Senyum itu sedekah..

Dear Aunties, thanks for all the doa and prayers given.. For that, I've been working hard every day. But of course, there are times that I'm so lazy to do anything and prefer to lay on my back. But you can see how much I've improved..

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Totally lembik..

Then a bit better.. but of course, mama's hand was at the back coz I can only last for a few seconds..

But now, I'm almost there. Maybe it's still not that good. But I will keep on trying.. =)

It's no fun sitting in this chair.. I don't really like it but Mama said I need to exercise. That's what babies of my kind need to do, lots of exercise.. :P

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Bosannya.. But I have my fingers that I can bite! It taste good.. I loikeee..

Ooh.. Mama is doing her regular things, snap my photo.. I better smile.. I better give the cutest smile of all...

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And so I did!!! Senyummmm...

Sesuatu yang saya lupa untuk nyatakan di entry yang lalu, petikan dari Dr. Douglas Doman. "If you think your brain-injured child is stupid, you should think again. For example, if they don't like to be put on their tummy or prefer to be carried at all time, they will cry if you don't do as what they want. By crying, somebody will come and help them. Either put them on their back again, or pick them up from the floor. See how smart they are.. They managed to 'persuade' the so called non brain-injured mommy and daddy to do things as they please.. And the parents will do whatever their child wants, just to make them quiet even though they know that being on their tummy is better than being on their back!"

Begitulah Rayyan. Sudah pandai 'mengamuk' jika kemahuannya tidak dituruti. Mahu pegang botol susunya sendiri. Apabila diberi, bukannya mahu minum.. Sekadar mahu bermain dan menjadikan botolnya sebagai teether. Habis tumpah susu.. Bila di ambil, menggelupurlah badannya sambil mulut meraung. Dan bila mendengar Rayyan menangis, Bibiklah yang paling tidak keruan.. Pd hal saya hanya mahu bertegas.. "Botol susu bukan mainan! Habis tumpah!!" Marah seorang ibu.. :P

Untuk Auntie-Auntie yang banyak memberi sokongan dan doa kepada saya, tiada apa yang mampu saya berikan.. Hanya Allah SWT yang mampu membalasnya.. Khas untuk Auntie-Auntie sekalian, saya hadiahkan sesuatu yang paling berharga pada Mama saya, senyuman manis saya..

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Dan satu lagi untuk Auntie2 semua.. MMmuahhh..

Senyum itu sedekah!

P/s - Cuba teka apa aktiviti hujung minggu saya? Hint : Saya kini makin handsome! :P

Overview

Biar saya gelarkan overview sahaja berbanding brown bag. Rasanya, terlalu banyak yang hendak diceritakan berbanding masa yang terhad.

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Kepada yang sudah membaca buku What to do about your brain injured child, tidak banyak maklumat baru yang diperolehi. Tapi kursus selama 2 jam setengah itu sama sekali tidak merugikan. Ibaratnya, seorang pensyarah ‘pakar’ mengulang kembali apa yang telah kita pelajari, yang sekaligus menyegarkan ingatan.

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Sesi yang paling menyentuh jiwa, apabila video-video anak-anak brain-injured ini ditayangkan. Bayangkan seorang kanak-kanak down syndrome yang asalnya tidak tahu apa2, kini bekerja di sebuah bank terkemuka di Amerika dan memiliki segulung ijazah sarjana di dalam bidang ekonomi. (Mokcik terasa kekerdilan diri hokayy!! Mokcik pun asyik tertangguh niat untuk menyambung pelajaran)

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Yang terpaksa saya tahan sepanjang sesi adalah ‘rakan’ baru yang setia duduk di sebelah saya. Mukanya mempamerkan rasa tidak puas hati. Mulutnya mengomel berkali-kali.

“You bought that book? You can easily borrow that book at National Care for free and photocopy it. It will only cost you RM20.” Katanya pada saya.

“Even though he got master’s degree, he still looks like a syndrome down person!” Bisiknya ke telinga saya, merujuk kepada rakaman video yang saya nyatakan tadi.

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Mungkin dia tidak mengambil berat tentang kursus ini kerana anaknya kelihatan ok pada mata kasar. Mild autism yang dikesan pada usia 3 tahun. Hyperactive dan sedikit developmentally delayed. Selain masih tidak boleh membaca pada usia 5 tahun, anaknya ok. (Diulangnya berkali-kali bahawa anaknya masih belum boleh membaca. Saya dahulu pun usia 6 tahun baru boleh membaca! Pelik..)

