My little sister Camilla was diagnosed with Autism when she was just 2 years old.
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I was 6 years old and while I didn’t really get what Autism was, I remember realizing pretty early on that Camilla was different. She couldn’t speak and would throw massive tantrums.
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I’ll never forget the day I had to go to school and tell my teacher that I didn’t have my assignment because my sister ripped it. My teacher didn’t quite get it.
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Too many people didn’t get it. So while I am so embarrassed to admit this now, there were times when I was so embarrassed of her.
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Angry at the world that she wasn’t “normal”. That she didn’t want to play house with me or that she couldn’t gossip about boys.
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Truthfully, I am still so angry. I am crying as I write this, because it still kills me every day that she will never get to fall in love like I did, or get the privilege of discovering her dream purpose and going after it with everything she has.
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Camilla does have a massive impact every day. She taught me how to feel empathy towards people I don’t fully understand. She taught me how to love. She taught me patience.
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She is a major part of the reason I had the courage to quit my corporate job and go after my dreams. Why I get to help people find their purpose and passion and feel better about themselves every day. Why I’ve dedicated so much of my time towards raising $$ for Autism over the years. If I have ever inspired you, helped you, changed you in any small way... you have Camilla to thank.
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I love you more than you will ever know baby girl ❤️ so blessed that you came into my life. Keep loving so hard and shining your light. The world needs more pure love and light right about now.