31/05/2024
CHARLES GOES TO SCHOOL.
L. A. Oyagaba Abah.
EPISODE 1: The Early Days of Charles
Charles Onyejonchi entered the world with bright eyes and a gentle cry. His mother, Onyeche, cradled him tenderly, oblivious to the challenges ahead, anyway.
To Charles' mother, he's not just a blessing to her, but a lifter of reproach of 15 years of what people around her described as barrenness.
The husband, Onyejonchi, got married to another woman after five years without a child with Onyeche.
The birth of Charles wiped her tears away.
As months passed, Charles rarely smiled and avoided eye contact. His mother noticed his delayed speech and repetitive behaviours.
She took Charles to different hospitals, just to be sure all was well with Charles.
Every well-meaning but vague reassurance from doctors added to her worry.
Deep in her heart, the mother knew her precious baby was different.
"Autism Spectrum Disorder," a specialist hospital finally diagnosed.
The weight of those words crushed the mother's spirit.
Alone and overwhelmed, she cried herself to sleep, clutching Charles to her chest.
Charles' meltdowns became more frequent and intense. His mother felt utterly helpless, watching him struggle.
Determined to get help, she took him to various hospitals, but each specialist offered only brief guidance.
"Follow this routine," they advised, but the mother found the practical application daunting and elusive.
Her hope dwindled further.
One day, driven to despair, his mother made a desperate decision.
She took Charles to an orphanage because the weight was only on her, hoping they’d provide the care he needed. The husband, Onyejonchi, cared less about the worries and the burden his wife carried. "This is not the kind of son I waited for for many years", he would say. "This is obviously not my son", he would add.
"We don't have the resources for children with special needs," the director of Precious Kids Orphanage Home said gently.
Charles' mother felt a new depth and pang of despair. Where else could she turn?
That Sunday, the mother found solace in her church.
She sobbed quietly in a corner, feeling utterly lost after the Sunday service.
A soft voice interrupted her thoughts from a corner. "Are you alright?" It was Mr. Ojema, a child development psychologist.
Ojema listened patiently as the woman poured out her troubles, tears streaming down her face.
Ojema's eyes softened with understanding. "You're not alone," he assured her. "I know a place that can help."
He told her about Adorable Children Special Education School, a beacon of hope for children like Charles.
The woman's heart lifted slightly, daring to hope once more.
The next morning, she reached out to Adorable Children Special Education School on phone. The warm voice on the phone reassured her.
"Bring Charles in for an evaluation," they said. That night, Charles' mother barely slept, her mind racing with possibilities. Could this finally be the answer she was seeking?
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Is an autistic child a blessing or a curse to his or her family? Follow L. A. Oyagaba Abah through the life of little Charles in school.
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L. A. Oyagaba Abah is a teacher and a writer. He currently teaches in a school where inclusive education is practised.
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