The Autism CARES Act

Last Monday, on September 30, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the Autism CARES Act into law. As Natasha Anderson from Cleveland’s Fox 8 News reports in an online article titled, “President Trump signs ‘Autism CARES Act’ providing $1.8B in funding for programs,” this law offers 1.8 billion dollars over five years for autism programs. [To read this article, please click here.] Specifically, three government agencies––the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Health Resources and Services Administration––will use these funds toward autism research, education, early detection, and treatment.

According to an online article written by Michelle Diament titled, “Congress Considers Renewal of Autism Act,” and published online February 11, 2019, on Disability Scoop, the Autism CARES Act enables continued federal funding for autism. [To read this article, please click here.] Autism CARES is the acronym for Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support.

However, this is not the first federal government act passed to help people with autism and their families. According to the “Autism CARES Act Issue Brief” published on the Autism Society website, President George W. Bush signed the Combating Autism Act into law in 2006.  [To read this summary, please click here.] This law was designed to coordinate federal agencies in response to significant increases in the numbers of children diagnosed with autism. Since that law was signed in 2006, the rate of autism has substantially increased even more––approximately six hundred percent.

The recently signed Autism CARES Act replaces the original Autism CARES Act that was due to expire on September 30, 2019. The 2014 Autism CARES Act was a bipartisan bill both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed unanimously. Under the previous ACA, $260 million of government funds were allocated annually for autism research and services. Not only does the new version of the ACA provide significantly more funding, but the current law also addresses the needs of adults with autism, using the phrase, “across the lifespan.”

Another bipartisan effort, the Autism CARES Bill of 2019 was sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, and Mike Doyle, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. Similarly, in the Senate, the bill was introduced by Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Senator Mike Enzi, a Republican from Wyoming.

In a statement, Representative Smith noted, “The problem of ‘aging out’ of services is a real hurdle every parent or caretaker of a child with autism inevitably faces. But autism is a lifetime neurological disorder, and adults with autism continue to need their services.” Additionally, he stated that the Autism CARES Act will help provide support to “an estimated 50,000 persons with autism each year who ‘age out’ of critical assistance programs,” a crucial need since, “many individuals and communities are unprepared for this transition.”

The Autism CARES Act addresses three primary areas: research, data, and training. Federal funds support research into biological, genetic, and environmental aspects of autism as well as seeking potential biomarkers for autism. In addition, researchers seek the best methods for treatment and intervention in autism. Under the direction of federal agencies supported by the Autism CARES Act, data is collected to estimate the number of children with autism in various regions of the United States and to help identify risk factors for autism. Along with research and data collection, the Autism CARES Act supports training professionals to screen, diagnose, and treat people with autism, including addressing physical and behavioral issues. Moreover, the Autism CARES Act funds agencies that provide parents with support and information regarding access to services for their children with autism.

President Trump demonstrated his heartfelt concern for autism families as well as his enthusiastic support for the Autism CARES Bill, posting the following comments on Twitter: “Today I was proud to sign the Autism CARES Bill! We support research for Americans with Autism and their families. You are not forgotten, we are fighting for you!”

Certainly, the Autism CARES Act serves as an impressive example of how politicians can work together amicably for a noble cause. Hopefully, greater emphasis upon the needs of adults with autism as well as the increased funding will reap great rewards for the autism community. Perhaps valuable research can find a cause and a cure for autism, thereby eliminating a need for future Autism CARES Acts and answering the prayers of many families whose lives have been touched by autism.

“Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.” Proverbs 8:16

National Family Caregivers Month

 

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and for many parents of children with autism, round-the-clock caregiving continues day after day, month after month, and year after year––long after those children become adults. Because society is not prepared to deal with the thousands of adults with autism who require special care, the vast majority of these adults with autism depend upon family members to take care of them. Those adults with autism unable to perform daily living tasks independently, such as grooming and preparing meals, rely upon family caregivers to meet those critical basic needs. Although support personnel, including therapists and respite care providers, offer assistance, the bulk of care falls upon family to assure that the adult with autism is kept safe, happy, and content.

