“A genius is a man who takes the lemons that Fate hands him, and starts a lemonade-stand with them.” (Elbert Hubbard 1909, in Literary Digest)
What if you wake up one day, and realized that things do not turn out as expected? Instead of giving birth to a normal baby boy, the baby has some developmental problems. Here’s a narrative of a mother’s first-hand experience:
“What sets me apart from other mothers is something many of them have not experienced — being a mother to a child with special needs. On May 26,2014, I gave birth to our fourth son, Dagaya. During the first six months, I noticed something different about my son’s development. My husband and I decided to consult Dagaya’s paediatrician, addressing this concern beyond his routine check-ups. After a careful assessment, the paediatrician referred us to a neurodevelopmental doctor in Cebu City. On Dec. 8, 2015, Dagaya was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay, a condition occurring during a child’s developmental period, typically between birth and 18 years.
Receiving the diagnosis was heartbreaking. It was hard not to blame myself. I asked countless questions, but as time passed, I realized that self-blame would not help my son.
In August 2017, when Dagaya was four years old, a developmental paediatrician diagnosed him with Autism with Intelligence and Language Deficiency. The symptoms were now undeniable: repetitive skin-biting, poor eye contact, lack of pointing, strict routines, and difficulty interacting with others.
But the final diagnosis did not break me anymore. I had accepted Dagaya’s condition, and prepared myself for whatever news might come.
We tried different types of therapies. But what stood out was the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy by the TeamWorks Company.
ABA is a a comprehensive type of therapy that addresses behavioural, sensory, and speech issues. Progress after progress, we celebrated with Dagaya.
Today, at 10 years old, Dagaya remains non-verbal, but his progress is a testament to the love and support we’ve received from friends, family, doctors, teachers, and therapists.
Inspired by stories of children overcoming autism, we hold onto hope that he will recover; if not fully, then at least enough to ease his challenges.” (Jean Cuanan- Nalam)
The “lemons” that Jean Cuanan-Nalam referred to in her story was transformed into a “lemonade-stand” with the creation of Dagaya TeamWorks, established in 2024 together with some colleagues.
They cater to children with: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Down Syndrome (DS), and Learning Disorders.
You may contact them at 0917-705-2435, or email dagayateamworks@gmail.com
They’re located at Unit 412, Portal West, Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City.
So if life throws you a lemon, call Dagaya TeamWorks.
Here is a poem for you: The Optimist
Life handed him a lemon,/As Life sometimes will do./His friends looked on in pity/Assuming he was through./They came upon him later/Reclining in the shade/In calm contentment, drinking/A glass of lemonade. (The Rotarian, 1940)
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Author’s email: nptayko@gmail.com
