BABAE AKO: 7 ‘superhero’ celebrity nanay na proud sa anak na may special needs
MATINDI ang pinagdaraanang challenges ng mga magulang na nag-aalaga at nagpapalaki ng mga anak na may Autism Spectrum Disorder o ASD.
Kaya naman maituturing talaga silang mga “superhero” ng kano-kanilang pamilya.
Hindi biro ang magkaanak ng nasa Autism Spectrum pati na yung may mga Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder o ADHD, dahil unang-una maituturing na itong lifetime commitment para sa mga parents at pangalawa, kailang nakatutok ka talaga sa lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan.
Ang ASD, base sa isang health website ay isang developmental disorder na dulot ng mga pagkakaiba-iba sa utak. Maaaring may mga limitadong interes at paulit-ulit na pag-uugali ang mga taong namumuhay nang may ASD.
Maaari ring may mga sarili silang paraan ng pag-aaral, paggalaw, o pagtuon. Kadalasan, ang mga taong namumuhay nang may ASD ay may mga problema sa pakikipag-usap at pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba.
Ang batang may ADHD ay nahihirapang mag-focus ng atensyon sa isang bagay, sobrang aktibo, at madalas nagpapakita ng impulsive o padalos-dalos na behavior.
Ang ADHD naman ay hindi lamang nakikita sa mga bata. Maaari ring kakitaan nito ang mga teenager hanggang sa pagkatanda. Kadalasan ay nag-uumpisa na sa pagkabata ang mga problema sa atensyon, focus, pagiging disorganized, at mahinang impulse control at nananatili ang mga ito hanggang sa kanilang paglaki.
Marami ang naniniwala na aware na ang mga Pinoy hinggil sa mga taong may special needs. Sa katunayan, parang normal na rin kung ituring ng publiko ang mga persons with disabilities o PWD.
Sa pagdiriwang ng International Women’s Month, saluduhan natin ang mga nanay na hindi sumusuko at patuloy na lumalaban para sa karapatan at kaligtasan ng mga batang may ASD at upang mag-spread pa ng awareness hinggil dito.
AUBREY MILES
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Gulung-gulo si Aubrey at asawang si Troy Montero nu’ng una kung paano nagkaroon ng autism ang bunso nilang anak na si Rocket pero kalaunan ay natanggap din naman nila ito.
“It’s possible for first time parents to think it’s the worst thing that can happen to their baby. It’s surely can be scary and who knows what the future holds but definitely not the worst.
“You just need to know where to go, what you’re dealing with, finding the right therapist, the right support groups and lots of love. We’re still in the process of learning. It’s going to be a long ride,” sabi ng aktres. “I’m crying because we can say it, kasi before parang it was so hard.”
Update: “She talks a lot now, makes eye contact even with people she just met. She loves to color and read books. She still does some hand flapping, but nearly not as much as before, and she stopped walking on her tippy toes.
“She still has her moments when things don’t go her way, but flooring tantrums are few and far between. She’s more aware of her surroundings and even herself. She likes to dress up and looks in the mirror before we leave the house. She’s fully potty trained so no more diapers,” lahad ni Aubrey.
CANDY PANGILINAN
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Nakakabilib din ang pagiging single mom ni Candy kay Quentin na na-diagnose ng Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at autism. Sa katunayan, nakapag-publish pa siya ng book titled “Mommy Dear: Our Special Love” kung saan mababasa ang naging journey nilang mag-ina.
Ang lagi niyang payo sa mga magulang na sinisisi ang sarili sa pagkakaroon ng special children, “Punta tayo sa solusyon. If we dwell on the problem, walang mangyayari.”
Pag-amin naman ng aktres bilang ina ni Quentin, “Ang kinatatakutan ko, yung mamatay na po. Kasi kapag namatay ako, hindi ko alam kung kakayanin niyang mag-isa, at this point. So, hindi ako puwedeng mamatay ngayon o bukas kaagad.
“Siguro kailangan pa ako humaba-haba nang konti pa yung buhay ko. Yun ang dasal ko, saka magtrabaho at mag-ipon para sa anak ko. Yung maka-establish ako ng something for him that will sustain him kapag nawala ako.”
July, 2022, tuwang-tuwang ibinandera ni Candy na nag-graduate na si Quentin sa Junior High!
MELANIE MARQUEZ
Hindi lang isa kundi dalawa ang anak ni Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez na may special needs: sina Mazeen na may Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at Adam na na-diagnose ng Delay Syndrome.
“It’s actually a big challenge to me. I know very well that God has sent me my two children for a purpose. When I had Mazeen, I strived to have an attitude of patience, yung perseverance. Kasi there is nothing impossible to God, for as long as my faith is strong, and I’m helping my two sons with the assistance of my husband.
“At least nakita namin ang changes ni Mazeen, na kapag kinakausap namin, he’s really trying to communicate back. Si Adam naman, I’m just so thankful na may sumunod kaagad na bunso [(braham),” aniya.