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Kenapa saya sibuk bercerita tentang ibu ini, kerana saya sedikit tersentap dengan soalan yang diajukan kepada saya. “Is your child normal?” Saya terangkan serba sedikit mengenai Rayyan. “Then, why are you here?” Aduhaiii.. Lawak betul! Siapa kamu untuk mematikan harapan yang saya letakkan kepada anak saya? Lihat dulu Rayyan sebelum sewenang-wenangnya kamu mempertikaikan anak saya. Saya ingatkan saya tidak akan didiskriminasi di sini. Rupanya saya salah!

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Itu belum lagi dikira beberapa kali dia 'mengintai' handphone saya. Tidak mungkin kerana mahu tahu waktu kerana dia sudah punya jam. Mungkin mahu menatap wajah Rayyan pada wallpaper handphone. Mungkin pada fikirannya Rayyan kelihatan seperti alien. :P

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Ok. Saya tidak akan menghuraikan secara detail di sini. Kalau ada sesiapa yang mahukan material yang saya perolehi, berikan alamat untuk saya hantarkan.

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Tentang pergerakan. Sebenarnya, anak-anak ini harus bergerak sebanyak mungkin. Untuk membolehkan mereka bergerak, harus diletakkan mereka di dalam keadaan meniarap. Apabila berada di dalam keadaan meniarap secara berterusan, mereka akan mula untuk bergerak.

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Pada permukaan yang rata, agar sukar untuk mereka mengesot kerana mereka terpaksa melawan gravity. Untuk anak2 biasa, ia mungkin bukan sesuatu yang besar. Tapi kerana keupayaan mereka yang terbatas, seeloknya mereka diletakkan di permukaan yang sedikit curam (tidaklah securam papan gelongsor) yang sekaligus akan memudahkan mereka mengesot.

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Tentu sekali kejayaan tidak akan datang setelah kali kedua atau ketiga. Perlu giat berusaha. Pergerakan yang banyak juga sebenarnya akan merangsang penglihatan, kebijaksanaan, meningkatkan system pencernaan dan system pernafasan. Apabila anggota badan bergerak dengan mudah, mata juga akan dapat ‘bergerak’ dengan bebas dan seterusnya merangsang deria penglihatan.

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The brain-injured child often has difficulty using both eyes together consistently and this interfere with his depth perception, and his ability to learn and to function.

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Bagi mereka yang menggunakan flash card untuk merangsang minda anak-anak, pastikan kad itu besar dan mudah dibaca. Ideally, sebesar kertas A4.

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Untuk komunikasi, ibubapa seharusnya lebih ‘mendengar’ dan lebih ‘jelas’ di dalam perbualan. “Do you want an apple or a pear?” Beri masa untuk anak anda menjawab. Kalau anak masih belum boleh bercakap, kad yang tertulis “YES” or “NO” boleh digunakan. Latih anak untuk memahami apa itu “YES” dan apa itu “NO”. Paling penting, bertutur dengan anak anda sepertinya anak itu sudah dewasa. Bukan dengan perkataan manja yang seterusnya seperti memberi ‘lampu hijau’ untuk anak bercakap telo bayi.

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Sangat panjang kalau ingin saya huraikan segalanya di sini. Untuk pengetahuan, bulan Jun nanti, pasukan Janet Doman akan datang ke Singapura untuk menganjurkan kursus yang sama selama seminggu. Bayarannya sebanyak SD1000. Agak mahal bukan? Saya masih berkira-kira mahu pergi atau pun tidak. Kalau ada rezeki lebih, mungkin.. Kalau tidak, mungkin melalui pembacaan sahaja.. :P

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Buku-buku yang diterbitkan oleh anak-beranak Doman ini, selain dari What to do about your brain injured child, ditulis mengikut kesesuaian anak-anak biasa, sekiranya ibu kepada anak-anak istimewa mahu mempraktikkan kaedah yang sama, Cuma perlu dipertingkatkan frekuensinya sahaja.

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“If your child can only do something for a short period of time, let him be. But please make it more frequent. Then increase the time gradually..”

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Berdasarkan perangkaan yang diberikan, majoriti anak-anak yang mengalami kecederaan otak ini, apabila sampai tahap mereka boleh membaca, keupayaan mereka mengatasi level usia yang sepatutnya. Menarik bukan apabila mengkaji potensi manusia?

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P/s – Time is the enemy of the brain-injured child. Every day he is not better, he is worse. Since his peers move on and he falls further behind! There is no such thing as false hope, but there is false despair. – The Pathway to Wellness.

Dan terlupa seketika..

Masa untuk menukar lampin.. Lampin yang sedia dipakainya saya buka, dan terus tubuh kecil itu saya angkat ke bilik air..