The Caregiver Action Network provides a helpful guide online, “10 Tips for Family Caregivers,” that may assist parents caring for their children with autism. [To read this article, please click here.] These excellent suggestions are summarized as follows:

1.  Seek support from other caregivers.

2.  Take care of your own health

3.  Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.

4.  Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.

5.  Take respite breaks.

6.  Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay getting professional help.

7.  Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.

8.  Organize medical information so that it’s up-to-date and easy to find.

9.  Make sure legal documents are in order.

10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

Two of these tips deal with organization, specifically organizing medical information and legal documents, and I have found this to be very important. I have a portable file box organized with important documents dealing with insurance, medical information, Social Security, and other paperwork for Alex we may need. When we were recently successfully pleading our case to keep him on our family health insurance policy, finding necessary documentation was simple because I had all of this information easily accessible in the file box.

In addition, I have organized two portfolio folders of information: one for his services, such as behavioral and music therapy and respite care, and one for medical information. These folders are very helpful during quarterly meetings with his support staff and whenever we take him for medical tests or doctor appointments. In the medical folder, I keep updated lists of his medications and supplements, as well as a list of all of his health care providers and their addresses and phone and fax numbers, which comes in quite handy. Also, I keep a copy of his legal paperwork naming us as Alex’s legal health care representatives, which has proven extremely valuable over the past few years so that we have legal power to make decisions regarding Alex’s health care and to discuss medical issues with his doctors now that Alex is an adult. Of course, the tip about communicating effectively with doctors is also critical because we must advocate for our children so that they get the best health care possible. Often, this requires medical research ahead of time so that we know as much as possible about our children’s condition. Furthermore, many doctors do not know much about autism, and as parents, we may need to teach them things they never learned in medical school to ensure our children receive proper medical care.

Along with organization, seeking help is another common theme in this list of useful suggestions. Finding others who are in similar situations is valuable, not only because they can provide empathy, but also because they often can offer excellent suggestions and recommendations. When Alex was younger, I belonged to two online parent support groups where I learned a great deal about autism and developed friendships with autism moms that have lasted through the years. Currently, I belong to three Facebook groups for parents of special needs children who live near me, and we often share ideas, recommendations of professionals, and tips to help each other care for our kids.

While accepting offers of help is a great idea, it’s one that I am personally not good at doing. Never wanting to bother other people and being too proud to ask for help, I try to be as independent as I can. However, I am thankful that my husband and mother are incredibly supportive and willing to step in if needed. Recommending that caregivers suggest specific things others can do to help is a terrific tip because people often want to help but don’t know what to do. While parents may not feel comfortable having others watch their children with autism, friends and family could help by running errands, picking up groceries, or even simply praying for them. If good respite care is available, parents can use this resource to give themselves a break from caregiving and to allow their children to engage with a caregiver other than their parents.

Another aspect of help is new technology. One of the most valuable newer devices is the iPad, which offers many apps useful to people with autism. Some of these allow nonverbal children and adults with autism to communicate easily for the first time, which is valuable for them and their caregivers. Getting Alex an iPad Mini for Christmas a few years ago was one of the best gifts we ever gave him. He frequently listens to music on it, which relaxes him, and he satisfies his curiosity by looking up dozens of questions every day. Moreover, he can entertain himself by watching videos he enjoys and by playing games.

Finally, another theme found in these tips is caregiver self-care. We need to take care of our children’s parents so that we can be physically, mentally, and emotionally at our best to take care of them. Knowing that I may need to care for Alex for a long time, I have been making changes to ensure I’m as healthy as I can be. Certainly, caregiving is quite stressful, and at times, I have needed to deal with my own anxiety so that I don’t increase Alex’s anxiety. By eating healthier, taking vitamins, getting as much sleep as possible, making time to do things I enjoy, and finding emotional strength through my faith in God, I am better equipped to take care of Alex. Although I admit that I have trouble following the last tip about giving myself proper credit because I am my own worst critic, I am blessed that Ed and my mom constantly encourage me with praise for my efforts. When I doubt how I’m handling a situation regarding Alex’s care, they reassure me that I’m doing the right thing. Perhaps one day I will see myself as competent as they assure me I am.

