Eli Apolzon and daughter Ruth Family Page * * * Austin, Texas

For the past twelve years we have been challenged with intense medical and therapy expenses for our sixteen year old daughter, Ruth, who is a special needs child and was diagnosed with multiple disorders in the serious mental health category at the ages of three and four. She has accomplished remarkable improvements since then. This writing is dated May 18, 2011, and is on our website for Ruth at www.eliapolzon.com .

We thank you for your prayers and notes of support for Ruth and our family expressed by your emails and personal encouragement. Ruth has been off all medication since January 2004 and continues to improve in all areas. Twenty-two different medications were prescribed from age five through nine, at which time she was hospitalized for two weeks. We said enough is enough and stopped the meds in January 2004 to determine where her baseline was. And now, here is the rest of the Story . . . . .

We went through pure agony and terror for the next three months while her body cleaned it all out and then adjusted how to live without the medication. She was literally bouncing off the walls . . . and so were we. For those of you who have been through a similar experience, you know the only way to survive is through constant prayer, faith, determination, a lot of love and even then just taking it one day at a time. And then one morning we saw something new she had never done or said before and Ruth began growing again, after nearly five years of being plateaued. Her therapy programs continued five days a week after school until August 2009. She continues to improve, one small step at a time.

During that time, her school day began at 7:45 a.m. getting on the bus and continued after school in therapy and sports programs each day until 6:30 p.m. She never complained and worked very hard with all her therapists and coaches. To each and every one of you who helped Ruth all those years, we say "Thank you" for your hard work and personal commitment you have given to Ruth, our family, and all the other Special Needs children we have watched you help also. You are truly the Angels who live among us.

Now that Ruth does not have therapy every day, after school she comes home and continues studying on her computer using learning programs to teach her spelling, math, and learning skills since she still has a lot of catching up to do. She now has homework, which started in eighth grade, and really enjoys it. She used to rarely watch television but is now able to relax for awhile doing that also. She still does better with interactive types of learning, with her computer and new multi-task cell phone being her favorites. When we are in the car, we play fifties music on my XM radio and talk about the songs and the artists. Buddy Holly is her favorite along with John Denver, Elvis, Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. And in year 2011, I can also get her to listen to Jeff Ward with me on 590 in the late afternoon. Ruth attended confirmation class three years ago and was confirmed in April 2008. She and I attended a youth church retreat in January 2010 and she is gaining an understanding of the spiritual part of religion.

In November 2007, we gave Ruth a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy who she named Buddy Holly. She said his name has a double meaning. Buddy Holly is her favorite singing artist and her dog is also going to be her buddy. Ruth sang in the school choir in seventh and eighth grades and is okay being on stage for a concert . . . an impossible dream several years ago. She started high school in 2010 and enjoys the football games with a group of new girlfriends. She is in a photography class where they develop their own photos. We hope our openness and sharing with our family life and challenges gives hope and encouragement to other families who are also blessed with a Special Needs child.

If you are just beginning this journey, know that it will not be easy so be sure to reach out and take God's hand. You will need His constant help. And remember, at the end of your journey, waiting for you will be a beautiful rose watered by your tears over the many years . . . and holding it will be your child.

Eli Apolzon . . .