Autism Workshop in Freeland Michigan

Yesterday was amazing! I love being with Autistic kids and families and I was already excited about being invited to the Great Lakes Bay Autism Fundraiser and Walk. BUT it was way better than I had anticipated. The group of adults and kids were so diverse and fun!

Ashley Blake (below) is a board member for the Autism Center. We met last year on our Walk & Talk Across Michigan event to raise awareness on abuse, bullying and violence. She had taken my card, and just last week gave me a call to ask if I'd like to come to their event and maybe do a presentation. She's an awesome person, it was so good to connect with her again!

Ashley (back left) smiling during the doggy presentation, while the kids have their eyes glued to me and the dogs. 

I shared my love for AUTISM, and Brian's story about how awesome he was. Born with Aspergers and a rare heart defect, doctors said he'd only live to be a year old! God miraculously healed him surgery after surgery and he lived to be 22! Sadly, that most of his years he was bullied for being different. Yet, he loved everyone, even forgave his bullies and wanted to help them. 

 It was a very heart touching moment and I got all choked up. But everyone was very patient and one boy asked what he died from. Another boy said "A shining Star!" Yes, Brian is definitely my shining star--my hero!

Before the workshop began, these college students paused for some pet therapy with the dogs! We were very short on volunteers for the day, so we chose to leave "Lover" home and only bring two dogs. And they were "pur-fect"!

It was great to see Snickers doing so well throughout the program. He was really loving the attention from the young woman (below) whose studying to be a social worker. She was wonderful with both dogs! Usually Baby Ruth shy's away, but not from her!

Snickers plopped down on the floor and chilled as the children gathered around him. He was born to be the "Bully Buster"! He's a true pet therapy dog!

Snickers yawns (below)! All the excitement has wore this 13 year old abuse rescue out! Not to worry, he loves attention and can sleep anywhere!

Still, the show must go on... Snickers napped through most of the speaking and interaction with the children.

BUT as soon as it was time for TRICKS n TREATS Snickers perked right up! And the kids and adults alike totally loved the show.

So many of the kids came up afterwards and thanked me and said, "That was a really fun program!" I think I had as much, if not more fun than they did! I like acting goofy and sharing a message that will touch the hearts of everyone listening, both young and old.

When the show ended, Snickers went right back into sleep mode. All in all, it was a fantastic day! 

Thanks so much Ashley for inviting us! Looking forward to coming again next year :)

NOTE: If you'd like more information about Lisa Freeman, Michigan Anti-Bullying Expert and Certified Pet Therapist and the diverse workshops she offers for all ages, please visit her website @ www.abusebites.com.

A Dream Come True by Lisa Freeman of AbuseBites.com

A Dream Come True!

Wow! It’s finally happening--finally coming true! The moment we’d all dreamed of—going out on the road to Stop Abuse/Bullying & bring healing. But something’s missing. Something enormously important. It saddens me to even think about it.

Brian. This was his dream. His goal. All he ever talked about. Even though he was critical and on the heart transplant list for five years, he always said, “Mom, you can’t go without me.”

This is the same kid that was born with Asperger’s Syndrome, who was way different from all the other kids. Not a bad different, a unique different. He stood out in the crowd. Peculiar maybe, strange, yeah, but beyond all that outward stuff, was amazing stuff going on inside the big brain and oversized heart of his. What he didn’t have in health, he far surpassed in knowledge and love.

Because every day even though he was bullied his entire life, he chose to forgive his bullies, love them, and move on to help others.

In the weeks before he died he walked in one of the longest and hottest parades and handed out candy to kids to raise awareness on abuse and bullying. This is one of my most cherished memories, because typically Brian got so winded he had to sit in the van, but as usual, he gave it his all and pressed on.

When he passed away, my heart broke. I didn’t know how I’d ever go on. But then we found a change jar that he’d been saving. As I held that jar in my hand, I knew we were to collect CHANGE so we could be the CHANGE for Brian and others like him.

It is evident that Brian will go with us, not in the way we planned, but in the way God planned! Please support our Walk n Talk Across Michigan so we can literally CHANGE HEARTS and SAVE LIVES in our son’s memory!

To donate or sponsor Abuse Bites and this mission, or to obtain more information log onto www.abusebites.com and click on the “Walk n Talk to Stop Abuse” link at the right.

Forgive The Bullies

Forgive The Bullies

Is that even possible, to forgive our bullies?

Yes, it is.

My son, Brian had Asperger's Syndrome and a heart defect. I watched him get called names, be teased relentlessly, and come home after being beaten up on the bus just to say, "It's okay, Mom, they didn't mean it."

Even though they hadn't said they were sorry, Brian already forgave them.

His brothers teased him about his weight at home. It really upset him and he even cried sometimes. But when they apologized, what they did was already forgiven and forgotten and he was ready to hang out with them like nothing happened.

Forgiveness isn't for our bullies. It's for us. It's the key to our peace, our happiness, our health, and well being.

Doctors said Brian should have only lived to be 1 year old--he lived to be 22. Why? I believe it's because he learned how to forgive and be at peace and love others and himself.

He lived every day like it was his last, and taught us how to love, laugh, forgive, and press on no matter what obstacle got in our way. R.I.P. Brian 6/27/88 to 8/10/10.

Today, thanks to Brian, we can take that message to others and help them get free too, so they can enjoy their lives.More

In our heroes honor, Brian, we are trying to get 5,000 Likes on Abuse Bites facebook page by January 1st. Please click on the link and support us and tell all your friends and family. Soon we'll have a new look to our website too @ http://abusebites.com please bookmark the page and come back and check us out.

Also I'd like to hear who your hero is or about your struggle with bullying/ forgiveness. Please send an email to: abusebites@gmail.com and put HERO, BULLY or FORGIVENESS in the subject line.