Jacqueline Laurita: I Don't 'Feel Sorry' For Myself

Since 3-year-old Nicholas was diagnosed with autism, The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Jacqueline Laurita hasn’t stopped searching for ways to help her son.
 
“We don't have the time to be in shock or feel sorry for ourselves," Jacqueline explains to Parents' Celebrity Correspondent Nancy O’Dell. "Early intervention is key, and that is what we are focused on: making sure that Nicholas gets all the help he needs. He is too little to make his own choices, so we, as his parents, have to advocate for him."
 
Part of that includes feeding picky eater Nicholas a strict gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free, chick-pea-flour/garbanzo-bean-free, dairy-free, wheat-free diet. “Our goal is to help Nicholas be the healthiest he can be, from the inside out, so that he can feel his best and be more responsive totherapy," says Chris' other half.
 
For other mothers in similar situations, Jacqueline suggests participating in support groups and autism websites. “It helps to open up and talk about it with others who can relate. Even though what works for one child might not necessarily work for another, it still might be worth a try, and if you share and exchange your knowledge with others, you may not only be able to help your own child, but you may be able to help someone else."
 
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