Against all odds
He is a very brave little boy. He is only 5 years of age and he always greets strangers with a smile, despite the difficulty this causes him. This little boy has a debilitating chronic condition which has left him confined to a bed. He finds it challenging doing simple tasks that we take for granted – like chewing and swallowing. But he is a very determined and resilient boy, and under his mother’s watchful eyes he will try to raise his hand to greet visitors and smile and laugh.
His name is Wayne Kiprop Kogei, the only child of Samuel Soi, a driver at Elsa’s Kopje – one of us in this large Elewana and Cheli & Peacock family.
Wayne suffers from cerebral palsy, a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination and other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth. As a result, he suffers from convulsions and has delayed development milestones. In addition to this, he has breathing difficulties due to enlarged adenoids, the mass of tissue that sits above and behind the nose.
Unfortunately, his immune system is currently too weak to allow him to safely undergo surgery. His doctors will be monitoring his progress in the next three months and reevaluate his case again thereafter.
Despite his illness, Wayne has a fighting spirit and has become an inspiration to many, and that is why we are asking you to stand by him today.
Wayne requires three sessions of occupational therapy per week, as well as a supply of anticonvulsants to help prevent or reduce the severity and frequency of seizures and monthly follow up with his paediatrician to check his progress. Due to financial constraints, Wayne’s parents cannot afford a nurse, let alone meet his medical expenses. His mother has been his primary caregiver since birth and so Samuel is the sole breadwinner for this young family.
To date, the Land & Life Foundation have donated sitting and standing aids to help strengthen his muscles and leg braces to enhance his mobility and help him to get around. Elewana has pledged to provide an additional 20 sessions of occupational therapy, which will cover the next six months for him to attend twice a week instead of only once.
If you would like to know more about how you too can help Wayne, please contact us today. He, and we, would appreciate your support!
