Murphy was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in June of 2022. I would say that this diagnosis was a huge surprise, but everyone who was close enough to know Murphy- and see how she reacted to little, everyday things- would say they were not surprised at all. Murphy processes her emotions in a BIG way. Her excitement is tangible with how she tenses her arms and flicks her fingers. Her happiness is contagious and makes you remember not to forget the little things. She can even spin in circles for an hour, nonstop, with nothing but a smile on her face. However, her anxiety is also a force to be reckoned with and is usually manifested as rocking, repetitive speech, and meltdowns.

Murphy has always been a very affectionate, cuddly, and loving child. This used to confuse people when we would mention that we were suspecting she had autism. To this day, we have people expressing doubt over her diagnosis solely on the basis of her affectionate nature, which is not “typical” autistic behavior. However, it is important to note that people with autism being unable to express and/or receive affection is a HUGE misconception. With that said, breaking the misconceptions surrounding autism is a fundamental part of raising awareness, which is one of our goals in sharing this page with you. If you can take away anything from reading this, it is that nothing about autism is “typical” because no two people with autism are the same. In fact, this is why the diagnosis is on a spectrum. Therefore, making generalizations about the behaviors and abilities of an individual with ASD is both misguided and potentially harmful to the individual at hand.   

Murphy has already made vast improvements in her receptive and expressive language, as well as in other areas of her development. She has participated in Ohio’s Help Me Grow program, attended speech therapy through CCHMC, and is currently enrolled in Pre-K under an IEP. She also receives Speech and Occupational Therapies through school. Even though she was only diagnosed a year ago, she has already received an exceptional amount of resources to address her needs and aid in her development, which we are so, so thankful for. 

Now that you know a little more about our Magnificent girl and her story, please join us by donating to help reach our fundraising goal. Together, we have the power to enhance the lives of people with autism and make a meaningful difference. Thanks so much for your support!