The Healing Qualities of the Ocean

"Waves are..., toys from God"~Clay Marzo, pro surfer affected by autism

"He was comfortable in his skin. Out of the water, he is not comfortable, even today. In the water, it's like he can breathe."
  

This sounds like something my wife or I might have said regarding Tommy. I am sure it is a quote that many autism parents can relate to. The person who said this is Jill Marzo, mother of Clay Marzo, pro surfer who lives under the Autism spectrum with Aspberger's. For many people with autism, water can be like a magnet. Our Tommy was definately one of those who would gravitate towards anything wet. This became out greatest concern with him during his "flight risk" days (from 2 to 7 years of age...and even a concern during unaccounted moments to this day). Overflowing bathtubs and impulsive missions to egress the home and breach the neighborsfenced  yards to see their pools kept us on heightened alert. These were also the years where we seemed to impose a self exile from society on ourselves. Tommy was indeed a handful during these years. "Where's Waldo" was a fun game of seek and find with pictures. "Where's Tommy" was a game that usually lasted no more than a minute or two, but those two minutes seemed to take a lifetime to pass, and it was NOT fun.

Living in a beach town and not going to the beach was getting a bit frustrating. When he was around 3 years old, we decided to give it a shot taking him to the beach. Garbed in a sea creature life vest we braved the sandy, shelly beach of Wrightsville, knowing full and well that Tommy would be a one-on-one. It didn't take long for us to realize that this was HIS environment. The level of peace he'd have, his desire to communicate, his ability to follow directions were all proportional to his exposure to the beach. His 'crave of the wave' helped him to find his own identity and broadened his social development beyond anything else we tried with him. What he so desired to be near, was water. Water that we thought could harm him. Sure there are dangers that come with the ocean and its surroundings. You cannot just throw caution to the wind when it comes to experiencing the joys of the beach.  But it was most certainly worth getting our brave on, and packing up the family to enjoy something we had so taken for granted and had feared we'd lost.

Tommy's love of the water has opened so many doors. From his first experience surfing with Izzy Paskowitz's Surfers Healing, to his current relationship with Ocean Cure. While his identity as a surfer does not make him the next surfing prodigy like Clay Marzo, we definately feel a kinship with folks like the Marzo's and the Paskowitz's, who have found hope through these awesome, HEALING "Toys from God" that He provides in His wonderous oceans.

Anyway, check out this video documentary of Clay, "Just Add Water".

The awesomeness of autism! Enjoy!!!

Please donate to Ocean Cure @: http://www.crowdrise.com/tomlewis