time he came to the office, he got on my table to feel it out.
Today he came in with the family and he walked right to my room, took his shoes off and started climbing on the table. (Angela, I almost forgot to tell you that J helped him up on the table. It was awesome.) He laid on his belly and let me rub his back. I tried light pressure and firmer pressure and asked him which he preferred. He answered, clearly. He let me rub his head, and he told me when he was done with the massage. He hopped off the table, gave me a high five when I asked for it, and left the room (it was super cute when he came back in for his shoes).
With my friends Angela & Laurie, after the Autism Speaks half marathon.
Later, after his brother and sister had their massages, when he left the office he said, "Goodbye, Allissa." And he said it twice, thinking I didn't hear the first time. And I swear he looked at me when he said it.
There's so much more I could say about this. But I would ramble. And get weepy. But you understand, I know you get it. I know you've had these moments in your own work. I know these moments light you up, too.
Here's to us, and the people (especially the small ones) who let us do this work.
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Still getting sniffly when I think about it. So huge…. thank you so much.
Thank YOU.
That’s wonderful.
This is why I do what I do. When a child stops head-banging. When a child stops covering their ears and running away whenever someone opens a door. When a child who never makes eye contact stares into your eyes for the first time. When a child smiles and climbs on the table when they used to refuse. Great moments. So glad you’re writing about it.
Right?!? It’s like nothing else. Maybe you need to do more writing about it, too. ‘Cuz I would read that .
Yes, please. Write more about this. Also, do a case study and publish it. This is what will be most effective in spreading the message.
Very moving story. Most the world isn’t that different from B. With a little gentle nudging, we can grow the percentage of Americans getting massage from 20% to 80%. This story illustrates how and why.