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"Ian.. Ian.. Kalau ikut umur Ian ni, dan boleh bertatih dah.. Kan senang kalau Mama boleh tarik jer Ian ke bilik air.." Secara tidak sengaja, mudah sekali kata-kata itu meluncur keluar..

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"Waduhhh.. Kok dibilang gitu.. Kalau saya, rasanya anak-anak saya sekejap saja udah besar. Belum puas bermain, belum puas didukung, udah tidak mahu dia.. Asyik mahu berjalan sajaaa.." Bibik berkata dengan senyuman..

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Maaf sayang. Mama lupa lagi. Lupa untuk bersyukur dengan apa yang ada. Maafkan mama.. InsyaAllah you will walk and run son.. =)

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Ian dan bibik berbual kosong..

P/s - Masih berhutang brown bag session.. :P

I don't really like the color.. :P

Finally, we bought a walker for Ian..

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Saya sibuk tengok TV!

Definitely not what I want, but I guess it's OK la.. We're not planning to put him in this thing for all day long or want him to walk using this walker.. Just to make his leg stronger and most importantly, buat dia jejak tanah.. Kata mommy, "Entah2 Ian nak kita buat upacara jejak tanah macam anak-anak raja kot.. Geli semacam jer tengok.."

If it's not because of hubby, I'll definitely continue my search for the cream+blue black walker.. Ooh Ibu Zulfaqar Rayyan.. Mokcik masih jeles!! The price difference between these two are just RM10. Sungguh rugi.. The blue black one is RM199.90 and the brown+cream one is RM189.90.. Haihh.. Sungguh frust.. Alang2 kan? Orang laki macam ni la.. Malas!

On the other hand, I have a new blogger friend. Ibu Zulfaqar Rayyan.. The best part is, our babies share the same name i.e. Rayyan. To make it even better, a couple of weeks back (when we found out about the seizures and all), abah had told us that he wants Ian's name to be changed. Tau apa nama baru Ian? Wan Zulfaqar..

"Atuk panggil Ian, Zul la yea.. Zulfaqar.. Pedang perkasa Nabi Muhammad.. Biar Ian kuat.. Jadi perkasa.." Hahhahha.. So he starts calling Ian with his new name, Zul.. But of course, it last for a day only.. Now it's back to Ian..

Ian yang kegelian tapi khusyuk tgk TV.. At the end of the clip, start menyembur coz dh boring..

P/s - Korang ada experience tak dgn cerita2 kalau anak sakit tukar nama pastu ok nih? Ada jugak kawan2 citer pasal benda nih and diorg kata menjadik.. Ntah la.. Hahhahah..

For mothers of special needs baby..

Currently, I’m STILL reading ‘What to do about your brain-injured child” by Glenn Doman. Not even half way through yet.. Well, need to divide between Rayyan, reading and blogging.. :P
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I came to know about this book from another mother of special needs baby. We work in the same place but it’s quite funny that after 3 years working there, I don’t even know about this special mommy.

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When I was talking about Rayyan with my colleagues, they suggested for me to approach this special mommy. And I did.

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Being a mother for a special needs child for 6 years made her a very knowledgeable person when it comes to brain-injured child. She introduced me to Glenn Doman method, oxygen treatment to boost up brain cells development and a few other things.

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In her case, the child died at the age of 6. I didn’t dare to ask why. Worried that it will bring back the old memories.. Even to ask all the questions that I’ve asked, was very hard to do. But she was calmed and very clear when she talked.

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Her child was not doing good. Bedridden and cannot see. But he had good hearing ability. The mother continuously stimulates the child hearing by using rattles and other toys every single morning and night.

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Even her house doesn’t really look likes a real house. It was more to a rehab centre with all the equipments. She really went all out on her child. But of course, she still regrets of not doing certain things and she hopes that I’ll do it to my baby.

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Back to the book I’m reading.. I’ll share a few bits that really make me high up.

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Some of the children who were completely blind will end up reading – not only with their fingers but with their eyes, like everybody else. Some will remain blind.

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Some of the children who were completely paralyzed will end up walking, running and jumping – not with braces or crutches but with their legs like everybody else. Some will fail to work.

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Some of the children who were unable to make sounds will end up talking – otwihheir fingers by pointing and pantomime but with their lips and mouths, like everybody else.

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Some who writhed endlessly or could not remain still will find an end to their writhing.

