Surfer's Healing: Not Just Another Day At the Beach

Turbo and Izzy

http://www.surfershealing.org/

I went to a support group meeting back months ago where a representative from Surfer's Healing came to share about this unique opportunity for kids on the autism spectrum.  It sounded AMAZING!  So on Mother's Day this year at 4pm I sat at the ready in front of my computer to try and score two spots at this unique camp for children on the spectrum.  In a mere ten minutes all 215 spaces were filled!

Surfer's Healing was started 15 years ago by Izzy Paskowitz and his wife Danielle.  Izzy is a champion, professional surfer and father of a a child diagnosed with severe autism.  Izzy and Danielle started this non-profit organization after seeing the positive, calming affects that being in the water had on their son, Isiah.  What started out as small day camps in California has boomed into a national organization.  Did I mention this program is completely free of charge to the families! 

Our family was fortunate enough to attend the camp in Ocean City last week and it was truly amazing!  Two of our children surfed but there were activities for the entire family all day long.  It began by waiting in line to register.  I dread waiting in any line with Turbo as he has little patience and generally will hit or try to run away.  He also lets out these blood curdling screams when he gets excited and seeing the ocean for the first time definitely got him excited.  I knew it was going to be a special day when no one even seemed to noticed these behaviors that typically elicit scowls and nasty comments from strangers.  

Once we rounded the corner from the registration booth what I saw next took my breath away;  a sea of families living with autism. I can't explain to you what it feels like to be around people that "get it."  No one was judgmental or unkind. There were children painting, getting caricatures drawn, doing yoga, and suiting up to surf. Parents were hanging out on the beach getting to know one another and cheering the kids on.  It was an amazing sight!  

We had some time before the boys surf time to we set up camp and went to pick up the kid's gift bags and trade in our food tickets for some snacks. We played in the waves and watched the other children surf.  The kids who were surfing had a captive audience with family, random beach goers, and families there for the program.  We clapped and cheered for the kids as they rode the waves.  I am not an incredibly sentimental person but you literally could just feel the love and acceptance all around you.  That is the one beautiful thing about autism.  I have met and become friends with some of the most amazing people.  Folks I would have never met if my child didn't have autism because our lives are so vastly different.  That day on the beach I saw old friends and made some new ones as well.

Princess Flowers playing in the sand

Wild Krat and Merlin in the surf

Once child in particular stood out to me.  He was in line with the volunteers waiting his turn on the beach.  Once the surfer came and started leading him out to the beach he began having a meltdown.  Mom and dad were watching from the sidelines (they ask you to let the volunteers handle everything) looking incredibly worried.  The surfer got down eye level with the boy and spoke to him calmly while playing with him in the sand.  After a few minutes the surfer picked him up and put him over his shoulder.  The boy was still upset but as they walked out in to the ocean you could visibly see his entire body relax and a big smile cover his face.  As the boy rode his first wave in to the beach mom started crying.  It's an amazing thing to see your child do something extraordinary when most of the time all you hear about is what they cannot do.

Turbo with a Kung Fu grip on Daryl

As I read over what I have written so far I don't think I have adequately gotten across how amazing and desperately needed this day really was for our family.  Over the last five years all three of my boys have been diagnosed with different special needs.  I spend my waking hours: scheduling therapy appointments, attending IEP's,  speaking with lawyers, applying for grants, arguing with insurance companies, worrying about how to pay the therapy and lawyer bills, worrying what will happen to them if something happens to me.  My life has become and seems to revolve around special needs.  It's hard, really hard, but for one day a few weeks ago in August I was just a mom who didn't think about autism for a whole day.  I played in the water with my kids, built sand castles and played games.  I got to meet and speak with some amazing people.  And I cannot thank you enough, Surfer's Healing, for giving me that one, perfect day!  You are truly an amazing group of people! Until next year, Mahalo!