This is what Alphonse “wrote” when I let him loose on the iPad six days ago. Just these two words, and then he handed it back to me.
I don’t know what he meant by it, but the longer I think about it, the more convinced I am he is trying to tell me something important. This may be a fluke or happenstance, a chance combination of fiddling with the iPad and autocorrect working together, but then again, it may not be. He hasn’t tried to type again, even as I pushed the iPad on him these last few days. This morning, for example, all he wanted to do was to watch short bits of the cartoon “Tangled” on YouTube.
I am knocking my head around, trying to make sense of this. As usual, it makes me feel helpless for not being able to help him express himself. God knows we’ve tried a lot of things, from PECS to augmentative communicative devices (one even lovingly given as a gift by a good friend) to the PC and the iPad.
Still, when an unexpected thing like this happens, it only reaffirms what we believe all along- that inside is a person trying to reach out to us. We can’t ever give up breaking down the walls of silence around him. While the prospects of that may seem dim at times, I still have hopes that someday it might just happen.
Crossing my fingers and knocking on wood.
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Hi PInky, my two cents’ worth — uncross your fingers, simply trust, and say thanks. Alphonse is the angel God sent your family and you accepted him with open hearts.He may speak in parables the way Jesus did or he may not speak at all. But, also like the Lord, he is with you and that’s all that matters. Love you! ♥
I failed to say — how touching the way you wrote about it. I was rebuked — have been down lately and your piece knocked some sense into my head. In a sense, Alphonse is an angel sent to you but he brings God’s message to all who read your stories about him. Thank you for your openness.
Perhaps it was a message for all of us, to speak of God’s truth always, Lulu. And yes, I will uncross my fingers and trust, as I have all these years. I trust the Lord to lead us to where He wants us to be. Thanks for reminding me of that too. Hugs and kisses, dear Lulu!
My God. This gave me goose bumps.
I know, Adi, me too. 🙂
It will come, Pinky. Magandang start na yan o. 🙂
Here’s hoping, Ails! 🙂
Alam mo, hindi sa sinasabi kong maganda na hindi siya nakakapagcommunicate… pero minsan, may sinasabi si Dale na sobra akong nasasaktan…. to the point na iniisip ko “bakit wala akong magawa?” The most hurtful thing he told me was a plea for help… he locked the door and stayed inside my room… and when I asked him to please open the door he cried “mommy… you have to help me… my brain works differently.” and I just stood at the other end and started crying, too, because I was not sure how I can help him.
I think Alphonse is reaching out to you. Maybe he wants the truth. Maybe he was asking you to tell him why everything is different. Just maybe. God bless.