KUALA LUMPUR: OVERCOMING The Odds, a book about a sister’s love for her brother, who had Down’s Syndrome, was launched at the Royal Commonwealth Society in Jalan Birah, here, recently.
The sister, writer and publisher Bernice Narayanan, had scheduled the launch to coincide with the birthday of the late brother, Tony Edwin Narayanan, so that she could light a birthday cake to share with friends and guests.
As Tony had loved everything Elvis, Bernice had also arranged for a performance by popular Elvis Presley Tribute artiste Aziz “Presley” Daud, who sang Tony’s favourite Elvis numbers.
Bernice said Overcoming The Odds was a difficult book to write as she was overwhelmed by emotions when writing it most of the time.
“To be able to complete the writing in one month was itself divine intervention,” she said.
The 90-page book, published by BN Communications, is inspired by her wish to create more awareness of Down’s Syndrome as it affected one in every 660 live births.
There was an occasion, she said, of a nurse who had turned a blank stare and asked if her her brother was “gila” when she told her that he had Down’s Syndrome.
The nurse apparently did not even understand what Down’s Syndrome was, she said.
In the the book, Bernice showed how the family had always regarded Tony as a gift from God and accepted him for what he was.
Unconditional love and total acceptance are very important to people with Down’s Syndrome and other handicaps, she said.
Bernice is also known for her work with award-winning travel magazine Mystical Malaysia, which had won her the Best Travel Writer Award from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.
Consultant paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, who is also the Asia Pacific Pediatric Association president, launched the book. He said there were still many misconceptions about people with Down’s Syndrome as well as other disabilities.
There is too much of isolation and marginalisation of the handicapped, he said.
“Some parents feel awkward about taking their children out because of their condition,” said the doctor who advised the public to be more sensitive to people with disabilities who need a lot of love, care and acceptance.
“At shopping complexes, some people would look at those with Down’s Syndrome as though they were from outer space.
“Those with Down’s Syndrome could nowadays benefit greatly from early intervention, special education and the appropriate medical care, and a loving home, of course.”
He also pointed out that government divisions tasked with helping those with Down’s Syndrome needed more qualified people so that the children could be educated in the proper way and were able to even join the normal children for lessons.
This way, he said, would also help the children to more easily accept those who are little different.
To purchase Overcoming the Odds, call 010-233 9807. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to the St Paul’s Day Training Centre for intellectually-challenged people.