Help Blessing get to school
“The nurses at the clinics told me about specialist doctors who I can take my son to for treatment but it is expensive.”
“All I wish is for my little boy to go to a special needs school and be educated like other children.”
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Those were the words of Melody Ndlovu whose 12-year-old son Blessing Ndlovu was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three.
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Melody said Blessing was born in 2006 and as he was growing older, she became increasingly concerned as she monitored his development.
“In 2009, I noticed he was not growing. He was underweight so I took him to the hospital. I was then told that his left side was not working. I took him to different clinics and hospitals until the doctors told me that he has cerebral palsy.
“Raising Blessing has never been easy. His father left me after he found out that our son was disabled. As a parent, it breaks my heart every time when I see his peers.
“They [his peers] can talk, walk, feed themselves and they go to school. I have to be home almost all the time to ensure that everything is fine with my son,” she said.
Melody said its difficult to get suitable employment that will allow her to attend to Blessing’s needs as she has to keep an eye on him.
“Blessing can’t talk. He can’t walk. He uses nappies and is always in a wheelchair. I have two more children who are younger than him. I have to make sure that my children don’t go to sleep with empty stomachs. It’s impossible for me to travel long distances for jobs. My son needs me.”
Blessing is not receiving additional treatment as his mother cannot afford to pay for extra medical expenses.
“The nurses at the clinics told me about specialist doctors who I can take my son to for treatment but it is expensive.
“I can’t afford to pay for the treatment. I tried to contact specialist doctors who can help my son, but it seems like getting help for my son will always be only a dream because I am stuck here at home, looking after him,” she said.
Melody said her hope is for Blessing to attend Alma School in Pretoria.
The school provides special education for severely intellectually disabled children.
“The school is expensive and I cannot afford it.
“If I can get a full-time job, I can go to work and Blessing can attend school. I will appreciate any help I can get,” she said.
Melody moved to Denver informal settlement in January last year.
Anyone willing to assist can contact Melody on 066 052 8609 or 061 893 5737.
