How my Princess became my Superhero

Audrey has always been my princess.  But this is the story of how my princess became my superhero.

Almost 2 years ago, Hannah had a field trip to Severson Dells.  Mandy chaperoned a field trip for Hannah.  Audrey had just been diagnosed with Autism late in 2021.  Mandy talked to one of the first grade teachers who told her about the Superhero Center.

Mandy had just taken time off of work to stay home with Audrey.  We were having a hard time finding the perfect fit for Audrey.  We first visited the Superhero Center in June of 2022.  The first visit corresponded to the same month that Audrey started Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).   We would later find out that many of her ABA therapists and ABA classmates would be a part of the Superhero Center as well.

She loved it and so did Hannah.   By the fall, we were going at least once a week.

Over time, Hannah learned the vocabulary and learned all about Audrey's Autism.  She learned about her stimming behaviors and sensory needs.  Hannah even learned about her sensory profile and benefitted from wearing noise cancelling headphones.  We met other parents and felt a part of the community.

                                              

Hannah asked her mom about heaven.  She told her that Audrey wouldn't be sick in heaven and wouldn't have seizures. Hannah proceeded to say "Audrey still has autism in heaven. It's so cute."

Audrey had her Superhero Center routine.  It started with her stating "YAY" as the car parked.  She always grabbed a book and had the volunteer read it to her.  When she got tired, she laid down on the bean bag.

In February of last year, Audrey dressed up to take pictures with her sister as mom and sister went to her dance.  Soon, it would be Audrey's time to shine at the Superhero Valentine Dance.

Audrey loved dancing.  Once I talked to the deejay into playing Disney Princess music, she wouldn't stop dancing.  She was the life of the party.  That day, she was no longer just my princess, she was my Superhero Princess.

The Superhero Center and her ABA therapy unlocked Audrey's superpowers.   The two parts of her life helped her gain her powers.  

While Audrey had sensory needs and other autistic behaviors, we were initially hesitant to accept her autism diagnosis because of her socialization.  She had her 5th birthday party at the Superhero Center, and we were worried that we were going to surpass the capacity of the center with all of the friends that Audrey had invited from the center and ABA.

Audrey even inspired our family friend's children to donate toys and money to the center after her birthday.  It makes me proud every time I see some of the toys they donated being used.

When it came time to memorialize Audrey, Mandy came up with the phrases "Love like a Princess" and "Fight like a Superhero" for the memorial stones that we had made in memory of Audrey.  The connection of the center was emphasized when so many people chose to donate to the center in Audrey's memory.

Audrey will always be a part of the Superhero Center.  The picture was a beautiful piece of art by one of Audrey's oldest friends' mother. It so happened that her friend went to pre school, ABA, and the center with her, it just took us a few years to put the puzzle pieces together. 

    Anybody who has been to our house and has seen the pictures on our staircase know why Audrey's picture is reinforced.  

And that's the story how my princess became my superhero.

                                                      

We will always be grateful to the volunteers, board members, families and Superheroes of the center.  YAY.