Stories about Carers
This episode tells the stories of two mothers caring for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Mom Ho’s son, Hei, was diagnosed with autism at a young age, but her husband has always been unwilling to accept it. Later, their son was also diagnosed with schizophrenia, which her husband similarly refuses to acknowledge. Lacking understanding and support from her partner, Mom Ho has had to walk this path alongside her son alone, caught between her husband and her child, bearing the pressure of being the sole caregiver.
Eventually, she began to show symptoms of depression. She told her son’s psychologist that if she couldn’t change her husband’s mindset, she would have to change herself. In recent years, she found companionship at the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service’s Family Resources and Services Centre for Mental Health Rehabilitation, where she could share the difficulties faced by caregivers, finally feeling understood.
Mom Ho and Hei’s story may inspire the other main characters, Ka Ka and Choi Choi. Choi Choi, a fourth grader, has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder, and is raised solely by his mother, Ka Ka. Diagnosed with depression from a young age, Ka Ka often worries that she cannot care for Choi Choi on her own, feeling a lot of anxiety and guilt, making it hard to express the immense pressure she faces.
Understanding and mature, Choi Choi recognizes that his mother sometimes feels sad. He has his own ways to comfort her, which may not always be the best, but with the help of a social worker, he gradually learns about his mother’s needs. Conversely, as Ka Ka witnesses Choi Choi’s growth, she also learns to appreciate herself and affirm her worth as a mother.
