Two Thousand Thirteen——Directed by Stephan McFadyen Stephan McFadyen: My favorite films are 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'Avengers', '007 Skyfall', and 'Avatar' not the crappy shot long one. Narrator: At age three, Stephan was diagnosed with Autism Sandy, Stephan’s mom Sandy: He thinks differently and it makes me realize that there is not just one way or two ways to look at things. Noah, Stephan’s younger brother Stephan: Noah, Noah Noah: What Stephan: Skylar had a seizure Noah: What Stephan: Skylar had a seizure Noah: Now? Stephan: No, a few minutes ago. That's why they went home Narrator: My little sister Skylar has epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy. She is ten. Woman: It’s about two and a half minutes and luckily we were at a side aisle and I just supported her head. But I didn't...you know, she was out of it afterwards. She can't hold her head up so I said we are gonna go home. When we got in the car. She got upset. She was like 'aren't we going to McDonald?' She didn't say anything but I know that's what she was saying. So I told her she would just have to rest. Sandy: Why don't you take the camera back out and finish washing the car with your brother. Love you. Stephan: Is it filming right now? Noah: Yep. What’s your thought about Skylar having seizures? Stephan: Scary Noah: What part about it is scary? Stephan: You don't know if she is gonna be alive or not. Sandy: This is your toy. It's Ok, baby. She is just stressed Sandy: Skylar, pop it out. Skylar, look at me. Pop it out. Skylar, get away from the edges. Skylar, pop it out. Pop it out. She is OK Stephan: What's the biggest challenge in your life? Noah: Probably having Skylar and having... Well I guess this probably was Skylar Stephan: What do you mean? Noah: uh... erm... Stephan: It's OK. Take your time Stephan: Hi, Skylar. Hi, Skylar, What would you like for your birthday? Skylar? Family: Happy birthday dear Skylar. Happy birthday to you. Stephan: Alright, as you probably know by now that I have autism. I am not sure what type of autism I have, but I am one of the luckiest people who have autism. Some autistic people, like my sister Skylar, have that like how Skylar is and it really worries me. I don't know if I am gonna be like her one day or I am gonna stay like this. Hopefully I would stay like this. Sandy: Just when I thought I had it all done, your sister was diagnosed with autism and when she was diagnosed, I almost felt like it was...I accepted it. Because it was so normal that I didn't even realize she was autistic, until she saw the neurosurgerist last April and the neurosurgerist brought it up. It makes me look at how we just have to find the way we talk to and the way we explain things Stephan: Right, right, right. OK. I think I already know the answers to this question, but I am gonna ask you anyway. Do you love, hate or have mixed feelings about autism? Sandy: I definitely have mixed feelings. I... the outside struggles...I don't like, but autism in my family, in my home. Is, uh..., really, kind of wonderful Stephan: What is the biggest challenge in your life? Sandy: I think probably trying to balance three completely different personalities and medical issues going on. Stephan: So Skylar, are you excited to get your new stroller Sandy: Go Sandy: This is one month medicine for Skylar and her seizures. So the CP and autism was one thing but when seizures came into our life, we have to really reevaluate everything and now there was a possibility that Skylar wasn't gonna be with us. As seizures progress, we have more seizures and different kinds of seizures and they were out of control. Sandy: Oh, my god. It’s ok baby... Stephan: Lots of things going on right now; I have autism, and my sister Skylar has autism. My brother Noah was fine. He doesn't have anything. We are going through a rough divorce right now. So despite of the hard stuff of being a McFadyen, would you rather be in any other family? Noah: No Stephan: Look at the camera Noah: No. Nope. No... Sandy: OK. Ready? Stephan: I am going right now Sandy: OK. We have a lot of fun. We go to movies. We go to churches together. We have family nights, when we just kind of talk, every night actually. Stephan: Ok, so the life of McFadyen can be fun sometimes and yet it can be hell. Not every family has an autistic or a child who has cerebral palsy, so it's always challenging for them and especially now Skylar is going through starting off puberty, starting to have her periods. It's either going to get better or it's gonna get worse. I am very nervous about that I would rather not be in any other family than McFadyen. Because it is one... If you are a McFadyen, it is one hell of an experience. Sandy: Duck Duck. See what she does. Special Thanks to: Mom, Noah, Skylar, &Joshua Rofe