Individuals’ names have been changed in order to protect their privacy, or that of their child /adolescent.
luka & lewis’ story
Luka is a biological parent to a 16 year old son, Lewis. Lewis was diagnosed with autism at 3, followed later by a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and cognitive delay.
Over the past 5 years, Luka, along with Lewis’ dad and step-mom, have all experienced aggression directed towards them. Their family’s challenges amplified in puberty. Luka recalls “When they’re a toddler and they’re having a meltdown you can move them…but you can’t do that with a five-foot-ten, 140 pound young man”.
Lewis’ growing needs proved to be too extraordinary for them to handle and he is currently living in a special needs care agreement within a staffed resource and has 2:1 support. Luka states that “Lewis’ needs just proved to be too extraordinary for us to manage even with two households.”, and adds “it’s very humbling to think that you can get to the point where you realize that you have to put your child in care”.
“I remember thinking…how am I going to give a child up into care…It’s terrifying to think that this child that you raised, this cute little toddler can react like this to you.”
Luka acknowledges that she struggles with trauma of her own, and finding how to move forward. She has found that with a lot of help and support, she can maintain a healthy relationship with her child, but thinks that her family’s experience should have been different.