Isolation engulfed Dimity Knight after she became a fulltime carer for her autistic son. Through writing poetry in the moments of silence, she found a way to seek comfort and share her struggles and joys with those travelling on the same journey.
"I really began writing as a way to escaping all of the demands of autism."
After reading some of her works, an editor approached her to compile a book on poems specifically dealing with her experiences of the condition.
What evolved was a collection of stories that drove into the depths of her heartbreak, frustration and pain, to the elevation of joy and pure love that she has experienced since her son's diagnosis.
Their journey into autism
Dimity's son was quite advanced in his development by the age of two.
"He was speaking in nine-word sentences, quite social, loved to be read to," Dimity recalled.
At around the age of two and a half Dimity remembered her son approaching her to tell her something.
The words came out jumble.
He tried again, with the same result.
What followed was five months of unexplainable withdrawal and regression.
"He went from being a playful boy with normal language skills, to being mute and withdrawn and seriously autistic."
The only thing that Dimity could link the sudden changes to was a series of ear infections that were treated with antibiotics which resulted in gut infections.
The infections complicated her son's existing food allergies.
The antibiotics and infections created metabolic imbalances for her son, which resulted in a high level of nitrogen in his system.
With high levels of nitrogen causing neurotoxicity, it's possible the combination of infections and antibiotics may have triggered events.
"We can't know for sure, but that was a period of bad health, and following that he had this regression into autism."
Joined at the Fingertips
The title of Dimity's book comes from the period of time that followed after her son's diagnoses, and the feeling of helplessness as she witnessed the son she once knew disappear.
"It really felt to me as if this son that I knew, who was so vibrant and outgoing, was slipping away from me; as if he was going into some dark place where I would lose him.
"And it felt as if I was holding on to him by the tips of his fingers, trying to keep him."
Her son never came back, but as Dimity now points out, he is a different child.
"He is still a beautiful, wonderful child who brings us a great deal of joy."
The different stages of their journey are reflected in the poems within Dimity's book.
"In so many ways his uniqueness is delightful, and his innocence is like a breath of fresh air."
Dimity Knight will launch her book "Joined at the Fingertips" on Wednesday 20 March 2013 at Ashford Special School, 87 Anzac Highway from 7:00pm till 9:00pm.
There is also a second launch, Friday 22 March 2013 at the Chapel at Tabor Adelaide, 181 Goodwood Road, Millswood, from 7:30pm.
Books can be ordered directly from the Mosaic Resources website.