Meet Mary!
Mary has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. In Uganda there is a stigma attached to children with disabilities. Many even think they are cursed or possessed by demons. Her father and mother abandoned Mary as soon as she started showing symptoms of having a disability. She was alone, hungry, filthy, and living almost 24 hours a day lying on the floor in the corner of a dark shack. Her maternal grandmother was caring for her the best way that she could. However, she had little resources and could no longer care for Mary. She asked for our assistance in taking Mary into the Rafiki Children’s Home and caring for her.
Because of her cerebral palsy, Mary has the mental capacity of a very young child. She cannot talk although she likes making noises and loves to laugh. She can walk around, go up and down stairs, and we have to catch her before she climbs on the table. She is a very active little girl….like a monkey.
She doesn’t have the fine motor skills to feed herself. But she has learned how to use a sippy cup and is gradually learning how to grab objects. She develops improved muscle strength and coordination with patience and practice.
Mary is currently being cared for at Elizabeth House. Elizabeth House is a home for children with special needs. After staying with us for a year at the Rafiki Home, we felt that Mary needed more attention and specialized therapy that we could not provide for her. She now is in a loving, Christian Children’s Home that just cares for children with various disabilities and special needs. We visit Mary many times throughout the year. Since going to Elizabeth House, she has improved in many areas. Her coordination and walking are getting better each day.
Mary is an easy-going, happy girl who enjoys just simple touch from others…..she loves hugs and being carried! She loves cupcakes, having her back rubbed, being held, and is very ticklish. Baths and cold drinking water is a couple of her least favorite things.
By : Sara Hamilton
Director / Founder of Rafiki
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For the next few weeks we will be posting stories of all the
kids here at Rafiki Africa Ministries (RAM). We want to give these kids a
voice. There are more struggling kids here in Uganda than anyone is able to
count. Here are the stories of 13 kids who's lives were changed by God through
the work of RAM. We want to make you a part of this work, there is so much love
and joy overflowing out of the Rafiki Home and we want you to experience this
through these stories. We hope you can get to know the kids through these
updates and we pray that you will fall in love with them just as we have.
Be a
part of the changes God continues
to make in the lives of these kids.
Make a
difference.
Spread the word.
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