However, since his condition wasn't known yet...we didn't think much of it. We just shrugged it off as maybe, he needed his own seat as he refused to be latched to me. And we looked at his running around the plane was a relieved from being 'tied' up....well, he was only 2 then.
We were lucky the HK flights were only 3-4hrs...and we had such beautiful staffs on the plane who were attending to us & Aqil every time he was cranky or running around the plane. In fact, Aqil was even given a model plane by one of the stewards before we got off the plane.
And so...2 years later, we planned another long-distance trip! Haha! Now...then in 2012, we have referred Aqil to KKH & he was receiving therapies & seeing specialists. We know of his condition...what he was particular of and such...but we decided to go ahead with the trip coz we thought it'd be good to expose him to flight conditions often too. But we forgot that he was no longer the 2-yr-old he was.
Hence, being a 4-yr-old...he's obviously bigger and louder! Yikes! And so, when he started screaming when we boarded the plane, eyes were on us. We had difficulty consoling & calming him down coz people were 'pushing' in to get to their seats thus we were stacked at our seats...cramped for much movements. Soon after, a steward came by & tried to calm Aqil down...to the extent of carrying him to the cabin, to distract him (we forgot abt the situation of people boarding the plane at that time could cause the anxiety in Aqil). Aqil quitened down as he was carried away by the steward.
Nah...we could see him from where we were, and we were so thankful for the staffs again...going all out to make the passengers comfortable.
So once everyone is seated for take-off....the steward returned Aqil to us. This time Aqil had his own seat...hence we buckled him up in his seat. But he was cranky...crying continuously during the take-off. I could only hold on to him & verbally assured him that everything was ok & it would be over soon (the take-off).
The crying continued even after the take-off but more to sobbing & crankiness. All the while Aqil was passed between me, the husbern & the sista...for us to take turns to calm him down. Hugs & carrying him helped him to quieten down. And eventually...abt an hr or so...he was quiet. Why? Hehe...he fell asleep. Alhamdulillah...we were able to continue the flight in peace after that. The trip to Seoul was the same as the trip to HK...both were 5days trips.
But back in HK, Aqil was much smaller...he was more on formula than food. And at that time, he was still eating porridge hence, feeding him was not a problem. The trip to Seoul was a different story...the 5 days seems to be draggy.
By 2012...we sort of knew & suspected of Aqil's autism....though it had not been officially diagnosed. Hence all the conditions & situations he was particular of....we knew. Hence, we brought along his chocolate wafers & Cadbury chocolates...coz we're expecting him to be fussy abt food. And yes...the prediction realized. It was more difficult to get nice halal food in Seoul....most were Indian/Mediterranean food which Aqil do not eat. By the 3rd day...we became a bit desperate...coz he needed to eat something though he didn't really asked for it. We turned to McD (not halal). After checking to make sure they used only veg oil for the fries, we bought a pack for Aqil. And guess what? He refused to eat the fries..."it's different!" He said, pushing the fries away!
SubhanaAllah...that could be His way of protecting this special lil human. It did struck us...but then we were desperate for him to eat something then.
So Aqil was just feeding on the chocolate wafers & Cadbury chocolates that we brought from home that few days. Best thing...we couldn't find any Cadbury in Seoul! Aargh! We understood that the wafers couldn't be found overseas coz its locally produced but Cadbury?
Haha! By day 4...Aqil only had his formula to feed on before we head back home. We could see he was a bit lethargic & weaker. We just couldn't wait to head back home & feed him something!
Flight back home was a bit easier...he was still cranky but maybe because he lacked the food hence no energy to be kicking or screaming.
We felt so so so guilty then. We shouldn't have gone on the trip. But then again, if we didn't go...we wouldn't had the experience. No more planes since then...not with Aqil. Even the sista who was with us during the Seoul trip...strongly said no flights for Aqil yet....until he's much bigger or begin accepting other food.
Luckily the other 2 are more independent hence we can safely leave them to follow their aunties on trips. For Aqil...not yet. Even the 3-day trip to KL last Dec was exhaustive for us. Aqil was cranky every time we reached the car park of the hotel coz he wanted to go home. And he's refusing even McD fries saying it's different! (Halal in Msia) We were lucky he eats the chicken rice at Pavillion. But one can imagine...everyday, we have to go to Pavillion for his chic rice fix.
However, a few days of crankiness is worth it...we still have to expose him to the real world...we can't allow him to continue be in just his comfort zone. Aqil has to learn to adapt. The real world is a rough ride. It will be hard every time...and it may even take forever for him to be able to be apart from home...even just for a short trip...but we'll never give up. 😉
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