I planned to save the world; but I couldn't find a sitter.

As they say about Pres. Bush- Do you miss me, yet? Long time no see, hu? So, what have I been up to? The usual! However, this blog was collecting dust and I have a lot on my mind- so it was time to write. In between my job responsibilities, getting snacks for the kids, loads of laundry, and enjoying my family I find the time to release and just WRITE. Currently, my daily thoughts are with my dear sweet Teagan Rey Guire. He is my youngest baby- 2 years old. And I love him, as I do Taylor and Tristan, with the depths of my soul. He completes me and make me a better person then I could ever imagine. One look at his sweet face and I am reminded that God is good and there is pure joy in our world. No matter the outcome each day is a gift, spent with Teagan.

I use my blog for a personal outlet: I blog so that my thoughts are clear. I blog so that I can think. I blog so I can imagine. I blog so I can dream, live, and laugh. I blog today because I love Teagan!

The topic of this blog is very sensitive and many of you have heard this story...but no one has heard it like this. This blog is in the form of a letter, as I am part of a grassroots letter writing campaign to change the world- or at least the world through the eyes of children like Teagan Rey Guire!

Dear Oprah Winfrey,

The Oprah Show episode that aired in February of 2011, about Zach, "The 7-Year-Old Who Tried to Kill His Mother" was riveting. Not only do I feel sympathy and sorrow for a mother and child in this situation, but I feel compelled to write to you, based on 1 single thing that was mentioned in your show. Zach's mom, Laurie stated "Sensory integration disorder was Zach’s first diagnosis and that has to do with how Zach perceived his world."On this particular show, the issue with Zach clearly is mental illness, and the initial diagnosis mentioned by your show "sensory integration disorder " also known as  SPD: Sensory Processing Disorder was not clearly explained. This is very troubling to my family and many other families dealing with SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder).

Sensory Integration Disorder (SPD:Sensory Processing Disorder)was not explained in depth on the show, nor was Zach’s mental health diagnoses, for that matter. This left the impression that children with a diagnosis of SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder) may be inclined to rage attacks that could lead to attempts to kill or harm others. I am frustrated and puzzled by this- as it is not true! There is a clear misunderstanding about what Sensory Processing Disorder/Sensory Integration Disorder is and this constitutes a great opportunity for you to highlight this disorder on your show. I have watched your show for decades and have never seen a show on SPD. There is no time like the present! Parents need to understand SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder) and families dealing with SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder) need support!


I am a mother of 3 beautiful children and our youngest Teagan, who is 2 years old, was recently diagnosed with SPD(Sensory Processing Disorder). The diagnosis was heart breaking, taking the breath from me, and causing my husband and I great anxiety. This diagnosis has sent us on a trip...a journey...a path. One like no other. My trip with Teagan is filled with tears, failed strength to make a difference, and days when staying in bed and avoiding the world seems like a great idea. But our life with Teagan is also filled with love, joy, and laughter- daily.   Our two year old Teagan is healthy, happy, and appears normal in every aspect- except he does not communicate verbally as a "normal" two year should. He has never had high fevers or ear infections. His mouth and tongue work normally. Hearing and vision test results were also "normal". Yet every day he relies on us, his parents to determine his every need. He does not tell us when he is hungry, thirst, tired, happy, sad, or simply overwhelmed. SPD is a devastating and unrecognized disorder that has now become our life. We still dream of a the day when Teagan wakes up in the morning and can simply say "I would like milk and a poptart, Mommy".


As with any illness or disorder, the importance of getting accurate factual information about Sensory Integration Disorder (SPD) is imperative. Information is the life line to my child and many others developing and communicating. Their success in life is dependent upon this. Teagan many times is thought of by others as being autistic, yet there has been no such medical diagnosis; most children (~90%) with Autism Spectrum Disorders have sensory issues (Tomchek and Dunn, 2007). But, most children with SPD do NOT have Autism! With autism there is support and awareness.  With SPD, I find myself explaining this disorder over and over again and realizing everyday that we are alone in our struggles. Sure there are others, but finding them is truly a task in itself. I have found parents who have autistic child with SPD, but their struggle is not my struggle and mine is not theirs. I have found parents with child who are ADD or ADHD, but again their struggle is not my struggle and mine is not theirs.  Awareness of SPD is imperative. SPD is generally not accepted as a diagnosis by insurance companies- so the burden of help in terms of speech therapy and occupational therapy falls solely to the parent's own pocket book. What's heart breaking is that Teagan is priceless, but help for him is not.


 I am Teagan's advocate and daily fight for his survival in this world of senses. Although there are obvious verbal delays, Teagan has indicated nonverbally how intelligent he is despite his diagnosis. About a third of the children who are gifted have SPD. Teagan is also funny and very loving but SPD keeps him from verbalizing this to the very ones who love and understand him. Children with SPD without other disorders have normal cognitive abilities, normal mental health and can engage with others (as long as the environment is conducive e.g., not too noisy or busy or overwhelming). We struggle daily with making the environment "just right" for Teagan. His world cannot be "too loud", "too quiet", "too soft", "too hard"...it is the happy medium that we search for daily! SPD is physiological, not parental, not psychiatric, not purposefully bad behavior. Teagan's interpretation of his world is much different than yours and mine, but he is not alone. Research has found  that between 5% and 16% (1 in 20 to 1 in 6)of children have SPD (Ahn, Miller et al 2000 ; and Ben-Sasson, Carter et al, 2009). Teagan is also a chameleon, day to day he can seem like a different child, based on the environment. Children with SPD are very sensitive to external factors such as the way an environment looks or sounds or smells. They appear very different in different settings. My husband and I are in an intense guessing gaming to determine how Teagan will act in different places. Will he melt down at school, will he feel anxiety at Disney World, will he enjoy music class? However, there is no consistency. In fact inconsistency is the corner stone of this disorder. The same place, the same time, the same environmental factors could make him melt down one day...but act perfectly "normal" the next. Inconsistency is our normal. We are redefining "normal"!


I am sure there are thousands of child just like Teagan, with parents just like my husband and I who are searching for factual information and support for SPD. This  journey with Teagan started with a single step towards helping him and continues with the hope that even a small  accomplishment by Teagan is hope for a new day and more joy in our lives. I urge you to use your show as a platform, as you have for many years and help children like Teagan who are living in a world that simply does not understand them. SPD is a devastating and unrecognized disorder that has now become our life.

With Warm Regards,

Jessica Guire