Caregiving for a family member requires energy, devotion, and unconditional love; however, organization, help from others, and self-care can make this crucial task easier. While other people may not realize how much we do in caring for our loved ones on a daily basis, we know that we are serving God as we love and care for those He has entrusted to us.

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly––not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” 1 Peter 5:2

More Than a Mom

After thirty-three years of teaching middle school English, I officially retired last Tuesday. One of the perks of being retired is being able to have breakfast every week with a wonderful group of other retired teachers from my school. As one of the group arrived late, he explained that he had to drive his grandkids to school because his daughter and son-in-law had to be at work early, and he offered to chauffeur their children. He remarked that no one prepares us for how parenthood really is. Noting that television portrays retired people as being in their golden years and enjoying freedom, he commented that in real life children continue to need their parents’ help, and our responsibilities as parents never really end.

Sitting next to one of my closest friends who like me has an adult child with disabilities, we shared a knowing smile. While all parents have ongoing concerns about their children, even when they are adults, our children require our care in ways most people never consider. Since our sons cannot drive, we must take them anyplace they need to go. Moreover, we manage their finances, appointment schedules, medications, and nutritional needs––to name but a few of our responsibilities––and we are their primary advocates who speak up for them. Despite all the tasks we still must do for our sons and our concerns for their futures, she and I agree that our sons bless our lives immeasurably.

As Alex’s mom, I have taken on roles I never imagined I would need to do before we realized he had autism. In addition to the typical mom roles of teacher, nurse, cook, chauffeur, housekeeper, and assorted others, I have also become an amateur pharmacist, psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, barber, and most importantly, his advocate. My job is to make him the best person he can be, and I take my responsibilities quite seriously.  Because I know him so well and love him so much, I know how important communicating clearly with the professionals who work with him is so that they, too, can help him reach his potential. Furthermore, I am grateful to have the support of others working with Alex, bringing out the best in him, and I want to do anything to make their jobs easier.

Because of my belief in the need for parents to assist those who work with their children, I found a blog article I read the other day rather surprising. Entitled “I Just Want to Be My Son’s Mom, Not His Private IEP Case Manager,” the anonymous author describes herself as the mother of a teenage son who has “significant issues with social skills.” [To read this article, please click here.] In the article she describes an incident in which her son’s teacher emailed her regarding an outburst her son had in class. She quotes a statement from the email that frustrated her terribly: “We’d like you to come in to discuss your son’s behaviors and hear your ideas for how we might best help him.” Apparently, after years of advocating for her son, this was the last straw, as far as she was concerned.

In response to the school’s request for a meeting, she describes her reaction: “I felt like I was being asked to be his case manager, teacher, social skills coach, and professional consultant.” Further, she states, “This wasn’t a job I asked for…But I didn’t want it any more.” She complains that she doesn’t “get to have fun” with her son or “spend quality time watching dumb TV shows when I’m busy troubleshooting problems that come up.” Therefore, she makes a decision: “So when I went to meet with them about the latest incident, I quit.” Consequently, she tells the staff at her son’s school that they would have to solve the problems without her help because she’s just going to be his mother.

Perhaps her son’s school has been less than helpful over the years, leading to her decision to turn things over to them instead of being a more active participant in her son’s education. Nonetheless, the email the school sent seems to be reaching out in an effort to collaborate in helping her son, recognizing that she knows him best. She may not have wanted the job of teaching her son’s teachers how to help him, but it’s in his best interest (and, therefore, hers) to educate them how to educate him. She states that she would continue to be his advocate, but part of being an advocate is providing strategies to others to bring out the best in a child.

