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As John packed up, I looked at Evan. It was the only moment I was actually grateful for autism. Even when John said, "Daddy's moving into a different house," Evan just stared off.
Evan's progress at the UCLA program was nothing short of miraculous. He was up to six-word sentences, had mastered "yes" and "no," and showed interest in his peers.[After he completed the program] I called agencies that did in-home therapy and asked how much it cost. Most replied, "$75 an hour . . .so that would be $2,250 a week."
Placed on a yearlong waiting list for state funding, she chose to pay herself.
I sank into my chair. I had taken out a second loan on my house, so I could cover it for now. When I talked to other families, the story was the same: They'd refinanced their house or borrowed money. Just know if I ever come out with my own dumb perfume line, this is why.
Evan began in-home behavioral and speech therapy, plus an array of non-traditional treatments. He continued to improve. She also experienced a dramatic life change: She met Jim Carrey.
It had been a few months since John left, and I felt lonely. One night I went to a party. I wasn't sure about a relationship because Evan's needs were so demanding. But as fate would have it, I was introduced to this really cute guy. There was something so beautiful in his energy. He was surprised I wasn't the outrageous chick who beat up boys on MTV. I gave him my number; he asked me to come over and watch a movie. I went with the hope of some nice small talk and maybe a killer make-out session. It turned out to be exactly that.
In the following weeks, Evan was starting to act a little more kooky. He had developed a bad obsessive-compulsive disorder that experts say happens with a lot of autistic children. One day, he wouldn't stop screaming until all the doors in the house were closed. I called my agents and told them I would be taking some time off. Until I could get Evan healthy again, I couldn't play mom and actress. Sadly, I also knew I couldn't play girlfriend.
I went over to the cute boy's house and cried all over his shirt. I told him that I couldn't be with him at this time but hoped someday in the future we would cross paths again.
