MORGANTON, N.C. — The puzzle piece became symbolic for Hannah Stitt’s family after both of her children were diagnosed with autism.
Before the diagnoses, she said there were signs that something was different about her kids.
“Ellie and Carter weren’t hitting milestones when they should, and so when I noticed that, I had them evaluated and tested, and of course they were both autistic,” she said.
Her 5-year-old, Ellie, was diagnosed with Level 2 autism and nonverbal, and 4-year-old Carter was diagnosed with Level 3 severe autism.
“It’s just not something that any parent wishes on their child at all,” Stitt said. “Not just to have one child with autism, but to have two — it’s really hard.”
So, Hannah and her husband, John, made changes throughout their Morganton home. From fabric walls to prevent destruction in the kids’ sensory playroom to safety netted beds in their bedroom.
Stitt has learned a lot in the two years since receiving her kids’ diagnoses, and instead of keeping those lessons to herself, she started writing them down for the world to read. She now shares advice and words of encouragement on her Facebook blog, “The Diary of a Tired Autism Mom.”
“Every autistic parent’s life changes in a drastic measure,” she said. “I just wanted to be a hearing ear, whatever I needed to do to advocate, even for the parents.”
If Stitt could go back to 2024 when her kids were newly diagnosed, she said she’d tell herself that everything will be ok.
“In a couple years, you’ll meet a bunch of new people all over the world, and they’ll help lift you up,” she said. “Your family will be right there. God will be right there.”
Despite the initial uncertainty, she’s now pointing other families toward hope.