Kajiado mum appeals for help with her 24-year old cerebral palsy son

A Kajiado mother has appealed to well-wishers for support to enable her 24-year-old son to acquire training skills that could enable him live an independent life.
The mother, Rose Kimere says she has an uphill task taking care of a grown up with cerebral palsy since the family could not raise money to take him for technical skills’ course that could enable him secure a livelihood.
Kimere told Kenya News Agency in Kajiado Friday that her son suffered the health disability at birth and could not walk until he was three years.
She noted that her son, Simon Leyan could only hold light weight items due to his condition.
“We have other four children who have since dropped out of school are doing manual and casual jobs in Kajiado town due to poor conditions we have had to endure,” said the desperate mother.
She noted that Leyan was discontinued at Iseuri Primary school since he required specialized education which was not available in the school and the only option was to keep him at home.
However, Kimere noted that Leyan could do well with technical courses if provided with an opportunity which the family could not afford.
The loving mother expressed her need to get a well-wisher who could secure a technical training course for her son in any disability friendly institution. “We can also get hope as a family since we shall go out and work,” said Kimere.
According to Dr. Monicah Wambui of Kajiado Galaxy Medical Centre, cerebral palsy may occur during fetal development, childbirth, shortly after birth or in early infancy.
She noted that cerebral palsy maybe hereditary or caused by drugs that were used at the early stage of pregnancy, maternal infection during pregnancy, premature birth or low birth weight.
“Some of the symptoms of this sickness are hearing difficulties, vision impairment and learning difficulties,” Wambui noted.
However, she said that there was no treatment for this condition though palliative care, motivation and therapies could help manage this condition and where there is severe muscle contraction, surgery may be recommended.
By Rop Janet/Maryann Mwangi