Redza was also a slow learner. Only speaking at four years old, he couldn’t read well, and struggled to remember nursery rhymes and songs. The boy would often come home from school with bruises from minor accidents: falling from swings or tripping in class.
“We couldn’t find what was wrong. Physically he looked fine, but mentally he was almost two years behind his peers,” the mother of three told FMT Lifestyle.
“Some people told me to let him develop at his own pace, that I had high expectations of him because I was a kindergarten teacher. But I knew I had to do something about my son.”
Concerned, she started looking for anyone who could help Redza. She and her husband eventually quit their jobs, travelling to London and Indonesia to find a potential solution for her son’s learning issues.
Her quest eventually led her to Philadelphia, where she met with renowned American physiotherapist Glenn Doman and his Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential.
The Institutes proved to be a turning point in Redza’s treatment, with its programmes successfully helping him with his learning difficulties. Today, at 41, he manages a company that supplies the government with emergency lights and sirens.
The inspiring tale of Redza’s development is detailed in “Rays of Hope: A Guide for Parents with Brain Injured Children and Children with Learning Difficulties”, a self-published book by Tunku Rafidah. The book was launched on Nov 9 at the Royal Selangor Golf Club.
“It’s good that my mum managed to complete this book. I think there are a lot of people with the same problems, who are just cast aside, and this can be a big help for them,” Redza said about the book.
The bubbly Tunku Rafidah revealed that she had wanted to write her story for the longest time, but somehow “life got in the way”. The pandemic, however, gave her the time to pen her thoughts on paper.
She said that while there is more acceptance and understanding of children with special needs today, many people still need guidance in helping those with learning disabilities.
“Thousands of children still go through the school system nowadays without their problems being addressed. But I believe that if parents discover these issues early and take action, something can be done about it,” she said.
The book contains an honest account of Redza’s four-year journey undergoing the institute’s programme, and the various exercises he had to do. These included “creeping and crawling”, “masking”, and using a brachiation ladder (monkey bars).
Going through the programme wasn’t always easy: one chapter details Redza’s exhaustion at the intensity of the physical activities. However, he stuck with it, and thankfully, soon achieved an admirable level of progress.
The book also includes various photographs of the author and their family, as well as detailed guides of the diet and lifestyle programmes Redza underwent. Advice is also presented for parents who wish to adapt Redza’s programme for their own children.
Ultimately, the book pays homage to the love and dedication of a parent who did all she could to help her son triumph over adversity and overcome his learning disability.
Tunku Rafidah said she hopes to eventually translate her book into Malay, to extend its readership reach.
“I hope I can leave a legacy. Maybe people will read this, and think, ah my child is like that too, maybe if I do what she did I can help him or her. Taking an active role in their education is the best thing you can do for any child, brain-injured or otherwise,” she said.
For more information or to purchase the book, contact Rena at 019-300 7002.