Hi! I'm Kenzo. This is how my adventure started — and how Daddy and I found out my brain is extra special.
I was really little. Mama and Daddy noticed I was different from other kids. I used to say some words, but then they started to go away. I liked playing by myself with my favorite things — lining them up, spinning them, looking at them really close. Daddy says I was curious about everything, but in my own way.
Other people kept telling Daddy, "He'll catch up, don't worry!" But Daddy had a feeling. He says his tummy told him to pay attention. I'm glad he listened.
Mama and Daddy took me to a lot of doctors. We went to so many offices! They watched me play and asked Daddy lots of questions. Then one day, a doctor said I have something called ASD. That stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder — it's a really long name!
Mama and Daddy looked worried at first. They were quiet in the car on the way home. But now they say the diagnosis wasn't a bad thing. It just means my brain is special — it works a little different. And knowing that helped Daddy figure out the best ways to help me.
A diagnosis is not something to be scared of. It's actually the start of understanding your child better. The sooner you know, the sooner you can help — and the right support early on can make a world of difference. If your gut is telling you something, listen to it. I almost didn't, and I'm so glad I did.
I go to therapy two times a week! I have a speech therapist and an occupational therapist. My therapists are really nice. We play games and practice talking and doing things with my hands. It's hard sometimes but I try my best.
Daddy says I worked really hard for two whole years. But my words were still having trouble coming out. That's when Daddy started wondering — is there something else going on? Something the doctors haven't found yet?
That big question sent Daddy on a research adventure. He found out about something called Cerebral Folate Deficiency and FRAA testing. Those are really big words! But they're super important. You can read about them in the next chapters.
Daddy spent lots and lots of nights reading on his computer. So many nights! He found so much cool stuff — studies and research and things that could help kids like me. But he says there wasn't anything written for Filipino families like us. The information was hard to find, the doctors were far away, and the things we needed were tricky to get here in the Philippines.
So Daddy made this website. He put everything he learned in one place — organized into chapters, like a storybook. He did it so the next mama or daddy doesn't have to do it all alone. He says no family should have to start from zero.
Daddy and I are still on our adventure together. We're still learning new things every day. And we want to share all of it with you!