Life full of miracles: Autistic son inspires Neptune Beach family's journey of faith

His parents considered his birth a miracle. Not the first they had experienced, nor the last.

Every day, Kerry and Robert Bloch live in anticipation of the next miracle in the life they lead as 21-year-old David's parents and caregivers.

Their most recent experience with David may not be a miracle, but it was a surprise and the results have been life-altering.

David Bloch is not a typical 21-year-old. By the time he was four years old, he had stopped talking. He seemed to have withdrawn into a silent world of his own, and he was diagnosed with autism.

"A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder covers a wide range of symptoms, symptom severity and support needs," Dr. Mandi Croft-Petoskey, founder and owner of Neuro Educational Specialists, said. "Every person you meet with autism is unique -- unique in their symptomology, the severity of those symptoms and the level of support they need."

Croft-Petoskey is an Illinois-licensed and nationally certified school psychologist who has studied and provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 10 years.

"For children and adults on the severe end of the spectrum, support may mean help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, brushing teeth, personal care and eating," Croft-Petoskey said.

David is on the severe end of the spectrum and qualifies for assistance through Florida's Medicaid waiver program. Unfortunately, those benefits have been cut back, and the hours for help from caregivers were reduced when David turned 21.

He also has a compromised autoimmune system, which limits his contact with other people.

So, when David, an avid Jaguars fan, uttered his first unprompted sentence in years, the Blochs were stunned.

"I love the Jaguars," said David, after watching a recent game on television.

Kerry was more than stunned a few days later when David asked her a simple question.

"Would people like me?"

She said she had to leave the room so her son would not see her cry. When she regained her composure, she went to her Twitter account and posted David's question.

"What happened next, I can't explain," she said. "When someone said the post had 'gone viral,' I thought it was a bad thing, like a computer virus."

She learned that "viral" meant 4.2 million impressions, 700,000 total engagements, 5,957 re-tweets and 75.7 thousand likes.

She and Robert were overwhelmed with the response, which only increased after BuzzFeed picked up the story. David, too, was deeply engaged as Kerry read every tweet to him. He would comment, "pretty," or "nice." But he wanted to thank each person who had tweeted personally, a task they are still trying to complete.

Kerry and Robert recount miracles in their lives before David was born.

"I was leaving work one day and my head felt wet," Kerry said. "I collapsed and woke up in a hospital. Doctors had called my parents and told them I would not survive. But I did."

Another visit to the hospital when she was 40 was going to require x-rays. When the doctors asked if she was pregnant, Kerry replied she had been told she would be unable to have children. Doctors performed a pregnancy test and Kerry was indeed pregnant. David is the Bloch's miracle child.

Caring for David is the Bloch's primary focus in life, and for them, it is a journey of faith. Finding appropriate services, meeting financial needs and Robert's own health issues have been and continue to be challenges for the family.

The rewards are David's love and what he has taught them about living their faith.

"As great as it was to hear David say he loved the Jaguars, it was even more touching when he said, 'God is perfect'," Robert said. "It means everything to me to know that David has that knowledge and a relationship with God."

The Blochs look to the future with the assurance that the faith that has sustained them and provided for their needs will continue to do so.

"Whether it's money to pay the car insurance, a new air-conditioner or loving caregiver support staff, God has met our needs," Kerry said. "Strangers, friends, even local businesses have reached out to make David's life more comfortable. We are grateful, and we know whatever the future holds, God is taking care of us."

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