Nevertheless, this is not as bad as i think because i am attached to Dr. Amar who is so much an inspiring figure to me. He is just an extraordinary person that his knowlege is boundless and to me, he is a TRUE doctor!He gives me a lot of freedom in arranging my own schedule and the trip he brought us to Parit centre was indeed meaningful to me.
Though i only started my attachment for just merely 3 days, i have really learnt a lot more than what i have learnt so far in the ward for the past one year. I found that this attachment is really eye opening for me.
I did an interview with a mother of a child with Down Syndrome who again, gave me a lot of inspiration. From her, i realized that there is still much to be done to educate the community about the the children with special need. I am going to put up part of our interview with her just to share this with you people. I hope you can learn as much or even more than what i have learnt from her.
Interview with a parent of a Down Syndrome Child
Q: What are the social stigmata that you face? How do you cope with that?
A: When I bring him out, other people will throw me a different kind of look. Some of them are even scared of getting near him. I still remember there was one time when he was young, I brought him to a shopping mall and he was playing with other children and I was watching them quietly from behind. Suddenly, a grandmother of one of the children came forward and pulled her grandson away and warned him that not to play with the mad child, or else he will get the illness as well. So my son was wondering why all of a sudden, his friends did not want to play with him anymore and when he turned to me and asked why, the grandmother only realized my existence and felt so ashamed and walked away quickly. I feel quite sad but there is nothing I can do. It is just their opinion and as long as I know my child is harmless to anyone and I treat my child normally, that’s good enough. Nevertheless, I hope that the community should be educated on this issue and become more considerate to these children with special need and not rejecting them like that.
Q: What is your most memorable experience with your son?
A: When he learnt to walk at the age of 3 on his birthday. I was so surprise and yet unbelievable as he was still not able to crawl and even more amazing was that he was able to run the next day. It was like a miracle to me.
Q: What is your advice to other parents with children of special need?
A: Never give up! Please have faith and in your children. Though your children may be of special need, they can grow and develop well if you nurture them appropriately since they are young. Please treat them as normal children. If your treat them as normal, the will grow and develop like normal children. They need your love and support. Please do not give up.
Q: What do you think that the government can do for the children with special need?
A: The government should not only provide care for children up to 19 years old but also care for those above 19 years old. The system now is in such that the children with special need who are above 19 years can no longer kept in the special schools and most of the time, the community does not provide job opportunity to these children and thus, the parents can either keep this children at home or depends on NGOs. But how much can the NGOs do for us? They have limited fund, man power and resources but if the government gives support to the NGOs and things would be different and a lot can be done.
Q: What do you think that the community can do for them?
A: Please do not have prejudice on them. Please accept them as normal people.
Q: What is your advice for us as medical students?
A: When you become a doctor in the future, please do not act like the doctors I had brought my son to see when he was young. I took him to see quite a number of doctors and I had quarrel with them because they told me that my son was hopeless, he will never grow and he will only remain like that for the rest of his life. I was so upset and argued with them that my son is all right and he will grow normally and see how my son has achieved so far. He is doing great! Therefore, please stand on the patient’s parents’ view and understand them and give them support. This does not mean that you should give false hope to them but to tell them the facts and help them to build up faith and hope in their child as well as to help them to overcome problems and hardships that they face.
I do not know how much inspiring is this for you but i hope you would get something from this. Let's work together by just giving a little consideration for them and please stop having prejudice on them!This little work that we do may change the world to become a better place to live.
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