246: Sarah's son can't talk about his pain

246: Sarah's son can't talk about his pain

Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media. February 20, 2026 Duration: 1:13:23
As parents, you want your child to be healthy and happy. And you’ll do anything to make that happen. But that’s not always easy when your child is autistic. Science and medicine has learned a lot about autism, but there’s still a lot of mystery around it as well. What causes it (if anything), how to treat it… there are lots of questions that are still unanswered. And a successful treatment protocol for one person might not work as well for another one. My guest today is Sarah. She and her husband, Brian, have a son named Devon, who has severe autism. Devon would have sudden behavior incidents that often turned violent, and he could hurt himself, or his parents, or his siblings. Of course, as his mother, Sarah wanted desperately to help him. But it got to the point where she didn’t know what to do. Then she found out about a hospital that could possibly help Devon. After years of frustration and exhaustion, there was maybe some hope. And with an adjustment in medication, she saw some progress with Devon. What horrified her was finding out what was actually happening at that hospital. This is the organization that Sarah mentioned as a resource: https://collaborateaba.com The Little Soul and the Sun: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Soul-Neale-Donald-Walsch/dp/1571740872/ref=sr_1_1 If you’d like to contact Sarah, she’s in the Facebook group: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/246 Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai. Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That Like PLUS. Try What Was That Like PLUS free: iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast feed, click on “Try free” Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it free on any app Sponsor deals: Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off. If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up. Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a moment in many lives when everything changes in an instant-a sudden encounter, a split-second decision, a catastrophic event. What Was That Like-True Stories. Real People. is built entirely around those moments. Host Scott Johnson, alongside Meredith Hackwith Edwards, steps back to let people narrate their own extraordinary experiences in their own words. This isn’t a narrated documentary or a dramatized re-enactment; it’s raw, first-person testimony. You’ll hear the intricate details of surviving a grizzly bear attack, the chilling silence after an engine fails mid-flight, or the profound disorientation of being caught in a public tragedy. Each conversation delves deep, not just into the event itself, but into the emotional and psychological journey that followed. The focus is on the human spirit’s resilience, exploring how individuals process trauma, find courage they never knew they had, and ultimately rebuild. This podcast sits at a compelling intersection of personal journal, societal study, and true human drama, offering an intimate window into realities most of us can scarcely imagine. By listening, you’re granted a privileged seat at a kitchen table conversation where someone is finally ready to share the full, unvarnished truth of what they endured and how it shaped them.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
Podcast Episodes
268: Felicia was at the Pentagon on 9/11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:08
Today marks the 25th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked some airplanes and crashed them in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 i…
267: Kevin was crushed by a boulder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:44
A lot of people have a serious fear – they can’t stand the feeling of being trapped in some way. And really, there are a variety of ways this can present itself. It could be a really crowded, small room where the exits a…
TQ71: What group or singer did you see at your first concert? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
Every other Tuesday, we grab a past question from the Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers given by other listeners. The question for this episode: What group or singer did you s…
STAS 18: September 11 escapes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:30
Scott tells a story: September 11 escapes Sponsor deals: Quince - Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Find the best deals on what you need at Dupe.com Boll & Branch - get 15% off…
266: Tracie's mother was Judy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:14
Please note that this episode of What Was That Like has a content warning, for discussion of suicide. Do you remember when you were seven years old? At that age, your biggest concerns are playing with your friends, learn…
TQ70: What was the best surprise you've ever received? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:28
Every other Tuesday, we grab a past question from the Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers given by other listeners. The question for this episode: What was the best surprise you…
265: Ryan prepped a child for court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:54
I’ve never had to testify in court. If I’m ever in a courtroom, I hope it will be as a juror. That hasn’t happened yet, but I’m still hopeful. For many people, having to appear in court, in front of a judge, and a jury,…
264: Marina's friend became her stalker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:52
Some people are just not able to handle being put in the Friend Zone. It’s a pretty common thing. Two people meet by circumstance. Maybe they’re college students who have a class together, or they could be co-workers in…
TQ69: What was your most memorable vacation? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:01
Every other Tuesday, we grab a past question from the Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers given by other listeners. The question for this episode: What was your most memorable v…
Scott's new show - Did I Hear That Right? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:12
I have something brand new for you today. I have started a new storytelling podcast! The new show is called Did I Hear That Right? And I’m co-hosting it with my friend Glenn. For this new podcast, each episode we’re gonn…