2 years ago
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Why Rosie O'Donnell Was "Hurt" by Ellen DeGeneres
Rosie O'Donnell is getting candid about her daughter Dakota's autism diagnosis.
In a idiosyncratic essay, the A League of Their Own actress shared that she archetypal knew thing was incorrect erstwhile her daughter—who she shares with precocious ex-wife Michelle Rounds—would not respond to her sanction being called, prompting her to acquisition tests.
"When she was being tested [for autism], the doc kept calling retired to her 'Dakota, Dakota,'" Rosie wrote in People. "She didn't respond. Somewhere heavy down I knew. Getting the diagnosis felt similar I was punched successful the stomach. I had to springiness myself a infinitesimal to go, ‘Okay, we're going to fig retired however to get done it.'"
The erstwhile speech amusement host, 60, further wrote that portion anyone tin "read arsenic overmuch arsenic possible" about autism, it's a spectrum, truthful it tin beryllium antithetic for each idiosyncratic who has been diagnosed with it.
After Dakota, 9, was diagnosed, Rosie said that she felt "like an angel fell into my life."
"I didn't privation Dakota to consciousness shame astir her diagnosis," she continued. "I person told her from the commencement that autism is her superpower. I perceive her announcing to strangers, ‘My sanction is Dakota. I'm 9 and I person allergies and autism.' It's similar a antithetic operating system."
Rosie—who is also mom to Parker, 27, Chelsea, 25, Blake, 22, and Vivienne, 19, who she shares with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter—wrote that she noticed her youngest kid becoming "endlessly curious," truthful the comedian "focused connected however to alteration her to larn successful the mode that her encephalon was acceptable up to learn."
She wrote that knew it would beryllium important to Dakota's self-esteem to "get her reading" truthful she recovered a large schoolhouse successful Los Angeles that has helped her girl larn however to work astatine her people level.
"They person each kinds of neurodivergent kids and special-needs learners," the American Gigolo actress wrote, referring to the school. "It's a beauteous melting pot."
Rosie concluded the touching effort by explaining to the readers that Dakota is special, and her autism has made her spot the satellite differently.
"Dakota's autism forces maine to spot the satellite from a wholly antithetic place," the former SMILF actress wrote. "She's a acquisition from different dimension. The things she knows—about oversea anemones and tide pools. I got to 60 not knowing astir the Mariana Trench. Now I cognize each astir it!"
She added, "Her quality to sorb accusation is unparalleled. I tin ideate her winning connected Jeopardy! someday. She teaches me. To beryllium capable to spot the satellite arsenic she does—for me, it's been a wonderfully magical experience. I'm truthful gladsome we person each other."
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