Terry D.

Meet Terry

• Registered Nurse
• Speaks English
• Comfortable with pets
• Has a car

I am a 51 year young stay at home Mom who has sent her last child off to college-well mostly! Before I was blessed with children of my own I took care of others as a pediatric RN in a local hospital. I obtained my BSN from UAH with honors in 1988. After leaving the hospital where I worked rotating 2&3rd shifts , I tried working in a local surgeons office for about 3 years. After a second high-risk pregnancy brought us another tiny little Steel Magnolia in the making, I couldn't stand to continue working and having them in daycare so I came home to stay. A few years later we were sent a little suprise BOY! What a blessing and a challenge. A mother always knows, and I knew he was different.All of his teachers saw early on how smart and clever he was , but they totally Read more missed the difficulties that I saw as his mother. It wasn't until his junior year of high school --and I refused to allow the school system to graduate him--even though he had passed the required exit exams as a sophomore on his first attempt ( re-entering after 3 years of homeschooling) --his counsellor was absolutely dumbfounded when I informed him that my son could not write a paragraph. Yes he had an ACT score of 27 from the 8th grade, and he had wonderful comprehension, but he could not get creative thoughts from his brain through his hand and onto paper. ( A condition called Duspraxia) Eventually--he was tested on the fast track and it was very strongly suggested that we seek outside assistance with detailed diagnosis, that it would go faster and he had no time to waste. We were not surprised, we had done so much reading, more relieved to be given a diagnosis of Autism. Although highly functioning, being "on the spectrum" definitely explains so many things about "our little man." Since then we have sought out ways to help him to use the idiosyncrasies that come with his disorder to his benefit whenever he can. At other times helping him learn how to work around his historical defiencies has helped him grow strong and independent. [i have extensive experience with difficult learners.] Now I am left with my 3 rescue fur babies to love and care for and my husband if 31 years. When I'm not with them or helping with a local dog rescue group I like to help out or participate in local community theatre productions. My son and I will be part of the village of Anetevka and my Daughter is playing Tzeitel in "Fiddler on The Roof" with The Bank Street Players in Decatur this Summer.

Trust & safety

Experience