On May 30, Abby De La Rosa took to her Instagram Stories to engage with her followers, addressing various questions. One significant question was about her son Zillion and how she identified he was on the autism spectrum. When asked if Zillion was verbal or nonverbal, De La Rosa shared her insights and experiences candidly.
"This is a difficult one because he's so active and can be quite attentive. But there were several signs I started noticing at 6-7 months," De La Rosa wrote over a picture of herself with Zillion. "A mother's intuition knows, but I just tucked it away."
De La Rosa elaborated on her findings, stating that it wasn't until the previous year that she noticed Zillion's difficulty making eye contact and his habit of neatly arranging his meals and toys.
"I remember vividly his first real moment of stimming, and it happened in front of Nick and me," De La Rosa recalled. "He was jumping a little harder than usual on the bed, and then suddenly he started flapping his little hands repetitively."
The moment Zillion began to exhibit these signs, De La Rosa felt her heart race, instinctively knowing something significant was happening. She noted that Zillion says a few words but primarily uses a tablet and sign language to communicate.
In a heartfelt Instagram update in April, alongside World Autism Awareness Day, Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa shared the news of Zillion's autism diagnosis.
They shared their emotions and the significance of this occasion for their family, acknowledging Zillion's distinct talents and the deep influence he brings to their existence.
"Today, our family celebrates World Autism Awareness Day, a day that holds particular significance for us as our wonderful 2-year-old, Zillion, was recently identified as having ASD. He becomes part of the special vibe of extraordinary people such as Nikola Tesla, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Michelangelo, among others," they elaborated.
They continued by celebrating Zillion’s unique perspective on life, emphasizing how much they learn from him daily. "Our beautiful boy experiences life in 4D and teaches us something new every day! His love, strength, and brilliance light up every room he enters. We are blessed that God has placed such an amazing spirit under our guardianship, and we have accepted this assignment wholeheartedly."
On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, Cannon and De La Rosa voiced their backing for families globally, acknowledging shared challenges and fostering empathy. "Let's work together to build a world that embraces and shows kindness," they declared.
De La Rosa and Cannon are still navigating the initial phases of coping with Zillion's autism diagnosis, yet they remain hopeful and resolute. They believe that by sharing their journey, they can increase awareness and offer support to other families facing comparable challenges. Their openness highlights the importance of early identification and treatment, while also showcasing the vast potential and unique talents of individuals with autism.
The Quran - Chapter An-Najm : 40 - 41
and that ˹the outcome of˺ their endeavours will be seen ˹in their record˺,
then they will be fully rewarded,
وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ (and that his effort will soon be seen...53:40) In other words, outer actions of a person are not sufficient. Allah will take into account the real, inner motive and driving force behind them whether they were performed with the sincerity of purpose, or they were done with some ulterior motive. The Holy Prophet t is reported to have said:
اِنَّمَا الاَعمَال بِالنِّیَّاتِ
"Actions shall be judged only by the intentions."
That is, the outer aspect of actions is not sufficient. The inner aspect is also necessary. Actions must be performed purely for the good pleasure of Allah and in compliance with His command.
