The pursuit of downshifting
I had dedicated much of my adult life to building a career in art history and management, but deep down in my heart, I knew that I wanted something more... Perhaps, having grown older and maybe a bit wiser, I desired nothing more than to take better care of my family and myself. It wasn't easy to leave behind a career that I had built for more than a decade, nor the security of a stable income. Like other couples, we had (and still have) financial commitments and concerns.
However, during the Holy month of Ramadan in 2013, when I was 37 years old, something shifted within me. I felt confident that the time had come for me to leave my career behind. With prayers and support from my family, I followed my heart and became a stay at home mum. Not long after tendering my resignation, I found out that I was pregnant! This was a huge surprise, as we had been hoping for a second child for ten years.
God's divine plan
Our second child was due on 18 June 2014, but in my 30th week of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. After a long stay at the hospital, I gave birth to a little angel named Arif Rizqi, via emergency c-section on 30 April 2014. Arif was born prematurely at 33 weeks and weighed just 1.36 kg at birth. After staying at the Neonatal ICU for nearly a month, we were finally able to bring him home on 27 May 2014.
Autism: Hope and devotion
On 12 October 2016, a day after my husband's 40th birthday, Arif was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since then, we've embarked on what I like to think of as a journey of hope and devotion.
The circumstances surrounding the arrival of my second child and his diagnosis have taught me many valuable lessons, particularly in not taking things for granted. I now have a better appreciation of God’s divine plan and I place my faith in Him. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and reading my story. I hope you have a great day, take care!
However, during the Holy month of Ramadan in 2013, when I was 37 years old, something shifted within me. I felt confident that the time had come for me to leave my career behind. With prayers and support from my family, I followed my heart and became a stay at home mum. Not long after tendering my resignation, I found out that I was pregnant! This was a huge surprise, as we had been hoping for a second child for ten years.
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| Amir is super excited to become a big brother. |
Our second child was due on 18 June 2014, but in my 30th week of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. After a long stay at the hospital, I gave birth to a little angel named Arif Rizqi, via emergency c-section on 30 April 2014. Arif was born prematurely at 33 weeks and weighed just 1.36 kg at birth. After staying at the Neonatal ICU for nearly a month, we were finally able to bring him home on 27 May 2014.
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Holding Arif for the first time, when he reached 1.5kg :)
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On 12 October 2016, a day after my husband's 40th birthday, Arif was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since then, we've embarked on what I like to think of as a journey of hope and devotion.
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| Arif's autism diagnosis. |
The circumstances surrounding the arrival of my second child and his diagnosis have taught me many valuable lessons, particularly in not taking things for granted. I now have a better appreciation of God’s divine plan and I place my faith in Him. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and reading my story. I hope you have a great day, take care!
Yours sincerely,
Adline A. Ghani a.k.a. Adline Writes
