Thank God for watching over Stephen and Deborah for the past year. Both of them have grown in their different ways. Especially when Stephen needs a different sort of management, our Deborah jie jie has got to learn to accomodate di di's style of doing things.

Just a few days ago, while I was managing a very difficult Stephen, Deborah took out a book "Kevin's World" and started reading it. It's not as if I haven't read it but somehow I don't have the supersonic spirit to remember the things that I should be armed with as I manage the boy. So, that became a refreshing moment for me as I read the line to talk calmly and firmly, not to yell and don't talk too fast because it's like he's in his own world...

Then, I thought about this thing : does Stephen understand or does he not? Wonder how long I'm going to be learning this lesson as long as Stephen is with us or the other way round... Not always a breeze, not a breeze, can't even opt myself out of this. Much trying, much prayer, much trust... in things seen and not seen... need to lean on the Lord and trust in His purpose. It turned out on that day, Deborah and I had a very good time reading the book together. Each of us took on a different role as suggested by Deborah. The story had a swap in characters. Kevin became Stephen, David became Deborah and John became Caleb (On why is Caleb a character in this story, you could find out more from Deborah). Through all these, Deborah and I also strengthened our bond as both of us claim Stephen to be our baby and we agreed that we would always take care of him.

Here are some observations and thoughts on Stephen's development over the past months.

1) Language Production
Stephen has been responding positively towards our prompts for him to repeat after us. Especially when he initiates interest in something, for eg. food, he is likely to repeat "Please, I want to eat" after us more readily than before.

This evening, while I played the piano, Stephen sang "Twinkle twinkle little stars" in both English and Chinese. He would be upset when I tried playing other tunes for he would stop me from playing and reposition my hands on the keyboard.

2) Sponge
Can't think of a better image than "sponge"... I remember one morning in Nov/Dec while I was in a corner obscure from Stephen's sight, I heard him said, "t-e-d-d-y b-e-a-r ... teddy bear". I was amused that he did it a few times before I realised that he was doing so and after which he continued on for some more time.

A few days ago, at Annie's place, Stephen was looking at a flashcard and he pointed his finger at each letter as he said it "x-y-l-o-p-h-o-n-e ... xylophone". I didn't even noticed it and it was Annie who directed us to look at Stephen. After that we clapped for Stephen and said "Good job". Guess what? Stephen looked at us eye-to-eye and he smiled, and he spelt out the letters and tried to say the word again.

Moments like these are not always here for us and when they happen, they become celebrations. It's like Stephen has stepped into our world or that we've stepped into his. For a moment, it seems like we are together, not just the bodily presence, but the understanding that we share as he looks directly at us and we look back at him.

Besides these, Annie shared that she even heard Stephen singing the whole offertory song (from Sun Sch) on his own.

What does all these mean for me? What does that mean to you? I take on the voice of Stephen's mother and would appeal to some of you to consider this... you're one of his teachers at the Sun School, what would you do for this little boy who appear to be a phantom who would be taken out from the class when he become noisy? Are there other possible ways of managing this situation? Is this boy of worth to you? Are you willing to factor this boy and his condition into your class? Do you believe that he could "absorb" some things from you as his teacher? Do you realise that he is aware of his environment including you?

I cannot answer all these questions and cannot provide you with solutions to engage him fully at all times. But this thing I know - I cannot do all these by myself or just with Daniel or Deborah's involvement alone. I may choose to remain silent or choose to believe that through the voice of a third party Stephen's cause can be taken up. But, I decide to choose this platform of communicating my concern because I know that some of you care for him and are in the position to help him with the existing arrangements. Not so much as in appealing for help or extra involvement, rather to initiate this thing about having Stephen in mind when you are in the capacity to so. Much thanks if you could facilitate. Perhaps when you start doing so, you will start to notice that Stephen is real and there are actually many more Stephens in our midst.