Maybe she will reconsider the consequences of her decision. Certainly, all parents feel overwhelmed occasionally, and being the parent of a special needs child brings caregiver fatigue that can make one want to quit at times. However, our kids, even our adult kids, need us to be resilient and tenacious. During those moments when we wonder how we can accomplish all we’re expected to do, we need to pray for strength and patience and peace. With God’s grace, we can find the resources and energy needed to continue our most important task in life: helping our children live their best lives.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9

Talking About Autism

Yesterday I read an interesting article on the Woman’s Day magazine’s website entitled “9 Things Never to Say to a Parent of a Special Needs Child.” [To read this article, please click here.] Citing comments that mothers of special needs children have had people actually say to them, the article suggests why these remarks might be offensive and offers alternatives that may be more acceptable. While I can understand why some of these comments might seem rude or hurtful or just nosy, I really think that most people who ask questions or make comments like these genuinely don’t intend them in a negative way. In fact, I believe that many people honestly want to help, but they may not know how. Having been an autism mom through toddler, teen, and now twenties phases, I have a little different perspective that has come over time, and I offer my thoughts on some of the comments the article deems taboo.

“Wow, you must be so busy.” The article describes this remark as having a condescending tone, which I personally don’t see. All parents are busy, and special needs parents often have additional responsibilities, such as coordinating various therapies for their children. Yes, I’m busy dealing with Alex, and I’m thankful for organizational skills that help me keep things rolling and make me a queen of multitasking.

“You should take care of yourself so that you can take care of him.” The article suggests that this comment is unrealistic because special needs parents are too busy and/or have too many responsibilities to take time for themselves. However, the analogy of the oxygen masks on airplane flights seems to apply well: parents must place the masks on themselves before putting them on their children. In order to help their children, parents must address their own needs, too. In fact, I have told other autism moms that they need to take care of their child’s mother; too often, we think we must always put our own needs last. Being a parent requires sacrifice, and being a special needs parent requires additional sacrifices. Yet, we cannot take care of our kids if we are not at our best.

“We’re only given what we can handle.” This comment, which is often enhanced with religious significance by attributing the giver as the Lord, is described in the article as being a “meaningless platitude.” I suspect that parents who find this comment offensive either feel uncomfortable that they are perceived as stronger than other people, or they don’t appreciate viewing their child’s disability as a test from God. On the other hand, this statement is likely intended as a compliment and a reassurance that they can cope with the obstacles that come with raising a special needs child. I’ve always liked Mother Teresa’s quote about dealing with difficulties: “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”

“Have you tried…?” According to the article, this comment annoyed parents who didn’t appreciate advice from others who were not special needs parents. One mother remarked, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Although other people may not have first-hand experience, I appreciate when others show interest and care enough to share research or information they have found on autism. Because I have spent so much time researching autism, I usually have already heard about the information, but I’m happy to discuss it and look for new insights. Over the years, we have tried a variety of approaches hoping to help Alex, and I’m always on the lookout for something that we may not have tried yet. Instead of viewing that question as intrusive, I see it as helpful.

“What’s wrong with him?” While I tend to agree with the article that this comment is probably rude and nosy and certainly could be phrased better, I think that the motive behind it may be concern. Maybe I’m not as offended because I’ve asked the question about Alex myself in frustration, fear, and/or bewilderment. In fact, in moments of impatience, I admit that I have asked Alex, “What is your problem?!”  And then I remember he can’t help what autism has taken away, which motivates me even more to attempt to regain what has been lost and to appreciate the progress he has made in spite of the obstacles. That keeps me busy as I try to take care of Alex and myself, remembering that I can handle all things through Christ who strengthens me, and as I try different ways to eliminate what’s wrong to make him the best he can be.

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit that lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Autism Awareness Month in Review

As Autism Awareness Month comes to a close this week, let’s review what we already know about autism.

1. A lot of kids have autism. Whether the statistics are the accepted 1 in 88 or the more recent 1 in 50 or the suspected even more prevalent numbers of children who have autism, the numbers are increasing rapidly from previous figures of one in hundreds or one in thousands. Moreover, the arguments as to whether the reasons for this startling increase may be better diagnosis or broader definitions of autism or more children actually affected by autism matter less than the reality that many families are dealing with autism.

