‘Extraordinary’ Shairid walks on his own despite disability

 

Muhammad Shairid Hadif was born with an underdeveloped spine and legs.

KOTA TINGGI: 

Muhammad Shairid Hadif Ridhuan Shah is no ordinary five-year-old – born with an underdeveloped spine and legs, doctors predicted he might never walk on his own.

However, the youngest of five siblings proved everyone wrong when he learnt to stand on his own at just two years old, and move forward with the use of his hands.

The preschooler’s story caught the attention of internet users in February when a video of the boy’s first day at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Waha, Kota Tinggi, Johor went viral.

His mother, Siti Azah Mohd Jinal, 38, described the moment as deeply emotional, as she never expected that Shairid, who has faced numerous health issues since infancy, could be so independent and adapt so easily in school.“When he was a baby, he couldn’t move his legs at all. But by six months old, he could move his toes, and by the age of two, he could stand,” she told FMT.

Recalling his first day at school, Azah said she initially considered enrolling Shairid in the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI), but teachers informed her that her son’s intelligence quotient (IQ) was within the normal range.

With his mother, Siti Azah Mohd Jinal, and siblings (from left) Nursyifa Syafina, Norqisha Elina, Muhammad Shahfikri, and Muhammad Shahfrizal.

“The PPKI teacher said his IQ was normal and that he should join a regular class, so I enrolled him at SK Bukit Waha. Thankfully, he was accepted,” she said.

And so began Shairid’s first experience of school, of socialising with others and learning just like all the other children were. Azah said this renewed her confidence in her son’s ability to be independent.

“On his first day, the teachers said he could skip school assembly, but I insisted that he join his classmates. I wanted him to experience the same things as the other children,” she recalled.

As a single mother, Azah said she has never wanted her son to be pitied because of his physical condition, and that’s why she took pains to raise him to be independent like other kids.

Shairid with his teacher, Haizul Hakeem Katemin, reviewing lessons alongside other students.

Meanwhile, SK Bukit Waha preschool teacher Haizul Hakeem Katemin said that although this was his first experience teaching a student with disabilities, Shairid was easy to manage as the boy preferred to do things on his own.

Haizul said Shairid’s classmates warmed up to him within three weeks, even though at first, they were confused about why he looked different from them, and asked about his condition.

“I told them that Shairid is special and that we should help him and take care of him. Thankfully they understood, and despite their young age, they showed concern for him,” he said. - FMT