When life bumps Lynn Preacher Yeager, she plants her feet and stands her ground. To say she is determined is an understatement, especially when it comes to her child.

Life lined up for Lynn. She earned both her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1991 and her master’s in education administration in 1995 from CSU. In 2002 she married Tim, the man of her dreams, and in November 2003, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Jacob.

Soon after Jacob was born the family relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., where Tim could be closer to his company’s home base. Lynn began teaching English to middle school children in a small Catholic school, and the family settled into their new home.

Red Flags

Jacob was a happy, loving baby. However, as he grew older, the Yeagers became concerned about his language skills. “It wasn’t so much what Jacob did that set off the red flags; it was what he didn’t do. He didn’t start talking like other children develop language; he babbled but never really got past that,” remembers Lynn. She recalls standing behind Jacob clapping as loudly as she could, screaming his name, but getting no response from him. They sought out an audiologist for hearing testing and found that Jacob’s hearing was normal. It was the audiologist who first suggested his language delay could be a symptom of autism.

Lynn immediately contacted the only developmental pediatrician in Jacksonville and added her name to the six-month waiting list. Prior to the appointment, Lynn researched everywhere she could to disprove that her baby had autism. “I basically spent six months trying to convince myself that is wasn’t autism,” admits Lynn.

However, looking back, there was evidence of the disease. “He would spin objects for hours and make an incredible game out of it and laugh and play,” said Lynn. “He didn’t play with his toys the way other kids did. He would turn a car over and play with the wheels but wouldn’t necessarily play cars.”

Six months later, at Jacob’s first appointment, the physician performed a battery of diagnostic tests. Lynn vividly remembers the return office visit. “We went back fully expecting the pediatrician to say that he had autistic tendencies, but he would grow out of them; but that wasn’t what we got. We got moderate to severe infantile autism.”

An Unfamiliar World

“The diagnosis threw us into an unfamiliar world – therapies we were not familiar with, biomedical issues, allergy issues.” But the Yeagers wasted no time. Within a month, Jacob was enrolled in a preschool for children with disabilities and began speech, occupational and behavioral therapies. Meanwhile, Lynn continued to search out new therapies that might work for him.

Through research, Lynn discovered a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) doctor located in Jacksonville, and Jacob soon began receiving medical care with Dr. Julie Buckley. Testing revealed that Jacob had high levels of metals in his blood and major food allergies.

Lynn gained greater insight into the food allergies and biomedical intervention for children with autism. She started Jacob on a special diet, eliminating gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy) products. According to Yeager, there is a strong correlation between food allergies and autism. “Because of the food allergies everything he eats is organic; it has to be homemade. There is no trip through the drivethrough when I’m squeezed for time,” said Lynn.

Lynn relentlessly pursued every possible avenue available. “It’s really trial and error, and we try to leave no stone unturned. There have been some therapies that have not worked for us, so we stopped them, and then there have been others that have been wonderful,” said Lynn. She pauses. “You look at yourself as a warrior; you just keep going and keep trying and fighting to find the things that are going to work,” she said. “God entrusted this incredible child to me, and I need to be able to fully give back to that gift.”

A Business Born out of Desperation

One morning Lynn voiced her frustration about trying to find reinforcers (motivational things to encourage Jacob during therapy) to fellow teacher Janice Copley. Janice suggested they come up with some of their own gluten-free and casein-free cookie recipes. The two teachers donned their aprons and began experimenting with different recipes. Their more-than-willing students tested 19 chocolate chip cookies rating them on texture, taste and visual appeal. The results were tallied, and the teachers took the best ratings and combined the recipes to create a delicious chocolate chip cookie.

“About this time, we had the idea that we could turn this into a business and help other moms who are struggling with the same thing. There was just nothing on the market that could pass for a real cookie,” said Lynn. In late spring 2008, Lynn contacted a friend at a small organic grocery store about carrying the frozen cookie dough. When the store agreed, the moms went into action, working on recipes, giving out samples, and getting the word out at support meetings. The cookies sold well, and Cookie Momsters, Inc. was in business.

Soon after, the cookies were discovered by Whole Foods Market, that was opening a store in Jacksonville, and the Cookie Momsters seized the opportunity. “This whole business has been divine intervention, because it just landed in our laps,” said Lynn. We interviewed with Whole Foods, took samples, and within 10 days we went through all the paperwork and were in the store for the opening. We were told later that that was really unheard of, that there are vendors who have waited 10 years to get into Whole Foods.”

The two are working to add 15 Whole Food stores in Florida to the list of stores which will carry their cookie dough which comes in three flavors – sugar, chocolate chip, and double chocolate. The three cookie dough recipes are patented as well as any future flavors and varieties. Other flavors are in the works including snickerdoodle and chocolate mint. The partners are also talking with a major grocery chain in Jacksonville about carrying the cookies and have even set their sites on possibly expanding the business “up north” to the Charleston area.

With the business expanding, Lynn and Janice are not returning to teaching next year. They are committed to working the business full time. However, Lynn’s first goal is working with Jacob, helping him overcome obstacles through school, therapy sessions, and doctor appointments. She will have a more scheduled routine which means working cookie demos and support groups while Janice’s more flexible routine will include delivering and traveling.

Lynn believes that it is no accident that these two business partners complement each other in their abilities and flexibility. “This business was born out of desperation. I thank God for giving me the tools to be able to do this and to give me the business partner who is able to pick up where I can’t,” said Lynn. “It’s very interesting that she is the math teacher, and I’m the English teacher because I can’t balance a checkbook and she can’t speak publically. So it’s a partnership made in heaven.”

Support

Lynn comes to the table as a mother of an autistic child and as a teacher. She sees her education evolving as the business expands and finds herself doing interviews, writing magazine articles and speaking to groups.

Her most rewarding experiences have been meeting other mothers in circumstances similar to her own. “It’s amazing the strength and the camaraderie we share,” said Lynn. “You’re able to cut through all the social stuff and develop this true friendship based on the person. You see these parents who are all fighting for the rights of their children, and you feel an automatic connection to them.”

Lynn is quick to name her father as their biggest supporter. He not only supports the family emotionally he also supports Lynn’s decision to go full time in the business. He understands the family’s commitment to do anything they can to ensure Jacob receives any treatment that is beneficial and has helped out financially. According to Lynn, most parents have to “foot” the bill as most insurances will not cover therapies. For the Yeagers, the bill can reach more than $50,000 per year.

Lynn shares that the divorce rate for parents of autistic children is 85 percent. The Yeagers are beating the statistic by offering each other mutual respect and support. Time together is important, and they have found that enjoying time alone makes them better parents. But it is the promise they have made that is paramount. “We have made a vow to each other and to God to do whatever it takes to save our child and to keep our marriage intact,” said Lynn.

So when the day is done and the cookies are made, appointments have been kept, therapies have been performed, there is a moment to reflect: “I would not have chosen this journey. Autism is heartbreaking. But I have learned to celebrate small successes and progress…and I have learned how to truly live an authentic life.”

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According to the Autistic Society of America with 1 in 150 births, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability.

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Photos by Lori L. Kerch, Specially Me Photography