Kreed's changes

For the last six or seven months it's been tough around here. Kreed tantrumed daily and tantrums bad enough that he had to be restrained to keep from bashing his head in or biting his hands until they bleed. I used to be able to take Kreed everywhere with me- any store, any restaurant and he was awesome. He was engaging. He was funny. He was beginning to put more complicated thoughts together on his device. Then it was as if it all vanished in thin air. Gone was the happy child, gone was my little buddy, my wingman. We all just sat all day and waited for the tantrums and trying to find some good in the days. Even when watching his favorite movies you would hear him get so irritated and begin bashing his head in his knee trying to break something. He was just plain miserable. His OCD began to get out of control, which is why we could go no where. Every day he wanted french fries or Five Guys. Every. Single. Day. He would wake up and throw the biggest tantrum you'd ever seen. I am a behaviorist, so I never gave in day after day. If he ever was in a good mood and we did decide to get the food, it would start the cycle all over again and it was never enough. Even if we just went to Five Guys, he'd want it again and again within a few hours of each other. One day I humored him, trying to see if he would ever have enough of it and I took him to get pizza that he requested, then he asked for Five Guys, so then I went there. He couldn't even finish his french fries (because he was full) so we left and he started the cycle again, pizza, five guys etc even though we had just gone!

He would pick any checkered pattern in his environment and point to it (it meant five guys because that place has a checkered decoration on the wall). If he saw a game at the store with french fries or hamburgers, or even pizza, the tantrums would start. Everything would trigger him. And not just little triggers- full on fifteen year old boy tantrums where when he's mad, it's like he's a 250 pound man (even though he only ways about 125!!). Even when I would give him another place to go other than his trigger places he would cry because he wanted them. He was just miserable. Plain and simple. No matter what we did. I put those places on schedules, we removed them completely, we went there every morning- nothing ever worked because nothing was ever enough. His brain was completely stuck. Here are some pictures of those dreary moments.

 

He was just not happy. So his mom and I went on a journey to try and find someone that would help him. Again, we exhausted every behavioral intervention- you name it, I tried it. And consistently. I can't even tell you the horror stories we went through trying to find someone to help him. His mom documents some of it on her blog as well, Let Go & Run Free. For now, just know after weeks of searching and trying to get help, finally one doctor agreed to help. Kreed is incredibly complicated with his medical diagnosis as well (seizures, immune deficiency, SCAD (metabolic disorder), hypothyroidism...just to name a few) and so many of the doctors didn't want to help because of the liability. Oh geez! This kid was suffering! So finally with the doctor that agreed to help, we talked it out, decided on a course of action.

And, it was like magic. We had the kid back! His OCD has faded away and what's left has been a happy, healthy boy! No self injury, no tantrums. He has replaced it all with hugs and kisses. He is even more aware now than ever- he is talking on his device more, he is wanting to be more social than he was before- he's just "back" and better than ever! We love it. It was such a long journey for him. There will be many more updates from now on. Before, I could barely record videos because there was just nothing but anger and irritation- all due to his severe OCD. It's like he was stuck and blocked and couldn't get his brain to move past it. My heart feels so sad for this boy. Now it's like his whole world has opened up and he is happy again. He's so happy he keeps requesting to have a party!! How funny is that?

Here are a few picures showing the change- you can even see the new awaress n his eyes.

And my personal favorite photo below. It's just such a miracle and so wonderful to have him so aware again and even more so and not be shackled to his OCD. It really and truly was his severe OCD that got in the way and made him so miserable. Now he is smiling every day, has no problem going and and doing stuff and is just thrilled every day. He can even be told "no" now and have it not be the end of the world. He just moves on no problem. In fact, now he wants to know "why" if I tell him no. Once I give him an answer he moves on. I just love it. Love him. Can't wait to document more of his progress. Check out his youtube: Kreed's Videos to see some of our videos there.

 

Love this boy. Love being a part of his world.