· Ann Wu, MD · GeneSprout Stories
Forrest's Inspiration Story
A story about the power of early intervention—and the family who refused to wait. Meet Forrest, whose journey helped inspire the creation of GeneSprout.
The inspiration for starting GeneSprout is seeing all the benefits of intervening early. Meet Forrest (not his real name but Forrest Gump is his favorite movie) who was noted to have signs of autism before his second birthday. The signs were subtle and only noticeable because he had a twin. His mother observed that Forrest had 50 single words in his vocabulary while his sister spoke in sentences. Even Forrest’s pediatrician thought his development was normal at first.
Forrest’s perceptive mother was persistent in getting him treatment especially after he started to lose some of his skills. He received early therapy including IVIG, specialized diet, as well as speech, occupational, and visual therapy. He also benefited from intensive support from his family. His twin sister became his “leader therapist” and was able to communicate with him even when others could not.
Forrest’s family celebrated every success. At age 4 years, his sister was delighted that the therapy was helping and exclaimed, “We broke the spell!” His mother was so happy the first time Forrest lied. While in a store, Forrest and his sister were each allowed to pick a toy as a reward for having completed an aspect of treatment. Forrest chose a train immediately and then claimed that his sister wanted an airplane. In reality, Forrest wanted both. Forrest’s fib was an indication that his social skills were advancing. Treatment was working.
Forrest just finished his freshman year of college and made the Dean’s list both semesters. He is a peer mentor in his college’s inclusive learning center. He is flourishing.
It’s clear Forrest is proud—and he should be proud of what he’s accomplished through hard work. He stood up to bullying and feels he was “forced to fight for freedom for 10 years.” It’s also clear that his mother felt empowered to help Forrest, and she has since helped numerous other families get treatment for their children with autism.
His sister is an amazing supporter—she included him when playing with friends throughout their childhood and was able to convince Forrest to participate in therapy when others could not. She also benefited from Forrest as he had hyperlexia, which is when a child learns to read far beyond their expected ability. Forrest taught her to read.
Forrest’s story is about the benefits of intervening early. When would Forrest have been diagnosed if he did not have a twin sibling? Would Forrest be an honors college student today? Forrest’s story is also about empowerment. His mother and sister were propelled into action. And Forrest is a leader helping students with autism stand up to bullies and feel included.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns about your child’s health, speak with your pediatrician.