Maryann, a Seattle-based spiritual counselor, recently worked with the family of a severely autistic six-year old boy named Joey.
Joey's parents had adopted an attitude of optimism and faith, unshaken by the relentless needs of their son. Through the years, Maryann developed a close friendship with the mother, Laura and her son Joey. Despite Joey’s inability to speak, it was clear to Maryann that the boy was a spiritually evolved soul. The spiritual counselor did important healing work with Joey, and facilitated communications between the boy and his mother.
A week ago, Joey was placed in critical care after an unexplainable heart failure. Desperate, Laura phoned Maryann stating, “We cannot lose him. Our family doesn't work without Joey.”
Maryann immediately sensed the boy was brain-dead, though it was not until the next day that tests verified his grave condition.
The spiritual counselor was able to connect with the comatose boy’s spirit, sensing Joey’s strong desire to leave his physical body. Maryann received the boy's message: “I am done. I want a new life. I am tired of people doing things for me. Please let me make this one decision for myself and tell my mother and father I love them.”
Maryann faced the task of telling an extraordinarily dedicated mother that her son had no intention of returning to his damaged body.
Laura was crushed. Yet days later found the courage and wisdom to accept her son’s wishes.
On January 7, 2010, critical care physicians in a Bermuda hospital announced that Joey was expected to live only a few more days.
Knowing that these were the precious last moments of her son’s life, Laura (with Maryann) spent a great deal of time pondering a persistent new message, “Mommy, you know why I’m doing this” then began reflecting on another message that had begun a year ago. “I’ll be running by the time I’m seven.”
With her son dependent on the help of life-support, Laura confided in Maryann. She explained she was in love with another man and that she wished to have another child with him and start a new family.
Laura's marriage had been arranged around Joey. As love began to fade, Joey’s care seemed to be all that was holding the family together. On a soul-level, Joey knew that his mother had placed his own care above her own needs, and that his own neediness prevented her from being with the love of her life.
Years ago, in Maryann's first communication with Joey, a message was received revealing "the plan.” Maryann believed this referred to a type of deep commitment between Laura and Joey. The other often-repeated message was “I’ll be running by the time I’m seven.”
When Joey passed on, Laura was released from a marriage based solely upon the needs of an autistic child. The mother was now free to create a new life with the man she truly loved. Too, she would be able to live her ultimate dream of having a second child and creating a new family.
Days before Joey’s heart stopped, Laura hoped to connect with her child one last time. Laura asked Maryann to pose the question: “Would you be willing to come back as my next child?”
Maryann was apprehensive, thinking this could be too much, too soon for Joey. Also, the spiritual counselor realized the mother was dealing with an overwhelming personal crisis and may not be able to handle an answer she did not want to hear.
Nevertheless, Maryann asked the question of Joey. His answer was an explosion of warm light. The boy wished to return to Laura in a healthy body.
It seems “the plan” had been to live with Laura as an autistic child, providing his mother with lessons in unconditional love, patience and commitment.
Over time, the messages communicated through Maryann seemed to make more sense. Joey was to enter this world with a crippled mind and body. By leaving his body, Joey would free his mother from the failed marriage and allowing her to create a new life with the man she loved.
On January 9, 2010, six-year old Joey left this world. Though they continue to ponder "the plan" and the messages like "mommy knows why I’m doing this,” Laura and Maryann believe they have participated in a story interwoven with divine symmetry. After all, Joey may be running by the time he is seven.
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Joey's family resides in Bermuda. Maryann contributed a great deal of her time during this time of transition, accepted NO money, and expressed very little interest in a story documenting these events. Because the story involves private information, the spiritual counselor has not posted this article to her own website or in blogs containing her real name.
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