It was the day after his 4th birthday when his parents got the news.
“Your son has autism.”
At the time, they had no roadmap. No handbook. No one sitting across from them telling them what the next year would look like let alone the next ten.
What came next was something they had to learn in real time.
Then came the running.
Out the door. Gone in seconds. Every outing became a calculation. Every unlocked door, a risk. Patrick’s parents adapted fast not because someone handed them a plan, but because they had to.
This is Patrick’s story:
Across Rhode Island, thousands of families are sitting in a similar moment right now; absorbing a diagnosis and trying to figure out what comes next.
As Patrick’s parents would tell you, there were hard days. The learning curve. The moments that didn’t resolve neatly.
And yes, the incredibly growth that followed.
We’re grateful to Patrick, Joanne and John for trusting us with something so personal. It takes courage to share the hard parts. We don’t take that lightly.
If this story moves you, share it. You never know who in your life needs to see it today.
