The Origin Story

I was having a conversation with Travis.  He was nine at the time.  I had been reading yet another book that I hoped would somehow help me navigate the world of Travis (good thing I have a Barnes and Noble membership).  It was about a boy with similar needs. 

The book had a picture of a young boy on the cover.  I still have the book.  Over the years I have loaned out several of my books.  But I checked and I still have it.  Travis noticed the picture and asked me about the book. 

I told him that I was reading the book hoping that I could learn something that would help him.  He asked if I was going to write a book about him.  I said that I might just do that someday.  So then he asked me what I would call the book. 

Without hesitation I said, “No Stone Left Unturned”.  

I find myself saying countless times that I will leave “No Stone Left Unturned” when talking to friends and family (and anyone else who will listen) about Travis. Apparently even back then.  That I was going to make sure that no stone was left unturned when it came to helping him become the best version of Travis possible.  That day I promised Travis that I would never give up searching for answers to help him. 

And I haven’t stopped searching. 

To help him. 

What does that mean?  

To help him be happy? 

To help him overcome his obstacles? 

To help him cope with his diagnosis. 

To help him quiet the constant noise in his brain. 

So then I asked him to make a promise to me.  I asked him to trust me and be open to trying ideas that I may read or learn about if I thought there was a possibility that it might help him.  He said ok and we pinky swore. 

I told him that’s great because there is a special diet that I would like you to try.  My husband Tracy says I am diabolical.  Tracy asked me if I manipulate him into doing things.  I told him of course not. (Wink wink)! 

That’s the day we began the gluten-free, casein free diet. 

We spent the next couple of hours going through our cupboards and boxing up everything containing wheat and dairy.  Which was just about everything. 

Tracy was looking at me horrified!  Quite a few boxes left our house that day. 

As a family we decided that we would eat what we wanted outside of the house.  And that we would even eat what we wanted in front of Travis at a restaurant.  Because he would need to learn that people around him were going to be eating things that he could no longer eat. 

Eating this way did help smooth out some of his rough edges with his anxiety and anger.  We did this fifteen years ago, before you could go to the store and buy gluten-free everything! 

But as soon as Travis moved out of our home he gave up that diet.  And I no longer had control over what he ate.  Seriously, how much grief can I give him about what he eats?  I only have to look in the mirror to remember how difficult it is to eat the foods that make you feel better even when they make you feel better!  And I do not have a learning disability or a mental illness. 

“To Find What You Seek in the Road of Life, the Best Proverb of All is that Which Says: Leave No Stone Unturned”