A Silent Love, Loud and Clear.

The relationship between Maya and Asaf is one of the most beautiful, profound, and transformative connections I have witnessed. It is a bond built on patience, love, and an unshakable belief in one another. While Asaf's journey to communication has been long and challenging, Maya has been by his side in ways that continue to leave me in awe.

Very early on, I was acutely aware that I needed to ensure my other children didn’t feel the weight of having a sibling with special needs. I made it a priority to give each of them individual attention, and create a balance between including Asaf in our lives, while also giving them the freedom to experience childhood without limitations. Each of my children had a unique relationship with Asaf, but Maya was the one who truly saw him.

As she grew older, she joined Krembo Wings, a youth movement that promotes inclusion for children with disabilities. (Krembo Wings is an Israeli youth movement that pairs children with special needs with neurotypical peers, fostering friendships and social inclusion.) Through this experience, she learned new ways to interact with and support Asaf. But nothing could have prepared me for what was about to unfold between them.

During the COVID lockdown, we were suddenly together 24/7. Asaf, who usually had a full-time carer, was with us all day, every day. It was a dream for me—time together as a family, long walks in nature, watching the spring flowers bloom and the birds migrate. But it was also a time of revelation.

Maya spent a lot of time with Asaf on the iPad, and one day, she ran into my room, bursting with excitement. "Mummy, Asaf KNOWS his letters! Come and see!" she insisted. I brushed off her enthusiasm—I had long believed that Asaf’s cognitive abilities were extremely limited. But she wouldn't let it go. She showed me how he was able to write the letters of his name, and in that moment, my world shifted. I was stunned, overjoyed, and overwhelmed by the realization that my son had been locked in a silent world, waiting for someone to believe in him.

When I later learned about Communication through Typing, I knew we had to try it. It was an incredibly difficult journey—Asaf struggled with dyspraxia, a condition that affects coordination and fine motor skills. (Dyspraxia is a neurological condition that makes it challenging to plan and execute movements, often affecting speech, writing, and daily tasks.) He would look at one letter but press another, he was also unable to isolate his fingers to type accurately. Every single word required immense concentration.

One of the defining moments of their relationship came when Maya’s 18th birthday was approaching. I asked Asaf to write her a message. It took him an excruciating hour to type just four words:

Enjoy talking, flower you.

Four simple words that said so much and for Maya, they meant everything. For the first time, her big brother had spoken to her. She cried with happiness, and I saw the depth of their connection in a way I never had before.

As we faced the decision of whether to move Asaf to the hostel, it was Maya who helped me see clearly. "Mum, you need to put your emotions aside and focus on what is best for Asaf. He needs to be among equals. He needs interactions with others," she told me firmly. Her clarity and wisdom left me speechless. She wasn’t just advocating for her brother—she was showing me the kind of love that is both fierce and selfless.

When Asaf coming home became a reality, she informed me : "I’m delaying moving out. I want to be involved." My heart burst. Not only had she seen Asaf when the world didn’t, but she was choosing to stand beside him as he started this new chapter.

This week, for Maya’s birthday, Asaf wrote her a long beautiful blessing that made me cry. He expressed how much she means to him, how deeply he values their bond, and ended with a sentence that says everything:

When you laugh, I’m overjoyed.

That is the essence of their relationship—a love that transcends words, built on trust, perseverance, and the simple joy of being together. Maya has always believed in Asaf. And now, because of her, the world gets to see him for who he truly is.

I am in awe of her. I am in awe of them. And I am endlessly grateful for the love they share.