The autistic world is truly fascinating, isn't it? Once you are touched by this cause, it is hard not to get involved. That's how it was with 23-year-old saleswoman Aparecida Cabral, who learned what autism was through 9-year-old Miguel.
Two years ago, Miguel and his family walked into the RiHappy store at Shopping Campo Grande looking for a Galinha Pintadinha doll, and left with a friend for life, whom he affectionately calls “the RiHappy friend.”.
Cida has been working at the store for 4 years. Before the pandemic, every Saturday Miguel's family started going to the store, and the saleswoman would spend a long time playing and interacting with him.
“Through Miguel I met and discovered that they teach such things, a tenderness, a different way, that we end up loving“, Cida said.
The two have established a relationship that neither the saleswoman nor the boy had ever experienced. He even allows Aparecida to hug him, which is a major development for an autistic child, who generally dislikes social interaction with strangers. “We hug, actually, he doesn't hug me, but he goes in front of me and I hug him, it's always like that, he stops and I hug him,” she says.
The salesperson's service makes all the difference for the family
Cida's relationship with Miguel goes beyond a salesperson trying to convince a child to get his father to take a product home. Even outside the store, he recognizes her and goes to talk to her. “She says she is enchanted by him, that he doesn't ask for anything, he just wants to play,” says Miguel's mother, 39-year-old biologist Andressa Piacenti.
Once, Miguel wanted to get a Peppa Pig bus, and the saleswoman not only showed him the gift, but sat with him on the floor and opened all the toys in a circle. “There’s a song he likes, she sat down and turned all of them on with total patience,” his mother described.
Oh, you guys! That's not even a salesperson, that's just pure love and empathy.
Saleswoman tattooed Miguel's name on her arm during the pandemic lockdown
The duo's time living together was interrupted last year because of the pandemic. With the distance, Aparecida found a way to stay closer to Miguel: she tattooed his name on her arm along with the autism symbol.
“I couldn't imagine, we have no words. I cried, my husband cried, my mother cried. Everyone in the family was moved, you can't explain how Miguel somehow touches other people's lives. I have a completely different view of people and the world after Miguel, but knowing that he manages to touch other people's lives is sensational,” the mother revealed.
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Attitude transformed the lives of the family, the child, and the saleswoman
Cida isn't even a mother yet, but He has already learned a lot from the boy, especially regarding autism. “I love Miguel, he is honest with me, shows affection for me, and through him I learned what autism is and how to deal with the child“, he said.
Miguel's family allowed themselves to always leave him with the saleswoman while they did other activities at the mall, something they had never managed to do before. “With autism, it's hard for anyone to want to stay with our children, not even relatives want to because they don't know how to handle it. And not her, she discovered autism with Miguel, became interested, and they grew closer and closer,” said Andressa.
And she really learned a lot. “Today, if I see a child crying, my perspective of them is already different, because I know it might not be a normal cry,” Cida said.
“Especially in the times we are living in, discovering that there are still good people with empathy, who put themselves in someone else's shoes and have a gesture of affection and understanding, is what we dream of most for our children. We are happy and very grateful, It is angels like Cida that God puts in our lives to tell us: ‘you are not alone’“said the mother.
And Miguel replied with an audio message when he saw the photo on WhatsApp of his aunt's tattoo. “I liked what your friend did. Thank you so much, I miss you, bye.” And he sent a big kiss!
SOURCE:
Reasons to Believe
