My story: High on the happiness spectrum
Caleb and Annika with their pediatrician, "Dr. Bob."
Twins Annika and Caleb are the personification of “bouncy.” Their days are full of school, cousins, books, dolls, lessons and activities. All very normal.
But earlier on, Annika and Caleb’s parents Jessica and Nathan saw that there was something unusual about their beautiful twin babies.
Caleb, in particular, went from cooing eight-month-old to very quiet baby, whose responses to his parents and familiar surroundings were suddenly “different.” “It’s hard to describe,” says Jessica, “but it was like he just quit.”
Despite their efforts, things didn’t improve. Speech and interaction all but disappeared. Jessica and Nathan knew it was time to talk with professionals. Sibley County early-intervention specialists diagnosed moderate autism spectrum disorder at age two.
Then, during a hospital stay for a virus, Annika’s behavior came to the attention of one of her caregivers. Annika would repeat herself, become fixated on a toy or an idea, or become very angry.
Following evaluation, Annika’s diagnosis of mild autism was confirmed, and Jessica and Nathan found themselves looking for a doctor who could help them understand and manage each of the twins’ needs. “We had heard about Dr. Bob Zajac, the pediatrician in Glencoe – that he was very available to parents, and that he listened,” says Jessica.
Dr. Zajac recalls, “I met the parents and kids and we discussed the many right steps, especially early intervention, that they’d already taken to learn about autism spectrum disorders.” He now works with the children’s school, personal care assistants and family to assure that the twins are receiving the appropriate level of services.
“Autism is different in every child,” says Jessica. ‘When we went to see Dr. Zajac, we had been frustrated because no one seemed to listen or to see our kids’ uniqueness. We knew we’d found the right person to help us help ourselves. He gave us hope.”
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