Disability is Not Inability
No one believed 10-year-old Samuel Ndung’u would ever walk. However, after less than a year of attending Joytown Primary School, he has proven everyone wrong.
Last January, his father came to Joytown with Samuel on his back because he was only able to crawl. The school provided Samuel a wheelchair, and today, he can climb stairs on his own.
Serah Wangeci, one of the BethanyKids physical therapists, said: “Samuel is determined and has the right attitude. He has improved because he has the will to do so.”
Joytown has dramatically impacted his life and even improved his self-esteem. David Rugu Kuria, an assistant physical therapist, said, “He loves to work, which is what motivates me.”
Even when school is not in session, Samuel does not regress in his therapy. He is given exercises and a walker to continue to learn. Samuel is waiting to receive axillary crutches, teaching him to walk without aid. The Lord is using BethanyKids to change children’s lives, like Samuel, that they may have a bright future and live to their fullest potential.
New Bathrooms Improve Lifestyle
Naomi Chege is one of many Joytown students who will greatly benefit from the new dormitory bathrooms. Ten-year-old Naomi suffers from spina bifida with a complete lack of sensation in her lower limbs. Like many children with this condition, Naomi continuously smelled of urine due to her lack of bladder control. This greatly affected her self-esteem with feelings of isolation and extreme embarrassment.
When she enrolled at Joytown last December, Naomi had no idea the impact the C.I.C. procedure would have on her life. Clean Intermittent Catheterization is the process of using a catheter to empty one’s bladder. The BethanyKids physical therapy team successfully taught Naomi to properly empty her bladder every two hours, making her life more sanitary.
Janeth Rutto, a BethanyKids physical therapist, said: “When Naomi first arrived, she would be wet from morning to evening. Now she is more confident and dry most of the day.”
The new bathrooms allow C.I.C. children to use the restroom in an easier and cleaner manner. Rutto added, “The bathrooms were designed for the needs of a child with C.I.C.” The new facility has space for children to use their wheelchair and to wash their hands before and after using a catheter.
Naomi inspires other children at Joytown to take care of their bodies by using the resources BethanyKids has made available.
Motivation
What motivates a physical therapist to work with a child who will never walk? For the BethanyKids staff at Joytown School, it is strength found in the Lord to give a child their independence.
Seven-year-old Susan Muthoni from Nyeri, Kenya, suffers from cerebral palsy, a non-progressive condition affecting body movement. Susan has improved during her time at Joytown; however, she will probably never walk on her own. She lacks coordination, making it nearly impossible to grasp a walker. Susan simply crawls on the ground for mobility.
Stanley Malonza, a BethanyKids physical therapist, says: “I work with Susan to maintain her range of motion. This will prevent complications, such as contractions, which cause the muscles to become very stiff.”
This little girl is not only a hard-worker in physical therapy, but she is also the brightest student in her class. Susan’s teacher, Judy Nyambura, says that she has drastically improved over the year. “Earlier this year, Susan was unable to sit in a chair, go to the toilet, or feed herself on her own. Now she is able to do all three and has independence.”
Susan says she enjoys learning English in school, particularly her ABC’s. Also, she says her therapy has improved at Joytown more than at home. However, the most difficult task for her is to walk using parallel bars.
Currently, Susan is unaware of the fact she may never walk. The BethanyKids staff hopes this will not affect her progress and she will continue to learn inside and outside the classroom.
A Friend Loves At All Times
Every three hours, a young girl pushes her friend’s wheelchair to the restroom at Joytown School. Suleika Mohammed takes her best friend, Fatuma Guyo, to the restroom multiple times each day to empty her bladder with a catheter.
Fifteen-year-old Fatuma suffers from spina bifida with no control of her bladder. Before enrolling at Joytown, she used pieces of clothes to dry herself. She also suffered from numerous pressure sores because she could not keep her body dry. Fatuma’s condition removed her from normal society and friendships.
Because of the BethanyKids staff, Fatuma has learned to do the Clean Intermittent Catheterization (C.I.C.) process on her own. She can also check her skin for pressure sores without help. She is grateful for everything BethanyKids has taught her, and even more indebted to her loving friend, Suleika.
Earlier this year, Fatuma suffered from severe pressure sores and given two months of bed rest. Suleika stayed close by her side to change her catheter and help her with schoolwork. When she returned to school, Fatuma was the top student in her class.
Suleika’s dedication has allowed Fatuma to enjoy adolescence and build relationships at school. These two girls exemplify the impact BethanyKids is making at Joytown School: selfless love even during the unpleasant moments of life.
Two years ago at the age of ten, both of Daniel’s arms were surgically removed because of electrocution. Daniel touched an open wire in his church in Nyeri, resulting in electrocution. His parents, Solomon and Lilian, were on the floor below and unable to reach him immediately. Daniel says he felt little pain, only a small shock. However, the aftereffects may have been more painful.
A Boy with a Dream
“I want to be a surgeon one day. I want to save someone’s life like they saved mine,” says Daniel Mutahi, a determined boy with a seemingly impossible dream.
Two years ago at the age of ten, both of Daniel’s arms were surgically removed because of electrocution. Daniel touched an open wire in his church in Nyeri, resulting in electrocution. His parents, Solomon and Lilian, were on the floor below and unable to reach him immediately. Daniel says he felt little pain, only a small shock. However, the aftereffects may have been more painful.
“I didn’t talk to anyone about the accident. I finally decided to open up to a counselor when I realized I couldn’t change what happened to me.” Since that day, Daniel is able to freely talk about the accident and its affects on his life.
