"At the end of the day, children with autism are not given to strong special people. We are made strong, and we are made special, by having to raise that child with special needs and, yes, we are very often given more than we can handle,” Erin said. Erin has never had a conversation with her son, so their relationship oftentimes seems like a one-way street. Despite his very rare emotional reciprocation, she always surrounds him with love and support.