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Dreaming of a life more ordinary
Hope is a way of life for Malad couple with two autistic daughters. Our girls are special, they told Mauli Buch
People say it is difficult for autistic children to understand others' emotions, but I feel the reverse is true. I have never seen my daughters be rude to anyone. What more could a father want?............NANDKISHORE RATHI, Father of two autistic girls
IT'S BEEN 13 years since Nandkishore and Poonam Rathi's elder daughter Peenal was diagnosed with autism. She was just three months old.
Her parents were still learning how to deal with the news when their second daughter, Reenal, was also diagnosed with the same condition - a brain development disorder that first shows signs during infancy or childhood. Autistic children usually show signs of impaired social interaction and insensitivity to pain, repeat words or phrases and have unmotivated tantrums. "Peenal had pneumonia when she was three months old. But I didn't even realise she was in pain," said her mother Poonam. "It was when she was eight months old and still not reacting normally that we realised something was wrong." The Rathis were living in Nashik then; they moved to Mumbai 18 months ago. But till they shifted, Poonam would bring her daughters all the way to the metro to meet their doctor. She and her husband, a property dealer and IT consultant, have taken things in his stride. "People say it's difficult for autistic children to understand others' emotions, but I feel the reverse is true," said Nandkishore. "It may take a while for my children to comprehend things. But once they have, they never forget." He also feels his girls are more loving and understanding than other children their age. "I have never seen my daughters be rude to anyone. What more could a father want?" he said. They admit there are certain things they had to get used to. Like the girls' mood swings. "They are both very moody," laughed Poonam. And they both fear for Peenal, who has now hit adolescence. "I don't know how my wife and I will explain to Peenal the ways of the world and how she must take care of herself," said Nandkishore, tears in his eyes. "I wish I could just follow her around everywhere." And, like all parents, they have a dream for their children. "We dream of them grown up, well settled in a safe and secure world of their own," said Poonam. URL: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=04_04_2008_006_003&typ=0&pub=264 |
