“The front and centre of my change of attitude to life”
March 1, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Crime, Religion
Until two years ago, Karem Awad, the former chief of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, was “one of Adelaide’s most feared men—even by police. Today he’s a “churchgoer with a job earning an honest living helping others battle their demons.” The Advertiser reports that Naomi, who is now ten years old and who is autistic, was the reason:
Mr Awad says it was a little autistic girl with a beautiful smile who convinced him to turn his back on a life of guns, drugs and violence.
She was born to the then 14-year-old sister of his ex-girlfriend and her plight touched his heart.
As Mr Awad devotedly cuddled 10-year-old Naomi this week, he seemed like any normal father.
But until two years ago, he was one of Adelaide’s most feared men – even by police.
“Whatever I was doing in my biking lifestyle, I was thinking of her, you know,” he said.
“She’s definitely been the front and centre of my change of attitude to life.
“I basically lost interest in what I was doing before. I had no interest, no passion for it.”
Mr Awad had never heard of autism when he started caring for the toddler and soon took on the role of teacher – helping her with everything from reading to brushing her teeth.
“I definitely believe that God used her to open my eyes and change the way I live my life,” he said.
“I felt important because she needed me. It was just one of those things where you look at someone and you feel like they know you and you know them.
“Her learning disorder didn’t come into the equation at all, although in the early years she was difficult to look after because we didn’t really understand her.
Awad began to “babysit” Naomi when she was three and “unable to talk or communicate like other children her age”; he is now studying for a Diploma of Fitness University of South Australia. Many parents and teachers about how they have been transformed by the experience of raising and teaching an autistic child and Awad’s story is indeed a story of conversion and, too, of redemption and change.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield