child with autism creates great strain on a family.
At the same time, the family is the central and
most critical support system. The McEntee family
is rising to the challenge of raising Matthew. Now
10 years old, Matt is non-verbal and has behavioral
problems. At the same time he is a cute kid who
can be affectionate. The family talks of the initial
grieving process and how they have learned to celebrate
the small victories -- like a successful trip to
the bathroom.
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A M I L Y P R O F I L E |
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The
McEntee Family
Hometown:
Budd Lake, NJ
Parents:
Larry, Lynn
Children:
Michael (11), Matthew (10),
Jessica (8)
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"Being a family means that
you're part of something, like
in a sport." |
 "I always call Matthew our
great teacher ...sent, maybe,
to teach us some new things about
the human spirit." |
 "People are not cruel; they
don't understand. They see a 9-year-old
acting like a 2-year-old. You
feel the heat." |
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