Written by Thanisha Thambidurai, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics by Eva Luo, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

“If I didn’t have Andrew, I wouldn’t know how to view people with disabilities in a different perspective,” said Lilian Quach, mother of FCSN-client Andrew Quach. 

At the age of 3 years old, Andrew was formally diagnosed with autism after developmental differences were noted in a physical exam at age 2; specifically, difficulties with focusing and following instructions were noticed. With the consistent support and love from his parents, Lilian and Nhon Quach, and FCSN, Andrew grew both emotionally and developed into a well-loved music performer at FCSN, admired by both staff and fellow clients for the last few years. In this interview, Lilian explains Andrew’s experiences growing up as an individual with autism.  

Born in San Jose, Andrew’s birth was characterized by multiple complications. He was born premature at 29 weeks due to placental dysfunction, which led to low amniotic fluid level. Additionally, he was intubated with a ventilator for a month and kept in the hospital for another two months. Before his release, doctors recommended a hernia repair surgery, but issues with inserting the breathing tube led to partial lung collapse after the surgery. Doctors sent Andrew home with an oxygen tank and a heart monitor for at least another 3 months to ensure no further complications and observe his condition.  

“It was the scariest time of my life,” said Lilian, “because [nurses] told me that whenever the heart monitor alarm went off, I had to get to the baby within 10 seconds and to perform CPR if necessary.” 

Following the autism diagnosis, Lilian took a leave of absence and took him to numerous therapies, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy at school focused on modifying behaviors and Occupational Therapy focused on building skills such as self-care, motor coordination, and sensory regulation. Though he struggled with speech and only said his first word when he was 5 years old, Andrew could effectively utilize his toy computer to spell words. Furthermore, Lilian introduced him to different music classes. 

“[He was] able to hum an entire piece of a popular song at age 5,” said Lilian. “He doesn’t sing it out loud, but I can hear the tune that he hums.”

Around the same time, Lilian began teaching him piano at their home, although he did struggle with initial focus. However, once he was settled and truly paying attention, he picked up various musical notes and topics quickly. Today, he continues to indulge in these talents, allowing him to play multiple complicated songs. 

“Although it usually takes us a lot of effort to teach him some new skills, he often surprised us with many other unexpected talents,” said Lilian. 

Some of Andrew’s self-relaxation behaviors include watching the same video repeatedly or singing the same song to calm down. In terms of sports, he enjoys swimming and cycling. Additionally, he exhibits unique talents in memorization, calendars, and numbers. For example, he can often remember the dates of many former events, such as the FCSN galas or any family vacations. Andrew can memorize entire songs in Chinese despite struggling with actually speaking Chinese with his family members, a testament to his strong memory. 

For Lilian, Andrew reminds her of the importance of appreciating the smaller moments and her son’s unexpected talents. Life is not perfect, but the little successes and sweet moments, along with the rougher days, make it more worthwhile. Furthermore, raising Andrew has taught Lilian the value of maintaining multiple perspectives and the patience to communicate with an individual with autism. In the future, Lilian hopes that Andrew remains healthy and happy and can take care of himself through daily chores and activities. 

“Instead of having expectations and being disappointed, I would rather be delighted by the surprise that he gives us from time to time,” said Lilian.