Love Unconditional: A Mother's Bond with Her Autistic Son

A mother's love knows no bounds, and for Judy Sharp, that love was put to the test when her three-year-old son Tim was diagnosed with autism. Despite being told that Tim would be "unfeeling and incapable of love", Judy refused to accept those limitations, and over the years, Tim has used his art to communicate his feelings, sense of humour, and love for his mum.

A difficult beginning

Judy says there were early signs of autism when Tim was just a baby. "It wasn't easy after he was born, the first thing I noticed was he didn't sleep. He was distressed all the time, constant crying and unsettled. As he got older, he had to keep moving, he couldn't stay in the same room as people, and he only ate a few foods. These were unusual things to me that I didn't understand."

The questions and concerns from others were constant, with Judy recalling that "the most common thing that was said to me at the time was, 'What's wrong with your son?'" The doctors kept saying, "wait till he's three, to see a specialist". So, the appointment was made for the day after his third birthday and that was the worst day ever.

A diagnosis that shook her world

The specialist's diagnosis was a crushing blow, with Judy saying, "He told me all the things that Tim would never do, that he would be unfeeling and incapable of love. I had a physical reaction, not only mental and emotional, but it was like someone was sucking the life out of me. The worst thing anyone can do is take away all your hope and that's what he did."

But Judy was not one to give up easily. She recalls that when Tim was five, he started to draw, and it was through these drawings that they began to communicate. "So, by accident, we started to draw to communicate between the two of us. And it turned out that Tim had this natural ability for drawing, we thought, 'he's got talent'."

The birth of Laser Beak Man

As Tim's drawing skills improved, so did his imagination. He created a superhero character called Laser Beak Man, which has taken him and his mum on an incredible journey around the world. "Then he did start speaking. And when he was 11, he started walking around the house saying, 'When I grew up, I'm going to be Laser Beak Man' — a superhero he had created."

Tim's Laser Beak Man character has become a sensation, with Judy saying, "He's not a classic superhero; he's one defined by Tim in a different way and he's got a very unique way of looking at life. And Laser Beak Man has taken us on a journey that no-one ever could have imagined; from New York, London, the Sydney Opera House, TV, theatre, movies, you name it."

A love that knows no bounds

For Tim, drawing is a way to express himself and relax. "[Drawing] makes me happy and I relax doing it. I can have fun with it. I can use my big imagination." He also loves spending time with his mum, saying, "I love that Mum is a good friend and a good mother to me. She takes care of me. She is a kind mum. She sits with me and we don't even talk sometimes, we like being together."

Tim's love for his mum is clear, and Judy is grateful for every moment they spend together. "You don't even get that in a marriage. The best thing you can do in life is just follow Tim's example; be brave, be yourself and show the world who you really are."

As for Tim, he knows that love is what makes life special. "Love is everything. I feel it in everything. You can see it and hear it. It makes life better and happy."