FASSTAR HEATHER

Heather as a Baby
Heather as a Baby
Heather Today
Heather Today

Heather is currently 15 years old and in a regular grade nine program. Her assessment showed her to be at a grade 5 level for math, verbal skills at age 21, comprehension at grade 6. She has no visual memory or visual sequential memory and the pediatrician stated that she "couldn't organize her way out of a paper bag". They stated that she has lots of strengths, she is pleasant, cooperative, eager to please and very sensitive (around five socially and emotionally) but then there are these large black holes.

Heather has received different diagnosis as this whole FASD thing has evolved, she was diagnosed FAS intially but by an inexperienced Dr., later I took her to a pediatrician trained in FASD and he diagnosed her FAE, her most recent assessment stated "Neurobehavioural Disorder, alcohol exposed.

Heather is very thankful for her family and has stated that many times in unexpected ways. When she was confirmed into the Church a couple of years ago and had to make a public statement of faith she stated that the greatest thing that God had ever given her was her family. On my birthday four years ago she made me a card that basically stated the same thing, she thanked me for being her mom and for "putting up with her", it was very bittersweet.

I am terrified for her future, she is a sweet, innocent and vulnerable child existing in a world where many would take advantage of her at the same time she has the normal urge for independence that all adolescents go through, an independence that will only make her more vulnerable. I believe we need to change the Declaration of Human Rights to include "an individual has the right to be protected from their own poor judgement in cases of developmental disabilities"

-Heather's Mom

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