3. My mom said, "no" to my pediatrician, Dr. Milton, when he suggested that I'd be institutionalized. I am too young to remember this, but I do know that my mother*, armed with a doctorate in child psychology, refused to believe that this was any way to treat a severely autistic child. Instead of pretending that I didn't exist, she proactively did her best to help me thrive and succeed in the world beyond my anomalous perception
filters. She didn't do everything right, but she created a strong foundation for my success. The Vas that you know today would not be possible without her.


* My mom has two doctorates and a law degree, for those of you who might be wondering.