My CP Crush! Your eyes light up my world and those of everyone else around you. Who says you’re a product of shame and a problem to me? You’re a mind reader, mood interpreter, and soul searcher. Who are those who assume you’re less than human and expect you to be hidden away?
My David, my dancer, my enthusiastic son who are those doctors, neighbors, and friends who said I shouldn’t expect good to come out of you? Who are those evil advisers who said I should kill you before your time???
So far, I’ve been privileged to share only three out of your seven beautiful years but it feels that I’ve known you forever! My Davido! I’ll be there when you’re mainstreamed into regular school. I’ll watch you graduate from School and Tertiary Institutions because you’ve got the brains boy! By the way, who says you’re intellectually disabled? Who says you can’t learn and shouldn’t be given a place in school?
You’ll make your mom and all of us who love and believe in you proud because OIL sits on your head. You’re a God-send, a gift, treasure, and delight to me.
I dey crush on you cutie. I know you’ll settle with a smart beautiful and God-fearing lady as you grow into a man because the seed of greatness resides in you. Who said individuals with CP are not capable of romantic relationships?
Now let me talk to your biological mom. Ogechi, I’m super proud of you, your love and commitment to the progress of your adorable are commendable. Your expectations over your son will find full expression because you found space in your heart to ACCEPT, EMBRACE, LOVE, ACCOMMODATE and ADAPT your life to fit his. Chop knuckles my sister
Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day #MillionsOfReasons #WorldCerebralPalsyDay2021 Biby Yinkere
Many things do not matter, Many substances are not valuable, many investments aren’t that profitable and many titles are just inscriptions.
Many are the people we shouldn’t have pestered to be part of our lives, yet we offer all we’ve got to achieve these. We adore and hold on to them as if our existence without them is impossible.
We forgot what made us, we never recognized what we were made for, we overlooked what makes us outstanding just because we haven’t seen the impact it brings. We never accepted to go the extra mile to appreciate our SPECIAL GIFTS just because we do not ask for them.
Today, I have millions of reasons to celebrate my SPECIAL CHILD that makes me who I am and gave me an unusual title – SPECIAL MUM *dancing*.
I refuse to see those things that do not matter and focus on things that make you SPECIAL. I have millions of reasons to celebrate your little achievements, my son!
They may not be tangible yet they are great victories, you struggled so much to bring me joy and I realized how great your strength is. You taught me how to be thankful for little things many take for granted.
I have millions of reasons to celebrate your existence darling. Many whom the world view as ‘much better-off’ couldn’t make it this far.
You bore your pains alone, taking bitter pills is almost a daily experience with you, yet, you’ve remained strong. Oh, the rejection you faced by those who would have shown you love! Amazingly You survived all.
You know what boy? I am certain you’re an extraordinary being. I have millions of reasons to give you the best Danny boy! You’re worth all the investment I could ever make.
Quite sadly, I didn’t have much now to cater for all you need but let my love for you make up for all other shortcomings sweetie. I promise to keep striving to make you better and go much farther in life than the doctors and everyone else could ever imagine. Nothing spent on you is a waste, my love. You are a blessing in disguise!!!
You have a way to compensate for all my sacrifices and I have no regrets about having you. I have millions of reasons to make the world know you. Danny, you are part of me and I must fight your cause. You deserve the best now and always.
No one should look down on you my CP WARRIOR – you rule your world!!! You are uniquely made for a purpose, and that you must fulfill it no matter the space of time.
I have millions of reasons to be thankful for my Special Gift, not all that ask for or deserve a gift have them… some are denied. I am blessed to have you under my care. You increased me in knowledge, patience, and tolerance, You helped me to understand and overcome life and people.
I have MILLIONS of REASONS to LOVE, CELEBRATE and HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE. Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day!
2nd April every year is internationally celebrated as ‘World Autism Awareness Day”The purpose of this celebration is to create awareness and sensitize the public about the condition. It is also to promote global acceptance of the condition and to give individuals living with it and their families a sense of belonging.
I never heard about the condition until I became a full-grown adult. I guess there are lots of people like me who are in the dark on this subject.
Now you may be wondering what is autism and why does it seem like a relatively modern condition? Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3. What this means is that a child with autism looks and behaves like a neurotypical child from birth. He or she may have attained some milestones and social skills such as speech, mobility, display of affection, eye contact, etc but lose it between 18 to 36 months.
It takes an observant parent to notice it at this stage. Autism affects the way the brain develops in the area of cognitive function. Individuals with autism often suffer from numerous co-morbid medical conditions which may include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, this is not exhaustive.
The implication of this is that autistics have a lot they’re grappling with and it is not an easy path in life. Their family also are in a world that only ‘them’ understand. It may seem weird but there’s no running away from reality. Suffice it to say, families with children in this condition need all the love and care they can get and not mockery and rejection.
