Story

July 21, 2000: a beautiful baby boy is welcomed into the world. He seems perfectly normal and healthy, just as any baby should be. A woman named Cristi cradles her sweet baby boy. His name is William Michael Steitler, or as he will go by, Billy.

Fast-forward a year or so. It is apparent that Billy is very different from any other baby. His eyes venture into the distance. He doesn't crave affection and closeness to Mom. More and more ways Billy is different begin to add up; Cristi learns her baby boy is autistic.

Of course, Billy is still her beautiful baby boy. He is just beautiful in a different way. Cristi takes it head-on. She has enough compassion, love, and wisdom to handle this.

Along with her son, Cristi helps take care of her niece during summers. Her niece and Billy are fairly close in age; about four years apart. They play together just as any other kids would. They love each other just as any other kids would. They are so close they are practically siblings; and Billy eventually learns to call this girl "Tay-tay."

"Tay-tay" is me. I think growing up around Billy is the best thing that has and will ever happen to me. He and my wonderful aunt taught me what unconditional LOVE is. Of course, it's not hard to love Billy. Just catch his sweet smile and you'll be falling!

Fast-forward again, to the year 2011. Billy is eleven, and I am fifteen. We have both grown in many aspects. Billy can put together small sentences now. He knows more or less how to ask for certain things. But even if he can't, it's no worry, because Mom (Cristi) knows Bill like the back of her hand. She can tell from one look at his face whether he's angry or if he just wants a honey-bun. Or both.

Then comes the night. The most devastating, horrible night I have ever had to experience. I learn from a phone call from my step-dad at the hospital that the wonderful woman who was my second mother is now gone. Just like that.

I'm not a crying type. I'm good at holding things in and controlling my emotions when needed. But when I heard those words I broke down and bawled. The most unimaginable pain flowed through my veins and suffocated my chest.

There was no doubt where Billy was going. My mother and my aunt were as close as sisters could be, and she knew she was taking in Billy without hesitation. Billy came home with us that very night and he slept in my bed.

Chaos. Pure chaos. There were phone calls every two minutes. There were people stopping by. There was my mom trying to keep it together while my step-dad nicely warded away all the distractions. After all the crushing news, we sat outside that night, and we all had the same thought. How were we going to do this?

My mom and I had been around Billy fairly often, but not near enough to know how to fully care for him. We knew it was going to be a long, hard journey; but there was no doubt in our minds as to whether we would do it or not. We love Cristi. And we love Billy. Simple as that.

It's not simple, though. It's just not. There's meltdowns over not having the right soda. There's the refusal to eat when it's not the right food. There's violent, self-harming fits and tantrums.

But then again, there's the moments  when Billy smiles. There's the moments when he puts together a whole new sentence and uses it right. There's the moments when he's dancing and laughing and tells you, "Get up, Tay-tay! Get up and dance!"

Those moments of happiness are simple enough.

Now, back to Billy's story a little more. He's grown even more. (Figuratively AND literally!) Like I said, the sentences come together more. There's the days where there's no tantrums. It's all a balancing act with the days he regresses or melts down. But I think that in the end it will all balance out. It's all gonna come together somehow.

So this blog is my attempt at recording that amazing journey. Hope you enjoy.