Iris Grace is five-years-old and she has autism. Her mother, Arabella Carter-Johnson, has been sharing her daughter’s inspiring story on BBC Breakfast about her unique way of coping.
Iris Grace has a best friend and therapy partner who guides her through life – Thula the two-year-old cat.
Arabella and Iris’ father, Peter-Jon, believe that Thula has helped Iris to unlock a world of creativity and passion. Despite her autism, which is diagnosed as severe, Iris has bonded with Thula and learnt to trust her.
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Image: Arabella Carter-Johnson
Before making friends with Thula the therapy cat two years ago, Iris had a very limited vocabulary, did not like interacting with anyone, resisted sleep and had a fear of water and traveling in a car.
When telling BBC Breakfast about the moment they realised that Iris might have autism, Arabella said, ‘Although all newborns wake during the night Iris would have short daytime naps then be awake all night, looking at things as though she found it difficult to switch off, which I didn’t understand then but I do now.’
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‘She never wanted to look at our faces, even when I was breastfeeding her, and preferred to be held over my shoulder so she could look away,’ Arabella continued. ‘As she got a bit older there were periods of her being a giggly, cheeky toddler but by the time she was two that had drifted away and she became distant.
Image: Arabella Carter-Johnson
‘She would get upset by noises such as the sound of the dishwasher being unloaded or the vacuum cleaner and by interruptions from others, for example if the postman came while we were playing.’
After the official diagnosis, Arabella researched therapy animals and, after Iris had a temporary trial with a labrador which she did not like due to his wagging tail, they found Thula.
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‘Thula was only a few weeks old, had huge ears and was so interactive when I met her, not stand-offish as many cats can be,’ said Arabella. ‘She and Iris immediately struck up a bond, like old friends. They settled on the sofa together snuggling up while PJ and I gazed at them in wonder. Before that Iris hadn’t really had a friend because she didn’t interact with others.’
Image: Arabella Carter-Johnson
Following Thulas entrance into Iris’s life she can now sleep soundly with Thula in her arms and wakes up happy and alert. Iris has also started to expand her vocabulary and feels relaxed during car journeys when Thula sits on her lap.
It is estimated that 700,000 people in the UK suffer from autism – a condition that currently has no cure. Arabella wants to raise awareness about the effectiveness of therapy pets in helping children find their way through the condition. She has published a book about Iris’ story Iris Grace which can be ordered here.
Image: Arabella Carter-Johnson
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