In the course of my work with special parents, I have seen a few families with two or three children on the spectrum. Why this happens, I do not know! Now, this brings me to the subject of its course. *There is no known course of autism* For a lot of mothers it doesn’t just add up!!!
Due to its low on-set, autism is one of those conditions most traditional especially in Africa think it is a result of *voodoo or witchcraft operations* How do you explain the withdrawal of a child from social interaction or play? Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than girls. Again, there is no medical explanation for this. Its prevalence is not affected by race, region, or socioeconomic status.
Honestly, I say without fear of contradiction that the pain of parenting an autistic is more in poor families. Autism itself does not affect life expectancy, however, research has shown that the mortality risk among individuals with autism is twice as high as the general population, in large part due to drowning and other accidents.
Currently, there is no cure for autism, though, with early intervention and treatment, the diverse symptoms related to autism can be greatly improved and in some cases completely overcome. Autism now affects 1 in 54 children; over half are classified as having an intellectual disability or borderline intellectual disability. This statistic is scary!!!
About 40% of children with autism do not speak. About 25%–30% of children with autism have some words at 12 to 18 months of age and then lose them. Others might speak, but not until later in childhood Autism greatly varies from person to person (no two people with autism are alike)
The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder, yet most underfunded. Children with autism do progress when early intervention/corrective measures are taken. In Nigeria and maybe the rest of Africa this is a serious problem! How do you explore early intervention strategies when you don’t even know what you’re dealing with??? How do you get an accurate diagnosis when there are no government-owned diagnostic centres?
Now the million-dollar question. WHO PAYS THE BILLS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD? As stated earlier, autism may come with several other health complications which are expensive to manage There’s light in the tunnel though. Autism is treatable, not a hopeless condition.
Over the world, there are famous people with the condition such as; Tech Icon Bill Gate, Albert Einstein, Dan Aykroyd – Comedic Actor, Hans Christian Andersen -Children’s Author, Benjamin Banneker – African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist, and farmer, Lewis Carroll – Author of “Alice in Wonderland”, Henry Cavendish – Scientist…..who have broken boundaries.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be likened to a ruler which gravitates from mild to severe. The level of functionality of the individual varies depending on the side of the spectrum he or she is.
This year’s celebration is themed, Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World. It celebrates individuals on the spectrum who have bitten the odds and have acquired educational, technological, or vocational skills.
If I may ask another question, do you think people with the condition are employable? Would you employ an autistic if one presents with an application letter in the organization you own or head? Would you support a family with an autistic child? I cannot end this piece without celebrating all those who love and are a part of the lives of autistics. Special parents, educators, advocates, health care providers, etc I celebrate you
As you read this article, remember to wear BLUE for autistics. Each time you see the color blue, kindly remember…….. Thanks for reading. I am Biby Yinkere, a.k.a mama special needs?
ART IN MEDICINE Title; I PAINT TOO Artists; Chinyere Anozie, Dumebi Okolie and BEADGOD Technique; Acrylic Pour and Mixed Media Size; 2ft * 2ft Year; 2021
This piece is about the ladies/women telling the artist they paint too and flaunting their work, tools, and materials so the artist can see.
SEE THE CHILD/PERSON NOT THE DIAGNOSIS GIVE HOPE, SUSTAIN DREAMS
JOIN ME PUT SMILES ON FACES OF CHILDREN/PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
A very day to my readers please, permit me to share my thoughts with you on our reactions to ‘perceived negativity’.This is especially addressing, we, the parents with Engraced children ( children with a disability).
When we were told our child or children have special needs or needs for the children with multiple cases, we start asking God the question ‘why me???’ If it is not you then who? This is an extract from Joyce Meyer:” Love Out Loud”: Learn to Bear the Yoke” ” A yoke is used to balance a load”,….. in the Bible, it is referred to as submission to authority. If we stay yoked to Jesus Christ and submit to His authority, He will help us carry and balance the loads we have in life.
We must be willing to take up Jesus’ yoke in every area. For example, we may wish we could get away from a person or situation, and yet we feel we are where God wants us. This is an opportunity to take Jesus’ yoke and learn how He wants us to respond. It is an opportunity to grow spiritually (and to serve).
God puts different people together and wants us to learn how to love and get along peacefully together.” To all the parents and other caregivers who did not give up on this special assignment God has given to us even after asking the whys ⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️and not throwing these beauties away, receive fresh grace to bear the yoke in Jesus Christ mighty name; Amen.❣️Love you all. Have a lovely day.
Well well well, ‘all’s well that ends well’ 46 families visited and over 120 children across Abuja and Nasarawa States in 4 visits. The most exciting part of these visits for me was seeing siblings and the children of members who don’t even have children with additional needs.
Hmmm, we couldn’t have done this without the support of some members who went overboard and of course numerous friends who all made kind donations. So our Santa Home Bound Programme 2020 is a wrap! Who did it? Jesus oh my God, wow
