Surprised by the Blessings – My Autistic Son Changed my Life  Home   Lives Impacted by Jesus   Surprised by the Blessings – My... How one conversation changed Stephanie Chung’s life forever. For most of her adult life, Stephanie Chung led a double life. In public she was the beautiful and talented wife of successful businessman, Peter Chung. A concert pianist, she was a celebrity in her own right. But what most people didn’t know was that at home in her private life she struggled almost daily against the depression and stigma that came with being the mother of a severely handicapped son. In Stephanie’s Korean culture, families are reluctant to admit to having children with disabilities. In fact, they are regarded as being a disgrace to their parents and bringing misfortune upon their families. For this reason, many people hide their disabled children and don’t ever acknowledge their existence outside of the home. Stephanie had five children.  Her first child, Joseph, was born with autism but she wasn’t aware of it for a number of years.  She noticed that there was a slight difference between her first two sons.  But it wasn’t until she tried enrolling him in preschool that Stephanie realized just how different Joseph really was. “I think you should take Joseph to a doctor,” the preschool teacher told her. Still Stephanie was sure it was just a matter of cultural or language differences that made her oldest son different from his peers. She decided to find a Korean preschool and bring him there. However it wasn’t long before his new preschool teacher suggested he might have some learning disabilities and maybe he should see a doctor. Joseph’s Diagnosis Sure enough, doctors diagnosed Joseph with autism, a condition Stephanie had never heard of before. When she realized there was no cure for her son, she sank into a deep depression. You see, in her culture, a disabled child is considered a disgrace and it’s not unusual for families to hide their disabled children away. In her darkest hours, filled with shame and hurt, Stephanie questioned why she or her son had ever been born. Finally she learned how to live a double life. In public she seemed like she had a perfect life. Her husband was a successful businessman; she herself was a concert pianist. But few people saw the pain she suffered in private. When Joseph was about 8 his school went on a field trip – swimming at the ocean. Stephanie was consumed with last minute details for a wedding being held at their home that weekend. Swimming was one activity Joseph excelled at and he was eager to be off for the day. The Phone Call  That afternoon, Stephanie received a phone call that would change her life forever. Her son was in the hospital from a drowning accident.  When Stephanie asked if they’d been able to revive him the voice on the end of the line would only say, “Drive safely!.” In that instant Stephanie realized she didn’t care if her son was handicapped; she only wanted him to be alive. The ten minute drive to the hospital never took forever. Stephanie pleaded with God to spare her son’s life. At the hospital, the prognosis was dire. Her son had been found by a surfer, floating in the ocean. By the time they’d gotten help, he’d ingested so much water that doctors said if he didn’t regain consciousness within 48 hours; they should disconnect him from life support. Stephanie stayed by her eldest son’s side that night, begging God to forgive her for her sinful attitude and to let Joseph live. The next morning she softly called Joseph’s name and his eyes opened. Her prayers had been answered! Depression Lifted  Somehow, during that awful night, everything changed for Stephanie. Her depression lifted. She says, “before I used to complain and ask God, ‘Why me?’ Nothing has changed for Joseph and yet now I am so thankful for him; so full of love towards him.” And instead of hiding away, mired in depression, Stephanie focused on God’s plan for her. She says th

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