He Just Needs to be Loved

When three year old Tyler was adopted from Ukraine in 1992, the orphanage director told the authors, “He just needs to be loved”, but Tyler needed much more than love. The product of neglect and abuse, he fought every attempt to be integrated into the family, afraid to trust human relationships. During his first years in America, Tyler was diagnosed with PDD (an autism spectrum disorder), and Tourette Syndrome. The family was  overwhelmed and ill-prepared to handle such an emotionally fragile little boy but Tyler grew from a troubled child to a confident, happy, young man with endless possibilities.

© 2014 Patricia Zimmerman
Audience: Parent, Professional