Praise is an eight-year-old girl living in Kenya with cerebral palsy. For Praise and her family, disability impacts every aspect of life. Simple activities like sitting comfortably, playing, and moving from place to place pose difficulties.
When Praise received a wheelchair, life changed for her whole family. Now, for the first time, Praise can sit with dignity and ease, move independently and enjoy interacting with peers. Her family also received a Bible and encouragement from a local pastor, reminding them of Jesus’s love.
VIDEO SCRIPT
Andrew Ssemayanja – Physical Therapist, Uganda
Today has been the most precious day. This morning actually got to meet with a family. A father came with the wife and then their precious daughter called Praise, an eight year old.
Elizabeth – Praise’s Mother
Praise was born back in 2016 through a caesarean section. I didn’t realize we had a child. Four months later, I observed her and find out that the neck is not stable.
I took her to hospital where we are arrived. She has a condition of cerebral palsy.
Andrew
As I met with praise this morning, she was really in bad posture. She had muscle weakness all over the body. She had poor range of motion at all. Her joints in the neck and the elbows, the knee, the ankles. To see us as a team.
Imagine how working out a way with the family when they have a wheelchair, when they are so relieved of the pressures and the worry of how they are going to be carrying her, you know, because now she’s going to be more independent and how she’s being dependent on them. So it’s been a beautiful thing.
Elizabeth
Praise was so happy from that day.
She only wanted to stay there are sitting on that seat. She’s very comfortable. She’s not getting tired like area before and I’m very grateful for that.
Andrew
My hope for praise now that she has good in a wheelchair, that she could be able to enjoy the freedom and liberty of moving around. Now she can play around. She can move to the compound and play everything can be presented on the table, displayed on top of her wheelchair so the food can be put there, the toys for her to play with.
Elizabeth
The wheelchair is very comfortable. She can feed on that table. The wheelchair is strong. It can not make her fall down the food chains found. She’s comfortable and she’s she’s well when she’s on it. I always give back to God because I know my child is a blessing. I was very grateful when I got the wheelchair, and I had hope that one day my child would have a chair and will be comfortable.
I have faith in God and I love God and I know everything is possible with him.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Andrew Ssemayanja – Physical Therapist, Uganda
Elizabeth – Praise’s Mother
Recording Location
Kenya
Organization featured in this Story
Joni and Friends – www.joniandfriends.org
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