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Kerry Bloch and her husband, Robert, proved many doctors wrong when she had a child at the age of 40.
But then, as their son David turned 4, things began to change. Kerry described it to Buzzfeed.
"He was fine and then he just kind of lost it all."
Showing signs of severe autism, David stopped speaking in anything but single words when prompted.
Before long, David would go days without saying anything at all.
"My husband and I, we don't really know what happened. And honestly we don't care what happened. It's water under the bridge and we're just moving forward and trying to give him the best life possible. That's all that matters."
After 21 years, however, David finally asked his first spontaneous question, which Kerry shared with her followers on Twitter.
@dsmom58/Twitter
David suffers from an immunodeficiency disorder that often keeps him isolated from his peers in Neptune Beach, Florida.
Kerry knows David wishes things could be different.
"He wants friends badly. He's home-schooled, and it's just the three of us. I know he's lonely and he wants friends."
Fortunately, after reading David's question, people from all around the world responded letting David know they liked him very much.
@dsmom58 Tell David, he has a friend from London... and my family. Much love https://t.co/OMgwL8xIqr— Dan Ferdinand (@Dan Ferdinand) 1572555835.0
@dsmom58 @JonahDispatch David, I live very far away, in Jordan. It is almost midnight here now, and I've had a n… https://t.co/vWzcrCq2cj— Patricia Bakir (@Patricia Bakir) 1572645253.0
@dsmom58 I am sure my 19yo autistic son would like him. He has yet to ask me a question like that, but he longs for… https://t.co/1qtvOzS3TV— Hugh O'Donovan (@Hugh O'Donovan) 1572631366.0
After hearing her son's first question, a proud but also devastating moment, Kerry says she had to find a moment alone to cry.
"I had to go off and cry when he didn't see me because it's just kind of bittersweet that he's trapped in there. He does want to be liked, and he does want friends, and he doesn't know how to make them."
@dsmom58 David, My name is Ross. This is my Son, Lincoln. He’s 7-years-old, and, also, Autistic. We would both li… https://t.co/yqa9RBtwHU— Ross Hayes (@Ross Hayes) 1572626874.0
@dsmom58 My 16 year old Nick (with autism) and I sure do like him!! Aren’t they the best? ❤️ 🧩 🥰 https://t.co/iL6bYrqCJP— Patti Lynn (Jamaal Williams’ BFF) (@Patti Lynn (Jamaal Williams’ BFF)) 1572570258.0
Kerry did her best to explain to David that his family liked him, and that everyone who got the chance to would like him as well.
"And I said, 'I'm sure anybody that met you would like you.'"
At the time, she didn't know just how right she was!
@dsmom58 Yes! You are loved. And the more we know each other, the more we love....— Bradley Whitford (@Bradley Whitford) 1572631517.0
@dsmom58 I like him. https://t.co/UkplKUvIHd— Beard and Circus (@Beard and Circus) 1572560474.0
Kerry's post quickly went viral, with thousands of people responding to let David know they liked him.
@dsmom58 @arieljones411 Wow so awesome. Tell him everyone will like him!! 🤗— Tish (@Tish) 1572484482.0
Many people who responded also identified as being on the autistic spectrum and offered their own words of wisdom from years of experience.
@dsmom58 🙌🏻 to your David, my sweet boy is 28 and his name is David too! I can’t imagine my life without him. He te… https://t.co/Cwjuc1LR9L— Michelle Carlson (@Michelle Carlson) 1572567222.0
@dsmom58 Hi David, I like you! You seem like a kind hearted young man. Roxy and Finn would like you too. They love… https://t.co/yffWOohdpe— NingaGinga (@NingaGinga) 1572627518.0
@dsmom58 Awww!! Of course, buddy! But I understand the trepidation... I have Aspergers and I always wonder if ppl… https://t.co/3BPyNX86Mj— AshTags’ BrainGoesBRRRR 🏴☠️ (@AshTags’ BrainGoesBRRRR 🏴☠️) 1572545318.0
Kerry later returned to thank everyone for the goodness in their hearts.
I want to thank everyone who has responded to this tweet. I’ve read every reply to David. The outpouring of love… https://t.co/lmoSfvHjUu— kerry bloch (@kerry bloch) 1572530381.0
To say that David and I are overwhelmed by the response to this simple tweet is putting it mildly. Our hearts have… https://t.co/oJhpVkimjo— kerry bloch (@kerry bloch) 1572618777.0
David himself even wrote a letter to his new friends, glad to know he was liked.
https://t.co/O6HBDzlnXg— kerry bloch (@kerry bloch) 1572558030.0
Don't worry, David, many people who like you are out in the world, ready to meet you whenever the time is right.
The film Autism is a World by CNN documentary is available here.