04/20/24
December 07, 2006
Surf magic: Great story about how surfing has changed the life of one profoundly autistic little boy. (via TCAL)
I just about managed to stem the waterworks whilst reading that. It doesn't do to burst into tears at work.
posted by squealy at 09:10 AM on December 07, 2006
That fits up there with one of the greatest stories I've ever read. Thank you, thank you!
posted by hawkguy at 11:22 AM on December 07, 2006
I echo the previous comments. Great story! Thanks Fence. Now where's that box of kleenex.....
posted by ampto11 at 12:36 PM on December 07, 2006
Nice post Fence. My nephew has Asberger's Syndrome, a higher functioning form of autism. He has the IQ of a genius, yet my brother still has to help him use the bathroom at almost 6years old. Every discription he gives hits really close to home. These kids live in a world of their own, which we cannot even begin to comprehend.
posted by louisville_slugger at 01:24 PM on December 07, 2006
As I sometimes do, I first just went to the comments without reading the article and thought that, while rolling my eyes, perhaps everyone was being a bit emotional around the holidays. "Let's see for ourselves" I thought as I clicked on the link. To paraphrase: It is unseemly to cry while at work. All I had to offer my co-workers was an apology and the chance to sit at my desk and read. Lovely.
posted by THX-1138 at 02:14 PM on December 07, 2006
Great story. My son has Asperger's, too. I used to have to force him to go to the beach with me, but now he loves surfing (albeit on his boogie board). Originally I just thought it would be something he might like, having tried many different sports. It's fantastic to know it works for lots of others, especially those with severe autism. I'm passing this story on to other fathers and fellow surfers.
posted by owlhouse at 07:59 PM on December 07, 2006
As I sometimes do, I first just went to the comments without reading the article I do that all the time too :) Glad other people liked it as much as I did, and it does *get* you, doesn't it?
posted by Fence at 02:47 AM on December 08, 2006
Although the 9 degree Celsius water temperature must be a bit of a shock! That shows real dedication. Here, we have water temps of 18-20 degrees all year round. My son doesn't even need a wetsuit!
posted by owlhouse at 01:24 AM on December 09, 2006
I'd heard of the surfing therapy before, but this writing is so intese, it's an incredible read. This guy is just a great writer: Picture having to live in a video arcade with the volume and wattage up full, where everyone around you is racing past, speaking Mandarin at the top of their lungs. Your shirt feels like Brillo, your shoes like cement, and the breeze on your skin like the thwack of a soaking towel that's been left to chill in the fridge. That, in a nutshell, is my little boy. What an intense explanation. I don't even have kids and this broke me down. Great stuff.