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Some of the children who were paralyzed and speechless and blind and deaf will end up totally well and in the same school and grade as their normal peers. In short, they will be normal.
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Others will end up walking, talking and dancing and perhaps with IQs in the genius are.
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The results, therefore, will range from TOTAL SUCCESS to TOTAL FAILURE.
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Some of Glenn Doman’s books :-

• How to teach your baby to read
• Pathway to wellness
• How to multiply you baby’s intelligence
• How to give your baby encyclopedic knowledge
• How to teach you baby math
• How to teach your baby to be physically superb
• The universal multiplication of intelligence

Glenn Doman’s son, Douglas Doman will give a talk on “What To Do About Your Brain Injured Child” (Suitable for parents with children with cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, developmental delay, Autism, Hyperactive) 2nd April 2009 8.00pm-10.00pm.
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Venue : Tropicana Golf & Country Resort , Petaling Jaya. And the cost will be RM80 per person.
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For once, I’m so thrilled to go to a seminar.. :P Furthermore, tonite, the hall will be filled with parents of special needs baby and I’ll be so relax. No more restless feelings. Coz I know, we’re in the same shoes. And I don’t have to feel uncomfortable to listen to “Anak akak dah bangun jatuh dah.. anak kamu??” “Anak abg, kalau abg nak gi keje, bergantung kat kaki sambil nangis2, anak kamu tak ngikut ke??”
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Honestly, I don’t know how to react when I’m in those situations.. Paling2 senyum je la kan?? Bukan jelous ke apa coz I’m thankful for what I have. In fact, I have a miracle strory to tell.. Hahhaha.. Cuma seriously, taktau nak react.. :P
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It’s different tau. Kalau baca pasal milestones of other babies kat blog kwn2, kita bleh senyum and kata, "InsyaAllah, Rayyan will be like that in the near future.” And I can choose not to drop a comment. Tp kalau depan2 org excited macam tu, takkan nak angkat tangan tadah doa pastu ulang ayat "InsyaAllah, Rayyan will be like your kid in the near future.” :P
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And I don’t blame those abang-and-kakak-kat-office for those story telling. They’re just being excited about their babies’ achievement. I also did that. Smlm, Rayyan dah boleh tepuk2 tangan.. Kalut telefon mommy kat kampong coz nak bgtau.. Hubby plak, sibuk nak record. Tapi tak sempat.. Hmm.. How weird a parent can be kan?? Hehheheh..

Something for you guys:
http://www.iahp.org/Kyle-Video.413.0.html

P/s - I don’t know in which range will Rayyan falls in 10 or 20 years from now (kalau kami dipanjangkan umur.. :P ). One thing for sure, years ahead (sekali lagi, kalau dipanjangkan umur), I will be reading this post again. If Rayyan is doing so well, I’ll be proud of him and myself. Even if he’s not, I will still be proud of him and myself for TRYING!
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Believe in you child, you have everything to gain and nothing to loose..

Jom lah ibu-ibu dan ayah-ayah sekalian..

Little Hero is back in action!

Beware Aunties!! I'm back in action!!! With mama's help and my hard work, I can do this again..
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Wuhuhu.. Meniarap lagi kita!! Angkat kepala tinggi2!!

Betapa anak kecil ini byk mengajar kita.. Dia bahu yang memikul, kita mata yang memandang.. Kalau dia tidak kenal erti putus asa, mengapa harus kita? Kami terus memujuk hati.. InsyaAllah dipermudahkan urusan..

Conversation I had last night, with a doctor who's practicing G.Doman method on h************ children..

Dr. K : It's good that he is keen to learn and curious at his surroundings.. I can see lots of potential in him.. If you really train and stimulate him, he can live a close to normal life..

Me : How normal is 'close to normal' Dr.?

Dr.K : He can manage himself and work on a real job for a living..

Me : Dr. that IS normal. Nothing is normal than that.. If he can do that, I should be really thankful. And that is my goal. But if he turns out to be an engineer or a lawyer, that's a bonus already!!!

Dr.K : Well, for some parents, a lawyer or a engineer is call a 'real job'..

Me : I'm not 'some' parents, I'm 'the' parents..

Setelah beberapa siri perbincangan, saya tinggalkan Klinik itu dengan perasaan bercampur-baur. Gembira dan rasa bersalah!

Tahu apa saat paling best? Sewaktu jururawat di situ mendukung Ian buat beberapa ketika, dan dia menangis dengan tangisan yang cukup syahdu sehinggalah saya mengambilnya kembali..

"It's good that he recognized you." Kata Dr.

"I know. And I'm proud of it!!" Saya senyum..

P/s - Di luar klinik, kami bertemu dgn seorang teman lama.. Dia tahu cerita Rayyan. Tahu apa soalannya?

"Errr.. Kalau dia lapar, dia nangis tak?"

"Kenapa pulak?"

"Saja nak tahu, dia pandai nangis tak?"

Duhhh.. He may have a developmental delay, but his stomach is not delay and he surely knows how to cry when he needs to be fed!

Any more question?? You may raise your hand and talk.. Hehheheh..