Seeing God everyday in Angel

It is never easy having a member in the family who has a disability. 

That doesn't mean that the presence of the disabled person cannot be a blessing when such a thing happens.

Last week, I met a mother of a disabled child, "GS", who related to me what such an experience is like.

It began with her visit to her obstetrician. It was the seventh month review of her unborn child.

GS recalled feeling a little unsure that day owing to some abdominal discomfort in her. 

She asked her doctor if he thought admission was necessary; but he just brushed it off as nothing more than an anxiety, and told her to go home. 

Then, just as GS had feared, by late evening the abdominal discomfort became more intense sending her back to the hospital.

One episode led to another, which concluded in a precipitated premature delivery that left GS, and her husband, mortified beyond their wits.

That's how their son, whom GS calls "their angel", came into the world.

Angel was born 12 weeks early. He was blue, frail and fighting for his life.

"We didn’t know what to expect, what it meant, or what we had to do – in fact, we practically didn’t know anything!" GS recalled.

"All we knew was one thing: Almighty God gave us this little angel, whom we had to love, protect and give our best which we have been doing right up to this day," she added. 

GS' son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, owing to his premature birth.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical condition involving permanent tightening of the muscles which is caused by damage to the brain around or before the time of birth.

GS told me that when she heard those two words, "cerebral palsy", her world came crashing down at once.

She described them as, "colossal and unfamiliar that brought (her) utmost fear".

GS went on to try and explain her state of mind then.  

"I didn’t know what to think, what would our boy's life be – and ours too? We also wondered why did this happen to us; what are we going to do – the list of ambiguities never ended! We had so many questions and uncertainties, and so many fears about CP and disability.

"Suddenly, I found myself fearing and loathing words such as 'handicapped', 'crippled', 'brain-injured' and 'cerebral palsy'."

However, GS said looking at her son, at that time, and raising him up over the years only painted a totally opposite picture.  

"My angel had the most angelic face that anyone could have. His face and smiles shone like a forever shining star that has brought nothing, but utmost joy into our lives.

"Angel is in his teens now at 14-and-a-bit years of age. He is quite the talkative person, and has an immaculate sense of humour.

"We've all had our fair share of struggles, especially during the early years with its ups and downs.

"But as parents and family, we stuck like glue to each other as we went through each trying episode together in order to make sure that Angel knew that he was never alone in his difficulties."

The problems included many flat chest incidents due to respiratory issues, incompetent gag reflex and lack of neck control as a person with tetraparesis (muscle weakness affecting all four limbs).

Even though there were, and are, a multitude of other neverending issues to deal with, GS said it will never stop them from giving Angel the very best.

"Angel is unable to feed himself yet, and also can't look after himself independently as most other teenagers his age can.

"But we are far from deterred because he knows how to show his deep love toward us. This comes through in his radiant smiles.

"Ever since he came into our lives, we have realised that he is truly a gift from God to us teaching us lessons on love, compassion, sacrifice, perseverance and patience. 

"Through him we see God every day.

"Through him, we have got to meet and know many wonderful people out there, who not only understand us in our journey, but are always willing to go the extra mile for us in order to give our son the right support that he needs."

In order to achieve this, GS said Angel had unwittingly turned them into "go-getters" to bring about change; rather than wait futilely for it to happen on its own.

"To bring about progress in his condition, we had to literally knock on many doors, do some personal research to find the best sources of treatment for him."

GS said they are very lucky to have found a unique gym for Angel in Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur. It is run by a professionally trained person who is mum to a person who is spastic quadriplegic.

"At the gym, we can continue to work on Angel's progress.

"Each morning when I wake up, my first thing is to thank God for all His blessings, even though I know that life is always challenging, sometimes rather uncertain and very much like a roller-coaster ride.

"But with Angel's unending smile and strength, we always go forward!" concluded GS. – August 3, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.