Do you remember Nadya Suleman, the woman who gave birth to octuplets after being implanted with 12 embryos? She made headlines because of her multiple birth, with people claiming she shouldn't be having such a high-risk pregnancy. Nadya claimed she was misled by her doctor about how many of the embryos could stick.
Nadya grew so large during her pregnancy, her stomach broke her ribs. However, despite the risk, she gave birth to all eight babies and they each survived passed infancy. Now, the octuplets are 10 years old and they all seem to be doing well. Nadya also had six older children before the octuplets, and often times it felt like those kids were left in the shadows.
Now, however, Nadya is opening up about a health struggle her 14-year-old son Aidan deals with, as well as health struggles she suffers from herself. She posted a lengthy explanation on Instagram.
This is my adolescent infant Aidan. He is 14 years old, going on 1 in his head. Aidan is severely autistic and total care. He requires complete assistance in meeting all needs in activities of daily living. Aidan is non-verbal, requires feeding, changing (he is not potty trained), bathing, and one to one supervision, as he has no safety awareness and would walk aimlessly into traffic. I, his mother, am, and always have been, his ONLY care provider.
This “job” is my life (other than caring for 13 other children singlehandedly). My children are my LIFE. In addition, I’ve struggled with permanent disabilities for over ten years (all discs in my lumbar spine are ruptured, which press on nerve roots causing bilateral sciatica, irreparable sacral damage, and peripheral neuropathy). Despite my broken back, and relentless pain, I continue to physically care for my son, and will never give up on him. Aidan has been off two months for summer and attends a special needs school during the year. I love him with all my heart, and will care for him until I die.
This morning after dropping off 11 of my other children for their first day of school, I took Aidan to the park, feeding and following him until he grew tired. He engaged in a meltdown (dropped to ground, threw water bottles, took off shoes and propelled those at my head). As soon as we arrived home I bathed, changed and fed exhausted Aidan and held him until he fell asleep. Aidan’s circadian rhythm is discombobulated as he tends to wake from 2am staying up till after 5am, singing and jumping in his homemade crib, next to my bed.
Why did I choose to share this aspect of my life on the same day as my other kids’ first day of school, as opposed to posting an adorable picture? For a couple reasons. First, to describe the details of my REAL life, not a “perfect” depiction of what I want people to perceive my life to be. Second, to provide a contextualization for both my supportive followers, and the condemnatory critics, as to what truly matters in my life: my family. Forgive me kind, supportive followers for failing to post frequently. I am a bit busy. #AutismMom#ILoveMyFamily ❤️
It's rare for Nadya to open up about her family, as she's admitted in the past that the media has taken things too far, but this message is very raw and real, and I appreciate her sharing this part of her life with us.
