Submitted by Health on Mon, 2012-08-27 15:17
- STORIES FROM MAAI MAHIU, KENYA -
Eleven-year old Ruth Mbatha was enrolled into Malaika Kids at seven years of age. She could not sit, stand nor walk like a normally developing child would do by about one year of age. This delayed development is attributed to muscular spasticity of her lower extremities. While in Malaika Kids, she was put through therapy and structured learning exercised that helped her improve tremendously. Overtime she grew to be able to start walking as well as solving simple cognitive tasks that facilitated her integration into regular schooling. At this point in her progress, she could stand, walk with an upright gait and even run, although with a slight disturbance in her balance.
Upon her integration into a regular school where there was less effort put into continuing therapy, Ruth began to regress in her initially achieved developmental milestones. Currently, Ruth has to be carried to school and cannot run like she did before. She stands and walks with flexion at the knees, heels up and on toes with worsening muscle contractures and needs support when standing. Pictured is Ruth in standing position. It is apparent that with this posture, she cannot stand for long without support. The severity of her situation is likely to worsen even further if not taken into account.
It is because of this that this little girl is back with our Malaika Kids program. She will be coming for therapy sessions that are targeted towards engaging her deformities and prevent worsening of the contractures. Ruth will attend therapy on a full-time basis whenever on school holidays and twice a week whenever she resumes schooling.Additionally, Ruth requires special Orthopedic shoes and Knee Ankle Foot Orthotics (KAFO) to position her in correct body alignment for proper body weight distribution to the hip, knee, ankle joints as well as to the bones of the feet in upright postures.
Blog By:
Malaika Kids Occupational Therapist
