Bagi keluarga kami, kehadiran Shanum adalah anugerah terindah. Shanum adalah anak ketiga kami, satu-satunya anak perempuan yang begitu kami nantikan. Saat dokter menyampaikan bahwa Shanum terlahir dengan down syndrome, perasaan kami campur aduk dan banyak pertanyaan tentang masa depannya. Sebagai orang tua, kami khawatir, terutama karena Shanum adalah anak perempuan. Kami sempat bertanya-tanya, “Bagaimana nanti kalau dia besar? Apakah dia bisa mandiri, bersosialisasi, dan menjalani kehidupan seperti anak lainnya?” Namun di balik kekhawatiran itu, ada tekad besar dalam hati kami: kami ingin melakukan yang terbaik untuk Shanum.
Langkah pertama yang kami lakukan adalah melakukan screening menyeluruh. Puji syukur, hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa secara fisik Shanum sehat, meski memang ada keterlambatan dalam perkembangan. Dari sanalah kami mulai mencari kegiatan yang bisa membantu Shanum berkembang sampai akhirnya kami mengenal program Young Athletes (YA).
Program ini bukan hanya tempat untuk anak-anak mengasah kemampuan dan bakatnya, tapi juga wadah untuk melatih sensorik dan motorik mereka. Di sini, kami tidak hanya melihat perkembangan Shanum, tapi juga bisa berinteraksi dan saling berbagi cerita dengan orang tua lainnya yang memiliki anak berkebutuhan khusus.
Awalnya, Shanum sempat kesulitan beradaptasi. Saat pertama kali mengikuti kegiatan YA, ia tampak kaget dan takut. Shanum menangis, menjerit, bahkan tidak mau bergabung. Hari itu ia terus digendong dan enggan berpisah. Kami memahami, mungkin karena ini lingkungan baru dengan banyak orang yang belum dikenal. Tapi kami yakin, dengan kesabaran, Shanum akan terbiasa.
Setelah beberapa kali pertemuan, perlahan kami mulai melihat perubahan pada Shanum. Dari yang sebelumnya menolak, ia kini mulai mau mencoba berjalan, berlari, bahkan ikut bernyanyi dan menari. Momen yang paling berkesan bagi kami adalah ketika Shanum merangkak, berlatih keseimbangan dengan balance beam, dan ikut dalam permainan scarf. Saat itu, terlihat betapa antusiasnya ia mengikuti kegiatan, hingga tak ingin berhenti. Bagi kami, hal itu menjadi tanda bahwa Shanum mulai menikmati aktivitasnya, mau terlibat, dan mampu fokus pada satu kegiatan.
Sekarang, setiap kali melihat Shanum tersenyum dan berbaur dengan teman-temannya, hati kami dipenuhi rasa syukur. YA membantu kami melihat bahwa setiap kemajuan, sekecil apa pun, adalah keajaiban.
Bagi kami, makna dari kegiatan Young Athletes bukan hanya tentang latihan fisik, tapi tempat anak-anak belajar percaya diri, bersosialisasi, dan menemukan kemampuannya. Sementara bagi orang tua, YA adalah wadah untuk berbagi, saling menguatkan, dan menumbuhkan harapan bersama.
Kami tidak pernah lelah mendampingi Shanum. Kami bersyukur diberi kesempatan untuk membesarkannya. Kami percaya, Shanum adalah titipan yang harus kami jaga dan bimbing hingga ia bisa berdiri sendiri, bersosialisasi, dan berguna bagi dirinya serta orang lain.
For our family, the arrival of Shanum is the most precious blessing. She is our third child and the only daughter we had longed for. When the doctor told us that Shanum was born with Down syndrome, our feelings were mixed and so many questions about her future. As parents, we were deeply concerned, especially because Shanum is our only daughter. We often wondered, “What will her future be like? Will she be able to live independently, to socialize, and to experience life like other children?” But behind those worries, there was a strong determination within us: the determination to do our best for her.
The first step we took was to have her undergo medical screening. Thankfully, the results showed that Shanum was physically healthy, though there might be developmental delays. From that moment, we started looking for activities that could support her growth, until we finally found the Young Athletes (YA) program.
This program is not only a place for children to explore their skills and talents, but also an opportunity to strengthen their sensory and motor abilities. Through this program, we not only witness Shanum’s progress but also get the chance to connect and share experiences with other parents of children with special needs.
At first, Shanum found it difficult to adapt. During her first YA session, she seemed overwhelmed and frightened. She's crying, screaming, and refusing to join the group. That day, she stayed in our arms the entire time. We understood that it was a new environment filled with unfamiliar faces, unlike her usual surroundings at home. Still, we believed that with patience and consistency, she would gradually adjust.
After several sessions, we gradually began to see changes in Shanum. From initially refusing to participate, she started to try walking, running, and even joining in singing and dancing. One of the most memorable moments for us was when Shanum crawled, practiced her balance on the balance beam, and joined the scarf activity. At that moment, we could see how enthusiastic she was. she didn’t want to stop. For us, it was a clear sign that Shanum had begun to enjoy the activities, was willing to take part, and could stay focused on one task.
Today, whenever we see Shanum smiling and interacting with her friends, our hearts are filled with gratitude. Young Athletes has shown us that every small progress is a miracle.
For us, the meaning of this program goes beyond physical exercise but a place where children learn confidence, social interaction, and self-discovery. For parents, it is a community of support, where we can share, learn, and grow together with hope.
We never feel tired of accompanying Shanum. We are grateful to have her in our lives. We believe that she is a precious gift entrusted to us. one that we must nurture, guide, and support until she can live independently, socialize, and bring goodness to herself and others.