It took five years to get a back and forth conversation from him. Autism 26 years ago was almost unheard of. He was 5 when we had our first conversation. Me: “yellow bus.” Keith: “green bus.” We would go back and forth laughing at our silly busses. Every single day while in the drop-off line for school I would say, “Keith I wish you would just say I love you.”

Days, months, then years went by and no reply from Keith. One beautiful spring day he was getting out of the van and turned to me and said “I LOVE YOU.” My momma heart wanted to stop the world around me and just hug him and cry. Instead, I pulled away in tears. Finally the words I LOVE YOU.

October 2021 was our very last “I love you’s.” He had spent 2 weeks in the ICU and his lungs were getting worse. We had the talk about going on the ventilator. He agreed it would be best. I walked out of the room and said “I love you.” He said “I love you too.” Those were his last words to me. Two weeks later, he would take his last breath, 11 days before his 26th birthday. I was there for his first and last I love you’s.