Patty Porch www.pancakesgoneawry.blogspot.com Last night, as I lay awake staring at the ceiling, I realized that it has been exactly a year since Danny was diagnosed with high functioning autism. I am surprised at how quickly the time has passed, since hearing the diagnosis made me feel like the world was ending. I remember how it felt like being punched in the stomach when the doctor said that no, Danny did not have PDD-NOS, but rather autism. Autism. The word I had been dreading. My sister came with me for that diagnosis and she held my hand and vainly tried to hold back her tears. She wasn’t surprised by the verdict — I don’t think anyone really was — but that didn’t make it any easier for either of us to swallow. I felt strangely defensive and protective of Danny. All I wanted to do was put my arms around…