Do you know what that means?” When the developmental pediatrician revealed her diagnosis on my 4-year-old son Zac in September 2011, I felt I was in a free fall. I had considered Zac my miracle gift from God, given that I had him when I was 34 and eager to experience motherhood. At the same time, I noticed that Zac lacked the natural desire to speak and expressed himself through gestures. But autism and its many physical limitations still have a hold on him: he cannot stand noise and is over-sensitive to sound. Out of the blue, a cousin asked for a painting that would herald the birth of her first grandson.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 20, 2019 23:03 UTC