Growing Up Different: Liam’s Journey Through Life’s Challenges

**Interviewer:If you were to share the story of your life, what would you say?

**Liam:** Normally, I’d start as a baby, but my parents chose to have drugs in their system. They didn't seem to care. I think they forgot they had a baby, took drugs, and it made my brain misformed. Then I grew up into a toddler. Bibbity, bibbity, bibbity. No offense.

**Parent:** Liam was placed with us as a newborn. Because of his biological mother’s drug use, he was in the NICU for seven weeks.

**Interviewer:** Would you mind sharing what drugs his biological mother used?

**Parent:** She used heroin, crystal meth, cocaine, crack, and marijuana. Crystal meth was the most significant one because, as medical professionals explained, it alters the chemical makeup of the brain. This makes many typical ADHD drugs ineffective for him.

**Liam:** This is Larry. (Liam holds up a rock) This is Larry.

**Interviewer:** Can you hold it up a bit more so people can see?

**Liam:** My pet rock.

**Interviewer:** Did you make that yourself?

**Liam:** Yeah. Larry and I have been having a rough time. We don’t have friends. People think I’m crazy because I have a pet rock.

**Parent:** Most babies go through withdrawal within 24 to 48 hours after being born. Liam went into withdrawal within 30 minutes. This indicates that his mother was likely using drugs until she went into labor. He stopped breathing a few times. They gave him morphine to wean him off the drugs. I brought him home when he was seven weeks old.

**Interviewer:** Do you think Larry is a manifestation of your deep-rooted desire to have human friends?

**Liam:** Yes. He’s always with me, wherever I go.

**Interviewer:** Do you wish you had a human friend like that?

**Liam:** No, because Larry is my only friend. I doubt I could find friends who are like me.

**Interviewer:** Why not?

**Liam:** People just label me as a special needs kid and think I should only be matched with other special needs kids.

**Parent:** Liam was diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) at birth. He now has ADHD, sensory processing disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety, depression, and autism. He’s too young to be officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but it’s likely.

**Interviewer:** Do people think you’re different at school?

**Liam:** Everyone thinks I’m weird. I ask questions that others don’t, and I don’t get what others do.

**Interviewer:** What do you mean?

**Liam:** I ask unusual questions and struggle to think quickly.

**Parent:** These are the forgotten victims of the drug epidemic. The addicts can seek help, but these babies can’t.

**Interviewer:** What do you think about the world?

**Liam:** I think it’s trash. I prefer holograms.

**Interviewer:** Liam, I asked if you’d like to sit with us in the park, but you preferred to stay in the background with technology. Why is that?

**Parent:** He likes to set his own rules, which is a significant issue. It’s part of his ODD diagnosis.

**Interviewer:** How does oppositional defiance disorder affect Liam?

**Parent:** He doesn’t like to follow rules and prefers making his own. If we ask him to do something, he resists every step of the way. He wants things done his way.

**Interviewer:** What’s your opinion on rules?

**Liam:** I hate them. They should die.

**Interviewer:** Why don’t you like rules?

**Liam:** They’re not good. Some are offensive, like not being allowed to bring rocks to school.

**Parent:** Having a child with ODD is challenging. If things don’t go his way, it can lead to meltdowns or tantrums.

**Interviewer:** Liam, do you like to push boundaries?

**Liam:** Yes, a lot. I enjoy doing dangerous things, like skydiving, which my mom doesn’t want me to do.

*Parent:** He tries to control his behaviors, but it’s hard for him. Sometimes he can’t keep his anger in check.

*Interviewer:** What’s it like trying to hold it in?

*Liam:** It’s horrible. I struggle with my anger.

*Parent:** A brain scan revealed that part of his brain is abnormally formed. At dinner, if we tell him to use a fork, he’ll use his hands, just to defy us.

*Interviewer:** If you love your parents, why do you break the rules?

*Liam:** Because it’s fun. That’s all I have to say.

*Parent:** He likes to be in control, even over small things like getting dressed. If we ask him to put on socks, he’ll refuse.

*Interviewer:** Do you feel angry often?

*Liam:** Yes, because my mom threw away my rice. It was good steak, but I threw it out because she threw away my rice.

*Parent:** He told me he was done with his rice, so I threw it out.

*Interviewer:** Why did throwing away the rice upset you?

*Liam:** I was still hungry and didn’t want her to throw it out.

*Parent:** It’s exhausting and heartbreaking dealing with the high levels of oppositional defiance. Even as parents, we struggle to understand it.

*Interviewer:** Some people might think his behavior reflects your parenting. What do you think?

*Parent:** We’ve had family members criticize us, saying we spoil him or need to set more boundaries. It’s hurtful, especially when they don’t understand what we’re dealing with.

*Interviewer:** Are you easily distracted?

*Liam:** Yes, it’s very annoying. When I get distracted, I lose track of what I’m doing.

*Parent:** We were told that getting help for these kids would cost taxpayers too much money. But these tiny victims have no say.

*Interviewer:** What’s your biggest goal for his future?

*Parent:** I want him to grow up to be a good person. He’s very smart, excels in school, and is a great hockey player. He’s capable of doing things well when he’s interested.