An Adventure Story

The other day while trying to make sense of thenot 'off the scale Autistic'. Eventually they came
world, specifically my own, a client was telling meacross a society based in the U.S., with a
about a charity Christmas party- having lots ofrepresentative in Johannesburg, which does not
toys left over he did not know what to do. Hisbelieve Autism exists, instead they believe it is to
friend suggested he take them to an orphanagedo with the internal organs.
where he knows the children are in desperateAfter numerous tests they also found Nicholas
need of love and toys. On a normal Christmashad leaky gut syndrome and Lymes disease
day he and his wife would run a soup kitchen but(parasitic infectious disease causing disability which
decided to visit the orphanage instead. As theyis difficult to treat) To repair leaky gut syndrome
arrived 50 wide eyed forgotten orphans dashedNicholas was prescribed various medication and
to greet them, with only one special teddy bearvitamins which takes half an hour every morning
they asked the "mother" who they should give itto swallow. Wondering what all these pills taste like
to as they didn't want a riot on their hands. Shehis father swallowed a couple and promptly threw
pointed to a room and said "there's a little baby inup, yet Nicholas swallows them with minimal fuss.
there who has just been brought in by the policeTo treat advanced lymes disease you use a
after being found abandoned in a field, I think hespecialized machine which literally shakes the
needs something to cuddle tonight!"parasite from your blood cells, this takes 2 hours
Shocked and dismayed by the malnourished babyevery night, not easy with a 3 year old.
his wife swept the tiny frail body into her arms toNicholas now sits and does puzzles like every
hug him and could not let go, a 15 minute deed ofother 3 year old. For his parents it's like winning
goodwill turned into 3 hours, Christmas day turnedthe world cup, as lack of concentration is one of
to a restless night as the abandoned gift of godhis many "problems."
did not leave their thoughts. When they called theNicholas' parents joined a group called the smartie
next day to see how he was doing the "mother"kids and found many people in this land of beauty
suggested they give him a name, St Nic of Santaand splendour finding themselves white parents to
Claus fame came to mind - So Nicholas it woulda black child in a country that was torn apart by
be.racism, hate and apartheid, that is now been torn
Nicholas really needed love and help, after visitingapart by politicians drunk on power.
the orphanage a couple times they asked if theyAs you'd imagine, the father tells the story much
would be allowed to look after Nicholas atbetter than I have here, requiring days, not a 1
weekends, to take him out on trips and give himpage brief. It is an adventure story, a miracle, a
the love he so desperately needed. After a fewgift, a story worth telling. Which is my point. At
weekends it was getting harder and harder tothe moment, we all confront incredible
give Nicholas back on Monday mornings he alwaysuncertainty, even chaos in the world economy, in
became so quiet when they had to say goodbye.our own markets, and by extension, in our lives
The wife asked her husband if they mightand minds. Everyone's world is topsy turvy, our
consider adoption, initially he was against it,political leaders continue to allow followers their
because of responsibility, financial ability and fear.mindless hate rhetoric and the call to "kill" of their
God and Nicholas had chosen them, deep downpolitical adversaries - while they run the country
he knew it was gods miracle and will, theylike a bunch of drunken pirates. You may be
became his parents they had fallen in love withtempted to wish for stability and security and
him - so Nicholas went home.predictability, you may loathe the urgent need to
Nicholas is now three years old, causes majorcreatively reinvent, to zig, to zag you may resent
feuds as all friends and family stand in line to babyrecent investment losses, a loved one or the
sit as much as they possibly can - He touches theturmoil and chaos you think your life has become.
soul and heart of everyone and fills their worldAll that is natural, understandable and shared;
with delightsome minutes of most days I too indulge in such
The miracle doesn't end there.....thoughts, sometimes for way too long. But if
Nicholas was diagnosed with Autism his parentssailing was always smooth and a success status
had taken him to a specialist who diagnosed him inquo could be arrived at, each trip boring, each
about 30 seconds flat. BS they thought - furiouslydestination de-valued, there'd be a lot fewer great
they researched all they could find about Autismstories. Ultimately, the living of your own great
believing Nicholas could overcome this 30 secondadventure story is its own achievement, success
diagnosis. After all the specialists believed he wasand reward. Enjoy every triumph as you should.