Theresias Story
Summary
Theresa was born with a spina bifida, a defect of the spinal cord that binds her to the wheelchair. Until a year ago, she was unable to move herself. The parents had no money for a wheelchair.
Her small feet are rotated inwards and stiffened in lump foot posture, also a consequence of the lack of mobility of the legs. She is dependent on her mother, who either carries her or has to push in her wheelchair, because she is still too small to move the big wheels alone.
Challenges
Her clumps could be surgically corrected. This is important so that she can wear shoes later to avoid pressure points. Perhaps also a precondition for supporting residual mobility. Many children learn to walk a few steps with the help of their hip muscles. For the operation, however, a stay of at least 6 weeks in the clinic or in the vicinity of the clinic is necessary so that the feet can be resupplied. The rent for an apartment outside the clinic is too expensive for the family.
We hope to be able to help children like Theresa in the future with the construction of the house and center. Mobility is such an essential factor for children to develop well.
A free bed and accommodation in the House of Hope could be the necessary requirement for little Theresa to make the surgical correction for the period of aftercare.
Video Overview
Theresia and Matthias – A very special friendship
It is difficult for the little 5-year-old to win a smile. She sits withdrawn most of the time on her mother's lap. The face looks out into the world seriously, already marked by the early many hospitalizations. Theresa was born with a spina bifida, a defect of the spinal cord that binds her to the wheelchair. Until a year ago, she was unable to move herself. The parents had no money for a wheelchair. Regularly every 4-5 hours the little girl has to be catheterized, because she cannot empty the bladder on her own. Her small feet are rotated inwards and stiffened in lump foot posture, also a consequence of the lack of mobility of the legs. She is dependent on her mother, who either carries her or has to push in her wheelchair, because she is still too small to move the big wheels alone. Theresa is sceptical about her environment, she often finds it difficult to trust her, often she starts crying when approaching her. She cannot escape her environment without the help of her, she feels exposed to it.
A very miraculous transformation of the little girl was observed when she sat for the first time in a wheelchair that suits her. Playfully, the great white man Matthias first elicited a mischievous grin, later it became a wonderful smile. There was no sign of scepticism or fear. They understood each other on a non-verbal level. A ball as a simple tool to encourage the child to advance in his new wheelchair worked wonders. Theresa discovered a new freedom and was able to move herself across the room a little later. The ice was broken, the big white man Matthias and the little princess Theresia were best buddies for a whole afternoon. Several times ball and floppy and balloon changed hands and some laughter became audible on both sides. A universal laugh and without a dictionary comprehensible. For an afternoon Theresa had forgotten all her fear and her history as well as her being different.
Her clumps could be surgically corrected. This is important so that she can wear shoes later to avoid pressure points. Perhaps also a precondition for supporting residual mobility. Many children learn to walk a few steps with the help of their hip muscles. For the operation, however, a stay of at least 6 weeks in the clinic or in the vicinity of the clinic is necessary so that the feet can be resupplied. The rent for an apartment outside the clinic is too expensive for the family. A free bed and accommodation in the House of Hope could be the necessary requirement for little Theresa to make the surgical correction for the period of aftercare. We hope to be able to help children like Theresa in the future with the construction of the house and center. Mobility is such an essential factor for children to develop well.
We would like to support Theresia by driving the Project “Hous of Hope" together with our local partners in Haydom.
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