The downsides of having a child with two major challenges — autism and a rare lung disease — are obvious.
But there is, ironically, one upside to this combination: C's autism means he never notices the odd (and occasionally hurtful) stares he gets because of his nasal cannula and 25 feet of oxygen tubing. Of course, I wish he weren't oblivious to others in most situations, but if I'm looking for a bright side, his inability to take in the stares of others is one.