It’s not every day that a teenager turns the difficult process of a neurodivergent diagnosis into a moment of joy, but 17-year-old Avery Thurrott made it a celebration, complete with laughter, a guessing game and a cake that held the final answer.
What started as a lighthearted idea quickly turned into a viral TikTok clip that has sparked thousands of conversations about autism, mental health and the power of being seen.
“I actually hate when people ask me to describe myself, because I could not tell you,” Avery tells PEOPLE, laughter bubbling up in her voice. “I think it’s super funny and hilarious, and that’s all that matters.”
Avery, who turns 18 later this month, credits her older sister for coming up with the idea to host a diagnosis reveal party, a playful twist on the gender reveal trend. “She’s also the one who came up with the idea to make the video,” Avery says proudly.
Her journey to that moment, though, was anything but simple. For years, Avery had a gut feeling that something deeper was going on, but struggled to find answers that made sense.
“I had been waiting years to actually, like, get this diagnosis,” she recalls. She started the process at 14, attending intake meetings and navigating a system that often made her feel dismissed.
The delays were frustrating, made more complicated by hospitalizations and evaluations that didn’t always address the root of what Avery was experiencing. “It is significantly harder to get evaluated when you are a woman, compared to men, when it comes to learning disabilities,” she explains.
Instead of a straightforward diagnosis, Avery was met with skepticism and often misdirected labels. But when her final results came in — autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, bipolar II and complex PTSD — she and her family decided to honor the moment their own way.
Avery Thurrott/Tiktok
Avery Thurrott
“My sister had texted me, and we decided it was going to be like a guessing type of thing,” she says. “No one knew the answer except my mom and my girlfriend, who wasn’t allowed to guess, so she stayed behind the camera.”
Each family member was invited to guess what they thought the diagnosis might be. Autism, ADHD, anxiety and more were all on the table. “It was hilarious,” Avery says. “I feel like some people would take it offensively, but I thought it was silly.”
Everyone in attendance wore colored beads, indicating what they thought Avery would be diagnosed with; her mother read out the diagnoses before they cut into the cake. The flavor of the cake inside would reveal the answer as to whether or not Avery had been diagnosed with autism. If yes, the cake would be yellow; if no, the cake would be chocolate. Avery cut it open to reveal yellow cake. “I finally got my answers and got to eat a cake, so it was great,” she laughs. What could’ve been an uncomfortable moment became a milestone of joy and relief.
“It was relieving,” Avery shares. “It took so long just to get the appointment and for some people to believe me.”
For Avery, receiving a full diagnosis didn’t just explain her past. It helped her advocate for a better future. “It means that I can get the actual resources that I need,” she says. “And also, it just is more of an explanation of what has gone on with me.”
The moment also gave her something that’s been elusive for years: validation. “I feel like people finally believe me now,” Avery says. “One of the things with mental health is it’s so hard to get people to believe you.”
Since getting her diagnosis, Avery says she’s felt a shift in the way she sees herself and the way others treat her. “I guess I’m a little less anxious on people not believing me, because then I’m just like, well, clearly it’s there,” she explains.
Not everyone responds with the kindness or understanding she hopes for, but she’s noticed that conversations are beginning to change. “I think the conversation is going to go better now,” she says. “And it’s going to explain a lot more when it comes to behaviors or reactions or how I’m feeling.”
Sharing her diagnosis publicly wasn’t always the plan. But Avery stands by her decision to post the video.
“There’s such, like, a weird shame around it all,” she says. “The reason I’m celebrating is because I finally got people to believe me, and I finally got that diagnosis, and I know what is going on in order for me to get the actual help that I need.”
Avery Thurrott/Tiktok
Avery Thurott’s cake
She hopes people stop assuming autism, or any diagnosis, looks a certain way. “A lot of misconceptions about autistic people is that they look a certain way,” Avery shares. “And they kind of act a certain way, which is not true.”
As someone assigned female at birth, Avery says her presentation often didn’t align with the way autism is typically portrayed in research. “I wish more people would realize that biologically female people are gonna present traits differently compared to people who are born male,” she says.
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The difference in presentation, she explains, contributes to delays in diagnosis and the ongoing feeling of being misunderstood. “The research is biased,” Avery says. “And people aren’t ready to hear that.”
Still, she’s hopeful. “I wish people would stop being so negative and so quick to judge,” she notes. “Even if it’s something I don’t understand — because I didn’t live your experience.”
Through sharing her story, Avery wants others to know it’s okay to seek answers, and to celebrate them when they come. “It’s inspiring,” she says. “This video has helped open up the conversation about mental health, behavioral differences, and diagnosis in a way that doesn’t feel scary.”
She isn’t looking for fame, but she knows the impact of that moment stretches beyond her own kitchen. “Hopefully it makes someone else feel seen,” Avery says. “And if nothing else, maybe it reminds people there’s always room for understanding and a little cake.”
Read the original article on People