Daniel came to Joytown in 2009 and says that it offers more advantages than his previous school. “The BethanyKids therapists taught me to write and to button my trousers,” says Daniel.
However, Daniel was not always so open to learning new things. His teacher, Charity Ndaba, says, “I was worried at first. We tried to teach Daniel to write with his feet, but did not want him to develop a back problem. He quickly learned to write using his mouth.”
Mrs. Ndaba and other teachers encouraged Daniel to practice his writing outside of the classroom; and he is now one of the brightest children in class seven. Ndaba summarizes by saying, “He has accepted himself and never complains.” Daniel is the result of the strong partnership between BethanyKids and Joytown School to improve a child’s life.
Eight-year-old Clementina Rakedo was born with multiple deformities in her upper and lower limbs. Clementina had never stepped foot in a classroom, or heard of Jesus until Joytown School. Now, she goes to school everyday with Jesus in her heart.
In 2001, Dr. Richard Bransford performed corrective surgery for the deformity in Milton’s legs. That surgery changed Milton’s life in more ways than one. His mother was so pleased with the surgery that she named her youngest son Bransford.
Joel and Kennedy share a unique friendship. They met in Class 1 at Joytown School and have endured more than most friends.
God is Working
Eight-year-old Clementina Rakedo was born with multiple deformities in her upper and lower limbs. Clementina had never stepped foot in a classroom, or heard of Jesus until Joytown School. Now, she goes to school everyday with Jesus in her heart.
Francesca Maina Najipu, the children’s mentor at Joytown, began reading the Bible with her. Like others at Joytown, Clementina received a new Bible when she accepted Christ as her Savior. She says her favorite verse is John 3:16 and enjoys reading with Francesca.
Clementina was orphaned at a young age and now lives with her Aunt Rosemary. Clementina is thankful for the sponsors who have generously paid for all her school fees. She is also thankful for the new cushioned wheelchair provided by BethanyKids.
Even though Clementina has lost her earthly parents, she now has a relationship with her Heavenly Father. We are grateful that our wonderful staff has the opportunity to share God’s love with the children at Joytown.
The Performer
When Joytown School Choir performed in 2009 at the Statehouse for Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Milton Ilahuya was in the midst of the action.
For Milton, this performance meant something even more than meeting the president. He was doing something his family didn’t think he would be able to do ten years ago.
In 2001, Dr. Richard Bransford performed corrective surgery for the deformity in Milton’s legs. That surgery changed Milton’s life in more ways than one. His mother was so pleased with the surgery that she named her youngest son Bransford.
“Dr. Bransford gave Milton’s mother hope when she was hopeless,” says Francesca Maina Najipu, Joytown’s children mentor.
Milton is proud of those famous handstands he showed the president, but he is even more proud of the day he became a Christian. In 2009, at only nine years old, Milton accepted Jesus Christ as His Savior. Francesca Najipu was the one who shared the good news with him.
“Milton has gone to church his whole life, but I was able to tell him about salvation,” Najipu says. “He is my son in Jesus.”
Milton dreams of one day becoming a pilot, because he says, “it’s exciting to be pilot!” God is using BethanyKids to improve children’s lives physically and spiritually.
Brothers in Christ
Joel and Kennedy share a unique friendship. They met in Class 1 at Joytown School and have endured more than most friends.
Both suffer from spina bifida and practice C.I.C. to empty their bladders.
Twelve-year-old Joel Wainaina is one of nine children from Maunarok. He uses elbow crutches and occasionally a wheelchair if he has pressure sores. BethanyKids taught Joel C.I.C. at a very early age and he has stayed dry for many years. He says, “I saw the benefits of being clean so I just obeyed.” Francesca says, “Joel is a good example to others. He changes his wounds by himself or comes to us to check them.”
However, his friend, Kennedy wasn’t always so willing to follow the rules. Fifteen-year-old Kennedy Gichuki is from Mwea and came to Joytown headstrong and disobedient. Francesca says, “Kennedy did not cooperate and many of us wanted to give up on him.” Then Kennedy gave his life to Christ and his entire attitude changed. He now regularly changes his catheter and wounds on his own. Kennedy said, “Joel reminds me to listen to BethanyKids and to trust God.”
Joel and Kennedy encourage one another to stay clean, listen to the advice of BethanyKids, and to follow the Lord.
Neuro Clinic Visit
The BethanyKids Neuro Mobile Clinic visited Joytown Primary School last Friday. They evaluated over 40 children from the primary and secondary school, and outpatients from the community. The team asked specific questions about the child’s condition and its side effects. One nurse, Eunice Kagai, said children with incontinence need to be seen annually for bladder evaluation and a renal ultrasound.
Neuro Clinic Visit
The BethanyKids Neuro Mobile Clinic visited Joytown Primary School last Friday. They evaluated over 40 children from the primary and secondary school, and outpatients from the community. The team asked specific questions about the child’s condition and its side effects. One nurse, Eunice Kagai, said children with incontinence need to be seen annually for bladder evaluation and a renal ultrasound.
Two
children suffering from spina bifida and incontinence are Isack Wafula and
Bidan Kahara. Both are seven years old and have been at Joytown since January
2011. Isack received a good report from the neuro team and does not have any
pressure sores. He is extremely cooperative, able to perform C.I.C., and can
check himself for wounds.
Bidan
does not know the C.I.C. process and cannot even wash his hands without
instruction. BethanyKids therapist, Stanley Malonza says: “Bidan can tell you
every step of C.I.C. but he cannot do it himself. His mother did everything for
him at home so we must teach him the basics.”
The
neuro clinic saw a range of children with disabilities but thankfully, many
received needed examinations from the BethanyKids team.