2.  Despite the large numbers of children diagnosed with autism, research seems to bring us no closer to finding ways to prevent or treat autism. This week, the media reported three research report findings that have questionable usefulness in dealing with autism. One study looked at placentas and suggested that children with autism are born with placentas that have more folds in them than those of typical children, which could be an early marker for autism. However, the study is rather limited, looking only at a fairly small sample of placentas. Also, as Dr. Jonathan L. Hecht, associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, noted, these folds could be the placenta’s way of responding to many kinds of stress, so they may not be specific enough to predict autism. Two other research reports in the news this week discussed developing drugs and vaccines for autism, both of which may be helpful to those currently dealing with autism. However, if drug companies can profit from autism drugs and vaccines, will there be incentive to find ways to prevent autism in the first place?

3. Early intervention is important. Obviously, addressing any issues as soon as they are discovered makes good sense. However, many parents have difficulty getting their children diagnosed early. We suspected that Alex had developmental delays at least a year before he was diagnosed with autism, and we shared our concerns with his pediatrician, who simply reassured us that boys develop more slowly. Would another year of intervention have made a difference? We will never know. Moreover, finding services for children with autism is a difficult task for parents. School districts, overwhelmed with the number of children with disabilities, tend to provide bare minimums when it comes to valuable services, such as speech therapy and occupational therapy. Private therapy is expensive, may not be covered by some insurance, and may not be readily available. Many private providers in our area have long waiting lists because so many children need services. Even if parents know their children have autism and actively seek help for them, they may not be able to get the critical early intervention.

4. Autism awareness is shifting to autism acceptance. Since many people know someone with autism, more people are aware of autism. In an earlier blog entry [March 17, 2013] “Should Autism Be Neither Seen Nor Heard?” I discussed incidents reported in the media where children with autism and their parents were treated badly in public situations. Certainly, people need to be understanding of children who cannot control their behavior at times and sympathetic to parents trying to help their children. This tolerance, however, is not the focus of autism acceptance. Rather, some parents of children with autism and adults with autism want not just understanding but celebrating of autism. This movement known as neurodiversity criticizes parents like us who want to make our children better through biomedical and therapeutic interventions. They claim that autism is part of the personality, and trying to eliminate behaviors is rejecting that child for who he/she is. Indeed, some parents write in their blogs that they don’t want to change a thing about their children with autism. Not surprisingly, I have noticed that these parents typically have very young children, and I wonder if they will feel the same when their children’s behaviors potentially escalate from “unique” to aggressive in adolescence. Nonetheless, those of us who have not accepted autism as a way of life for our children have dug deeper with testing that proves our children have medical issues, such as yeast overgrowth, food allergies, and heavy metal toxicity, that are making them physically ill. Because we love Alex unconditionally, we do not accept that illness is a natural state for him, and we suspect that his behavior is often influenced by how he physically feels. To ignore what the evidence shows would be negligent on our part; therefore, we continue to strive to make him as healthy as he can be. We accept Alex for who he is, but like all parents, we want him to have the best life possible, which is free of the obstacles autism has imposed upon him. Until we are content that he is healthy and happy, we will accept no less for him.

“And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!” Psalm 90:17

Fighting for Our Children

This week, the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held meetings in which members of Congress questioned representatives from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control as well as autism advocates regarding the recent significant increase in autism. Fifty years ago, the U.S. autism rate was 1 in 10, 000 children; under the current epidemic, 1 in 88 children in the U.S. has autism. A controversial topic discussed was the potential role of vaccines, which the NIH and CDC insist has no link to the increase in autism rates. However, their research studies that often focus upon genetics have not proven helpful in dealing with the rise in autism or in helping those already diagnosed with autism.

                                                                                                                               

By contrast, autism advocates emphasized the need for environmental research, treatment, and services, especially for adults with autism, who have limited resources currently available to them. During the hearings, the need for parental input, which is often ignored by scientists, was emphasized since parents have direct experience with autism. Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona commented on the valuable knowledge parents of children with autism have, stating, “We should be focusing on the family. They’re telling you what’s going on.”

