Akif and Asim
.....Suddenly he came running almost charging at me and before I could do anything he was all over me, hugging and kissing me. I was sitting on the sofa in the living room and my daughter was in the kitchen. It took me by surprise as I was watching the Disney Channel on TV trying to explain one or two words to Huzaifah.
"Wo...wo...wo....hold on Akif. What are you doing ?", I wrestled with him a bit as I was afraid he would ruin my glasses and it would be a disaster ...
Suddenly he took out my head scarf and shouted out loud: "Embah you have grey hair ! Why's your hair grey?
This is Akif my dear grandson and he is an autistic child. My immediate reaction was a big laugh and said "..because I am old..old people have grey hair."
"Why do old people have grey hair?" looking at me demanding an answer!
"Because I was born a long time ago..." What better answer can one give.
Then he hugged me harder and kissed me ferociously and said "O Embah, I love old woman, I love you..."
That was totally unexpected and I was so touched by his action that I was almost in tears... He is autistic and has his own ways of doing things.
"Okay Akif I love you too", and hugged him in return.
"Embah, I love old woman...." he said again and again and ruffled my grey hair... he laughed and giggled. I was enjoying that special moment....
Akif made my day. He is five and attends a special class in a normal school in Putrajaya. Ever since he was diagnosed "mildly autistic" I learned new things about life, about the greatness of Allah and His creations and I learn the meaning of: "Nothing that He creates is created invain".
My daughter educates me on autistic children as she learned from the professionals in HUKM and UMMC. Children are special in their own ways and an autistic child like Akif is even more special to me. He loves to look at picture books and will insists on his mother to read them to him whenever he feels like doing. Akif has a lot of energy, typical of some autistic children, and likes to wrestle with his brothers or even with adults like me and my husband.
May Allah has mercy on Akif and on all others like him. Ameen.....
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3 comments:
asalam.
i've not had the privilege to meet akif yet, i've only heard stories about him from his mom, however, he already has a special place in my heart.i can imagine you beaming with pride while writing this entry because i would too. you are lucky to have akif in your life and akif too is very lucky to have you as his grandmom. my son, iddin, is already 19.
Dear Hayati, Thank you for noticing my story about Akif. I took care of him In Tokyo right after his birth and I always enjoy him and others in the family. I have special grandchildren in different ways. Uwais my other grandson was born with club-feet and I admire my daughter in law patiently attending to his special needs. Uwais is normal now and he interacts well with Ujai, Akif's elder brother. Ujai is also special and his mom would tell you how. May Iddin enjoy his teenage years and may he be blessed always. Take care...
Dear Hayati, Thank you for noticing my story about Akif. I took care of him In Tokyo right after his birth and I always enjoy him and others in the family. I have special grandchildren in different ways. Uwais my other grandson was born with club-feet and I admire my daughter in law patiently attending to his special needs. Uwais is normal now and he interacts well with Ujai, Akif's elder brother. Ujai is also special and his mom would tell you how. May Iddin enjoy his teenage years and may he be blessed always. Take care...
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