From Dawn Till Dusk

It hasn’t been a long time when I was faced with daunting dilemma about Nico’s developmental condition. That was eight months ago and as I re-read that one emotional post that was published in this online journal back in August last year, I can’t seem to contain tears falling from my eyes as I remembered those times of weeping, questioning, reassessing, and accepting.

Thankfully, I moved on and bravely traveled with Nico as we journey together in defeating that unknown. I definitely cannot say that the journey was smooth sailing because honestly, there were so many of those bumps that we encountered along the way. Nevertheless, encouraging results outweighed them rough roads considerably.

Nico underwent early intervention programs through regular speech/language and occupational therapy sessions for six months starting July of 2008. The sessions are done just one hour for each therapy/once a week but resource wise, we were not financially prepared.  Yet, in His merciful ways, God provided ways for us to earn enough resources needed for the intervention programs. God is really good! :)  And as I read through the progress reports furnished to us this January (I will do a separate post for the texts of the progress reports next time), I can’t help but feel overjoyed with how everything went.

It was a great blessing too that the interventions are very much supported by the school where Nico is enrolled. Hubby and I saw and felt wholeheartedly how sincere the school was in partnering with us as we do our own follow up at home.

And at the onset of the new year, a significant piece of good news greeted us. After gathering the progress reports from Nico’s mentors, we finalized an appointment with Nico’s Neuro DevPed for a re-assessment. The re-assessment was done 13 January and after subjecting Nico to about three-hour sets of tests (the test administered was Griffith’s Mental Development Scales) and interviews, and considerations of the positive developments contained in the progress reports, the DevPed dismissed her earlier diagnosis of Nico being in the gray area of autism spectrum and concluded it was more of an expressive-receptive communication issue.

In a nutshell, Nico’s neurodevelopmental abilities ranges from 3.6 to 6 years old level with relative strengths in the fine motor domain and weakness in the language domain.

We haven’t got hold of the comprehensive report that will be mailed to us this February but as the DevPed discussed during the re-assessment, normally, kids pick-up and learn to fully use expressive and receptive language at around three to four years old but there are those like Nico who are yet to reach this level. In Nico’s case, it was more of a regression since it was noted that he learned communicating before but then it regressed back. A big factor to that were the limitations in the environment that Nico was previously exposed too. That is why, early intervention programs and good follow-up at home are very important to boost Nico’s communication/language skills.  The Neuro DevPed also pointed out that for now, Nico excels in academics but if the communication issue is not addressed before Nico enters big school (which I think is a common dilemma of majority of parents whose child is reeling from adjusting to the teaching approach in preschool vs. big school), the impairment in the language area may lead to a Learning Disability, which is another issue that needs to be addressed altogether.

For the next six months, the DevPed advised us to have Nico undergo an EEG as we—us and the therapists, and the school teachers, noted that there seems to be some 3-5 seconds of delay whenever Nico communicates back. Actually the EEG, together with another test-BAER, were required during our initial assessment back in June 2008 but because the tests require Nico to be sleeping during the procedures, we failed after two attempts. For this EEG, the DevPed gave prescription of the shot the will be administered so that Nico is sleeping when the procedure is done.

We were also advised to have Nico continue with his therapy sessions but this time, in group settings. For occupational therapy, it will include social skills training and further improvement of adaptive skills. For speech therapy, right now, we are waiting for Nico to be matched with another kid in the therapy center for a speech dyad and this coming summer, we will avail of the center’s group therapy programs.

Along with the therapies, good follow-up of interventions at home is also encouraged, noting the use of consistent, kind and firm discipline.

Another re-assessment is set July 2009 to monitor Nico’s progress.

I can only feel nothing but be very thankful we passed that trying time triumphantly. Looking back, I cannot imagine myself forever confined in those episodes of questioning God why some things have to happen and why of all people in this world, it was my son. Now, I realized the reasons for my why’s.  I admit, at some point in our lives, Hubby and I had episodes of doubt and almost decided we won’t have anymore children so we can concentrate on exclusively rearing Nico.  But look at what God surprised us with.  At a time we didn’t expect, another wonderful blessing is coming very soon.  Perhaps, it was God’s way of making us realize of our purpose— that is to shepherd and shower with all our love and be the responsible parents we can be for Nico and our coming little one.

No doubt, God has His purpose. Who am I to question?  All I had to do is surrender my complete trust in Him, and He will do the rest for me.