In watching video clips from the hearings on C-SPAN’s website, I was impressed with many of the members of Congress who showed great compassion for the families touched by autism and frustration with the government agencies who are failing to serve these children. Despite the millions of dollars spent on research, a definitive cause for autism appears to be nowhere in sight, and they appear to be no closer to discovering a cure. Furthermore, services for children and adults with autism cannot keep pace with the rapid rise of newly diagnosed cases. I watched as parents and autism advocates in the audience nodded their heads in agreement as to what needs to be done to help and shake their heads or roll their eyes in frustration as representatives from the NIH and CDC failed to give any useful information. These government agencies need to know that parents of children are not going away quietly, and with dramatically increasing autism rates, there are going to be even more parents demanding answers and help for children and adults with autism.

One of these autism parent-advocates, Lorri Shealy Unumb, appeared on the stage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards on Friday evening with her son Ryan, who has autism. After her son was diagnosed, she discovered that insurance companies would often not pay for services for children with autism. Using her legal expertise as an attorney, she drafted a bill for the South Carolina legislature regarding insurance reform so that children with autism would be covered. Known as “Ryan’s Law,” this bill has been enacted in 31 states to help families with autism get insurance coverage for their children’s treatment. In addition, seeing the need for appropriate education for children with autism, she established the Autism Academy of South Carolina. As a fellow autism mom, I was delighted that NASCAR recognized Lorri Shealy Unumb’s outstanding efforts to help families dealing with autism by honoring her with the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. 

If there is any doubt about parents’ commitment to their children with autism, one only need to observe the efforts they expend to help their children get better. This week I had the opportunity to meet three autism parents whose devotion to their children was apparent in our conversations via e-mail, phone, or Facebook. The first, Julie Tracy, had left a comment on my blog telling me about her son, who is about Alex’s age, and the nonprofit organization her family has established to help adults with autism, the Julie and Michael Tracy Family Foundation. According to their mission statement from their website, “The JULIE + MICHAEL TRACY FAMILY FOUNDATION is dedicated to improving the quality of life and independent outcomes for adults with autism, advancing psychiatric research and expanding public awareness and understanding of this rapidly expanding demographic.” In addition, they are planning a residential setting for adults with autism that will allow them to develop independence and skills needed to be successful. Through our e-mails, I learned that Julie’s son, like Alex, had to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, and their experience made them realize the need for appropriate services for adults with autism, leading them to develop the foundation to provide necessary supports not currently available. Her devotion not only to her son but also to others like him motivates her to accomplish a noble goal to help adults with autism who cannot help themselves.

Besides my e-mail conversations with Julie, I had a phone call from an autism dad this week who told me about his two adult sons with autism; he and his wife have dedicated themselves to making life better for these two young men. Despite all our efforts and interventions, both of our families have struggled with our sons’ aggression. He and I discussed the various medications our sons have been prescribed to help them function better. Although neither of us works in the medical field, we discussed the medications, their classifications, generic names, and side effects as though we were pharmacists.  As autism parents, we have learned to navigate the medical field, learning the lingo along the way. During our phone conversation I was impressed with his fierce devotion to his sons and his optimistic attitude about making their lives better. Also, by connecting with him and Julie Tracy, I felt comforted that other parents had been through experiences similar to those Ed and I have had with Alex.

Another autism parent connection I made this week was with an autism mom through one of my Facebook groups. After finding out that her child has sensitivities to glutens, she decided to implement the gluten-free diet and wanted suggestions as to what her child could eat on this very restrictive diet. Since Alex has been on the gluten-free diet for many years, I was able to make some suggestions about gluten-free foods and substitutions. As she and I e-mailed back and forth several times, her strong motivation to help her child was evident, and I was pleased to be able to help get her started on the gluten-free diet. Throughout this week, I have been reminded that the only way the autism tide is going to turn is through the tireless efforts of parents who will not give up until their children get the help they so desperately need. Moreover, by working together, parents can share information, insights, and support so that we can accomplish our ultimate goal: helping our children to reach their full potential.

"I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matthew 17:20