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Woman Daily™ is
our diary. Share your views and experiences on all issues.
our diary. Share your views and experiences on all issues.
Caring for a child with special needs can be very demanding, especially when the child cannot express himself/herself by speaking. However challenging the demand may be, it is important and necessary to be patient, be encouraged by loved ones and remain hopeful for the best for such child.
In the last one week I had been very concerned about
my little niece, Eriziah. Her mother, my oldest sister, did not want to worry
so much about the problem with her until three nights ago.
my little niece, Eriziah. Her mother, my oldest sister, did not want to worry
so much about the problem with her until three nights ago.
I remember quite clearly when my mother came around to
nurse my sister and the baby when she was given birth to, she did not think
that there was any problem after all. She always assured my sister that her
baby was just a quiet girl because she usually sleept for longer hours than
babies would normally do.
nurse my sister and the baby when she was given birth to, she did not think
that there was any problem after all. She always assured my sister that her
baby was just a quiet girl because she usually sleept for longer hours than
babies would normally do.
Eriziah eats her food quietly, sits quiet on her chair
and would never say a word like other
little children would. She actually slept all day when it was her first
birthday celebration.
and would never say a word like other
little children would. She actually slept all day when it was her first
birthday celebration.
Again, people expressed their different views on that.
Some of my sister’s friends who brought their children for the party said their
children had behaved in like manner and that they soon ‘changed’ from that.
Some of my sister’s friends who brought their children for the party said their
children had behaved in like manner and that they soon ‘changed’ from that.
As she turned 18months, I noticed a strange behaviour
in her; she would scream for longer than necessary at the slightest
provocation; bang her head against the door and do many other things that got
me really worried. My sister had been told by her friends not to worry. They
felt she got so worked-up because it took a while after her marriage for her to
get pregnant.
in her; she would scream for longer than necessary at the slightest
provocation; bang her head against the door and do many other things that got
me really worried. My sister had been told by her friends not to worry. They
felt she got so worked-up because it took a while after her marriage for her to
get pregnant.
My sister and I usually looked at other children of
Eriziah’s age and hoped that she would be happy and play around the house like them,
but we always got something different. And in spite of the nerve-calming
advises from close friends, we kept praying that all would be well with my
niece.
Eriziah’s age and hoped that she would be happy and play around the house like them,
but we always got something different. And in spite of the nerve-calming
advises from close friends, we kept praying that all would be well with my
niece.
I however came close to finding out something we never
imagined after I spoke to a friend’s mother who is a Paediatrician. She was not
very particular, but she expressed fears that Eriziah could be suffering from
autism.
imagined after I spoke to a friend’s mother who is a Paediatrician. She was not
very particular, but she expressed fears that Eriziah could be suffering from
autism.
She booked an appointment for my sister and little
Eriziah to come over to the hospital three days ago and the fear was confirmed;
my little niece suffers from autism. We have been learning on how best to care
for her as a child with special needs.
Eriziah to come over to the hospital three days ago and the fear was confirmed;
my little niece suffers from autism. We have been learning on how best to care
for her as a child with special needs.
I also use this opportunity to appeal to mothers whose
children have similar condition, to learn and be happy to help such children in
spite of the challenge. Remember patience and hope for the best, as what you need to succeed.
children have similar condition, to learn and be happy to help such children in
spite of the challenge. Remember patience and hope for the best, as what you need to succeed.
True! patience and hope is indeed the key.