Denita and Dan Atwood wanted to adopt a child, but they were apprehensive when they heard about an autistic boy named Shawn.

        The Atwoods, who live in Mount Healthy, already had five children, including a 9-year-old and 14-year-old living at home. They worried how a preschooler with special needs would fit into their family.

        Then they met Shawn.

        The bespectacled child greeted them at the door, took Mrs. Atwood's hand, and asked her to play with him.

        “He was just a little boy who was crying out for love,” says Mrs. Atwood, who earns money babysitting.

        “I walked in and looked in his eyes and I knew he was coming home with me,” says Mr. Atwood, who installs security systems for a living.

        Shawn, who is 5, became part of the Atwood family six months ago.

        Born prematurely to a mother who had no prenatal care, Shawn has an enlarged heart, a heart murmur, a blood disorder, impaired vision and other problems. He is developmentally delayed, but has made great strides in the past six months.

        Mrs. Atwood, who sings for several churches, discovered Shawn's love for music while she was practicing.

        “I noticed whenever I sang, he could repeat back to me in perfect pitch,” she says. “Any music, he just latches onto it.”

        The Atwoods took Shawn to a pediatrician, who wrote a prescription.

        For a piano.

        It's believed music therapy could help Shawn blossom further, aiding his speech development, social skills and learning ability.

        A piano doesn't fit into the Atwoods' budget. They believe a digital model would be ideal, because it wouldn't need tuning and Shawn could listen to programmed music.

        “We want to explore everything we can to make sure he reaches his potential,” Mrs. Atwood says.

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