The first time a medical professional suggested that my son might be dealing with cerebral palsy, he was only a month old. I found myself standing in the corridor outside his NICU room, grappling with the weight of a future I hadn’t even begun to comprehend. All I could focus on was helping him through that day.
In my confusion, I asked the doctor the question that plagued my mind: “Will he be able to walk?” The response was unexpected and unsettling: “You should be more worried about whether he will talk.”
At that moment, I had no idea that cerebral palsy could affect not just mobility but also speech, vision, and cognitive abilities. It was a lot to take in while enveloped in the stark, clinical atmosphere of the NICU. Fast forward six years, and my son, Ethan, has become a beacon of resilience despite being mostly nonverbal and reliant on a wheelchair.
Through this journey, I have learned significant truths about communication. I understand that a lack of speech does not equate to a lack of understanding. Ethan communicates in various ways — through sign language, speech-generating devices, his expressive face, and his personal favorite, animated gestures. But perhaps the most thrilling discovery has been watching him learn to read.
To clarify, I experienced the sheer joy of realizing that Ethan had already grasped reading. This revelation came during a visit to a local educational store where I constantly seek tools to engage Ethan’s unique talents and shed light on his inner world. I had a hunch that, based on how he eagerly flipped through the children’s books lining our shelves, he might be absorbing some words.
But how could I be certain? How could I tell if he wasn’t merely captivated by the book’s textures or illustrations? To find out, I purchased a set of plain black-and-white word flashcards to eliminate any visual clues.
We started simply, laying out three cards: “dog,” “red,” and “car.” I asked, “Ethan, where’s the car?” His hand shot out, confidently pointing at the right card, and he beamed as if he had just won a prize.
At first, I wondered if it was a fluke, but as we continued, I realized the truth. He could genuinely read. Tears of joy filled my eyes as I celebrated this milestone he achieved independently. Unlike the slow, sometimes painful progress we made in physical and feeding therapies, this was a pathway he carved out for himself — a journey toward literacy.
Reading is a pivotal moment for any parent. We cherish the idea of our children entering new worlds through books, just as we did. For me, it was no different. The fact that he couldn’t vocalize the words didn’t diminish the richness it brought to his experience and, by extension, mine.
We dove into classics like “Goodnight Moon,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” and “Where the Wild Things Are.” As the child of a librarian, I was determined to fill Ethan’s life with literature.
Lately, our shared love of reading has become a cherished bond. We explore the local park with books in hand, download reading apps on his tablet, and frequent the library. We even exchange books with friends, often cuddling on the couch with him engrossed in “Curious George,” while I pretend to read whatever I’ve picked up.
Sometimes, I find myself observing him over the top of my book, captivated by his engagement with the pages. The story of my son’s reading journey is far more compelling than whatever narrative I’m attempting to follow.
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In summary, witnessing my non-verbal son, Ethan, discover reading has been a profound joy. It has transformed our connection and opened new avenues for communication and understanding.