Chapter 34
Papa
"M-ma..ma"
I abruptly sat down again when Kiel spoke for the first time. He's turning five years old, but it's his first time talking. Pagkadating ko dito sa hotel ay pinasok ko siya dito sa kwarto niya dahil siya na lang ang hindi pa gising. Tatabihan ko sana muna siya ng five minutes bago ko siya gisingin pero bigla siyang nagsalita.
"Oh god, anak" maluha-luhang hinaplos ko ang kanyang pisngi. "Baby... Can you say it again, please."
Umupo siya sa kama at inabot ang aking pisngi. Ni hindi ko naramdaman na may luha na palang pumatak mula sa mata ko. Pinunasan niya iyun gamit ang maliliit niyang daliri.
"Ma.ma" He slowly uttered that makes me embraced him tight.
"Thanks God, baby. That's good. I love you" I whispered while planting kisses all over his face.
"Ma..ma, ma..ma, ma..maaa" he chanted.
"Yes, baby. Ako si Mama. Very good, anak" he giggled then wrapped his little arms on my waist.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
My baby is autistic. He's a gift from above.
Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were previously considered separate — autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and an unspecified form of pervasive developmental disorder.
Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems functioning in society — socially, in school. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year. A small number of children appear to develop normally in the first year, and then go through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age when they develop autism symptoms.
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.
"Ma...ma" He called again.
"Yes, anak?" I kissed his head. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na sa loob ng halos limang taon ay nakakapagsalita na siya. Ngayon ko lang narinig ang boses ng anak ko.
Nakakausap ko lang siya gamit ang ipad niya. Nagsusulat lang siya ng mga gusto niyang sabihin at ipababasa sa akin. Ganun din siya kapag may ibang kumakausap sa kanya kagaya ni doktora. Kaya rin ayaw niyang makihalubilo dahil sa reason na iyan. Noong hindi pa siya marunong magsulat ay sobrang nahirapan akong intindihin kung anong gusto niya dahil puro siya turo at iyak kaya hindi ko maintindihan.
He was born unhealthy. Sobrang liit niya dahil kinulang sa buwan. Ang sabi ng doctor ay bihira lang daw ang nabubuhay lalo na at pitong buwan pa lang siya nang ipanganak.
He's premature.
"Premature birth is tied to an increased possibility of having autism." Naalala kong sinabi ng doctor habang tinititigan ko ang anak sa loob ng incubator. He was so small. So tiny. He stayed in NICU for six months. Wala akong ginawa that time kung hindi ang nagpabalik-balik sa hospital at simbahan. He's my ball of sunshine and my truma that time was still at edge. It was so hard.
Even after I brought him home, wala pa ring buwan na hindi kami nakakapasok sa hospital. He's unhealthy and always sick.
The doctor warned me that it was really dangerous. At the age of one, he started showing symptoms of autism.
Avoiding eye contact
He doesn't care about the people around him.
When I'm calling his name, it seems like he doesn't know what his name is.
BINABASA MO ANG
Starless Sky (Constellation Series #1)
RomanceEstella Celeste Mendoza is a third-year college student who likes to finish her education as soon as possible and gain enough money to support her family. She was taking a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English. Financing her own studies h...
