Living with Hank is amazing. He’s the sweetest, goofiest kid, and truly the heart of our family. But his journey hasn’t been without challenges. School has always been tough—he’s missed many days, and being in a loud, overstimulating environment overwhelms him. Basic skills like handwriting take extra effort. Socially, it takes him time to form friendships, which adds to the stress of the school day.

Hank is also pretty rigid; once he settles into a routine or a certain way of doing things, it’s hard for him to adjust. And when we hit those “walls,” it can be a scene. He catches every cold that comes around and has a hard time shaking them. His speech can be difficult to understand, and not everyone gets him right away. He’s still deeply attached to us and is scared to sleep alone.

But even with all of that, I wouldn’t trade our life with him for anything. Our nightly routines—playing a game and watching a show together—are my favorite part of the day. We build Lego sets, play endless board games, and laugh constantly. He is funny, caring, and the absolute center of our world.