Leland Vittert Discusses Childhood Autism Diagnosis and 'Born Lucky' Book with Bill O'Reilly

Early Life and Nickname

• 👶 Leland Vittert's life began with a dramatic twist: the umbilical cord was tied in a knot and around his neck, leading the doctor to nickname him "Lucky".
• 💡 This nickname stuck until he was 18, reflecting the precariousness of his birth and his survival against the odds.

Social Challenges and Autism Diagnosis

• 🧩 As a child, Vittert struggled with social interactions, often running into or getting angry with other children, finding social skills completely foreign.
• 🎯 He describes repelling friends like magnets, with report cards consistently noting that his social skills needed improvement.
• 💔 Vittert experienced significant loneliness and bullying, recounting an incident where he was placed with the girls in PE for his own protection.

Psychological Assessment and Parental Response

• 🔬 A psychological assessment revealed a significant spread between the two halves of his IQ test, indicating a learning disability or other issue.
• 🧠 The assessment showed him to be mentally gifted in some areas and in others, leaving doctors uncertain about the cause.
• 🗣️ When asked if there was anything that could be done, the doctor responded generally negatively, but his father's defiant reply was, "We'll see about that."

'Born Lucky' and Bill O'Reilly's Involvement

• 📖 Vittert discusses his new book, "Born Lucky," which details his journey and how he navigated his childhood autism diagnosis with his father's support.
• 🤝 He collaborated with Bill O'Reilly on the book, who lends his interviewing style to the project, aiming to provide hope to readers.