Advice ni Melanie sa mga parents na dumaraan din sa ganitong uri ng pagsubok, “Lahat ng parents dapat na magkaroon ng attention at time sa kanilang anak. Kung ang anak ninyo kapag kinakausap ninyo at hindi tumitingin nang diretso at magalaw ang mata, may slight autism yan. Kailangan ipatingin kaagad sa doktor.”
KRIS AQUINO
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Isa rin sa mga kinatatakutan ng Queen of All Media ay ang mawala agad sa mundo dahil sa kundisyon ng panganay na anak na si Joshua na may ASD din, lalo pa’t hindi pa rin siya gumagaling sa kanyang autoimmune diseases.
“People, who are our political enemies, or just the plain, mean-spirited ones, have bullied Josh enough. Try mong mabasa na ‘mongoloid’, ‘abnoy’, ‘karma ng buhay n’yo’, every time may political issue na walang kasalanan si Josh, and you’ll understand me.”
Sa isang forum, nag-share si Kris ng mensahe sa gitna ng natatanggap niyang bashing tungkol kay Josh, “As far as the family is concerned, it’s tough. The judgment is tough. Lalo na sa amin sa pulitika. I mean, those memes? They hurt.
“But the thing is, my sister told me this—this is Viel, my sister—sabi niya, ‘Haven’t you realized that every time someone attacks Josh, you get so many blessings because that is an innocent child?’ So God levels the playing field.”
Payo naman ni Kris tungkol sa denial phase ng parents, “Kailangan talaga as a family, you let go of that, because you really have to accept. You also have to accept that there will be so many limitations.”
KAREN DAVILA
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“It takes a village to raise a child. It really is true, and you have to remember that when you are raising a child on the autism spectrum, you’re not raising just any child,” ang pahayag ni Karen sa isang interview tungkol sa pagpapalaki sa kanyang anak na si David na meron ding autism.
“It takes extra. Extra patience, extra work, extra research, extra perseverance, extra determination. Even the love, sometimes, kailangan mo hugutin. As a mother, you’re not sweet all the time, you’re tired, empty, drained… so even the love, you have to pull out extra,” dagdag na pahayag ng veteran broadcast journalist.
Noong September, 2023, proud na ibinandera ni Karen na natanggap ang anak sa University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
Ito naman ang mensahe niya sa lahat ng magulang na may anak with special needs, “Stop asking yourself, why me? Already move forward and know this, that God has equipped you to be able to do what needs to be done.”
KATRINA HALILI
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Na-diagnose naman ng mild autism ang anak ni Katrina Halili na si Katie. “Nu’ng mga almost three years old po siya, wala siyang eye contact ‘pag tinatawag siya. Sabi nu’ng doctor niya ipa-check ko daw kasi walang eye contact, tapos basta mga ganun ‘yung mga symptoms niya.
“Tapos ‘yun nga na-diagnosed na po siya na meron. Ako siyempre sinunod ko kung ano ang kailangan niya, therapy, ganyan,” kuwento ni Kat tungkol sa anak nila ng R&B singer na si Kris Lawrence.
Pag-amin niya, “Medyo mahirap po ‘pag hindi mo talaga inaral parang maguguluhan ka na lang. May times dati na naiiyak ako na hindi ko nakakasama ‘yung anak ko, ang gulo-gulo, nagta-tantrums ng bonggang-bongga. Mahirap pero kailangang tanggapin mo.”
“Pero ngayon sobrang okay na siya, okay na siyang kasama, masarap siyang kasama, masarap siyang kausap. Sobrang sweet. Sobrang proud ako sa kanya at tsaka happy ako kasi ‘yung mga kagaya ni Katie dapat may outlet sila, so happy ako na meron siyang ginagawang iba,” pagbabahagi pa ng Kapuso actress.
RUBY RODRIGUEZ
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Na-diagnose naman ang anak ni Ruby na si AJ ng rare autoimmune disease na Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HPS), a condition that involves inflammation of small blood vessels. Meron din siyang learning disability.
Isang basher ang binuweltahan ng dating host ng “Eat Bulaga” mataoos tawaging abnormal ang kanyang anak.
“@tanz_andres excuse me? What u mean abnormal??? If u mean if he is a special child Im proud to say Yes he is. He has ADHD and Dyslexia.”
Pati ang anak na babae ni Ruby na si Antoinette ay sumagot din sa comment ng netizen, “@tanz_andres excuse me? You don’t say the word abnormal. Uneducated ka ba? I guess so. You can attack me all you want but you don’t use that word on my brother. People like you should be educated. I guess your parents didn’t raise you correctly to be aware of the proper usage of words.”
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Ayon sa isang health website, “The key in finding the right therapy is having the right diagnosis and assessment.”
Mahalaga rin daw ang early diagnosis and intervention for autism, “Early diagnosis allows for timely intervention which can significantly improve outcomes for children with ASD. Early intervention programs can help develop essential skills in communication, social interaction, and adaptive behavior.”
“Understanding that a child has ASD enables parents, caregivers, and educators to tailor support and educational strategies to meet the child’s specific needs.
“With early diagnosis and appropriate interventions, children with ASD can achieve better long-term outcomes in various areas, including academic achievement, social relationships, and independence.
“If you need support about Autism, please contact Autism Society of the Philippines.”
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