Courtesy David Dennis Jr.(ATLANTA) — An Atlanta father has decided to undergo a vasectomy later this month in an effort to properly care for his son, who is on the autism spectrum.
David Dennis, Jr. said his 3-year-old son Langston was diagnosed in October 2014, following his second birthday. When doctors at Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta told him and his wife, Krystalyn, 34, that the likelihood of having another child on the spectrum was higher, the two decided that instead of having more children, they’d focus on getting Langston the best care they could.
The two are also parents to a 10-year-old daughter, Madalyn.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents of a child with autism have a 2-18 percent chance of having a second child with autism.
“We’re not having another child because my son has autism…that’s not really what it is,” Dennis, 29, clarified to ABC News. “We just need to provide the utmost care and to make sure he gets what he needs. I don’t want to shortchange my son.”
Dennis said he and his wife, who had a difficult pregnancy with Langston, spend “all day” talking to therapists and their insurance company in an effort to provide care for their son, who is currently in 30 hours of Autism Behavior Therapy, which costs $700 per month. The two also spend approximately $700 per month for daycare. “The cost is more than our house (payment),” Dennis added.
Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association, said families who have a child with autism often have to make these considerations.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if people have made that decision in the past thinking this is difficult and this is a financial strain because they’re not sure they could properly plan for a family,” she told ABC News. “It’s hugely difficult. A lot of families are really struggling financially because our kids require a lot of resources depending on how impacted they are by autism.”
Dennis, who initially tweeted his decision to go under the knife, said his vasectomy is scheduled for Jan. 29.
“It’s 45-minutes, it’s covered by insurance and it’s reversible. It just seemed easier,” Dennis explained of his decision. “I’ve always wanted another child. We’re just not in the place where we think that’s the right thing to do.”
“This is another part of our journey as parents,” he added. “I don’t want autism to be seen as a detriment or a disability or something that is bad because it’s not. Langston is a great kid. He’s affectionate, playful, talkative. He is the best kid I can imagine us having.”
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