Christy

By Mary Kate McCauley

Christy was born April 6,1977; platinum blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes, with perfectly etched brows and lashes. She was so still in utero that I worried all was not right. Some 16 years later we were to discover Christy had Smith-Magenis Syndrome.

She was such a puzzle. " When she was good she was very, very good.....but when she was bad she was horrid" She was bright, able to read almost anything, but unwilling to do what was asked of her.

The neurologist said , "Our goal must be to make her as socially acceptable as possible." Well now, wasn't that an interesting concept. That meant trying her on all and every medication out there. Friends, relatives and strangers were often shocked at her bluntness and lack of tact. The kindness of strangers was often rewarded with, "Did you forget your deodorant!" or "Did you brush your teeth with kitty litter!"

She did fairly well in a small private school for mostly autistic children till she was 13. After that we began to have increasing difficulty with school and transportation. The school district urged us to seek residential placement so Christy would have a future. This was a very difficult decision. For two years we searched for a place our hearts could handle. Finally, we found Bancroft Neuro Health in New Jersey. We were able to get the school district and the state to fund an out of state placement. It was a difficult transition. Christy was almost 17 and we talked about her going to handicap college so she could learn a skill and get a job. She presently is in a group home, living with three other young women. We speak on the phone every night or so and she comes home every other weekend.

For now it is working, not always smoothly but life is manageable. I still hope for the day that serenity reigns. But hey, Life is never dull.