Baby Oprah was abandoned at her creche twelve months ago. In the month before Christmas.
She was one month old and her mother never came to fetch her from the creche. She stayed at the creche with no-one giving her much attention until social services removed her and placed her in a loving and caring Children's Home in Johannesburg. She was underfed and weighed as much (as little really) as a baby of three months although she was nine months at that stage.
Although already suppose to be able to crawl, she had little head control, was unable to focus and did not do anything with her hands except suck her fists. Unable to focus on a toy and unable to hold a toy she was happy just lying in a cot. She only made whimpering sounds. Her legs were as thin as my thumb.
We started with an intensive home programme and follow up for treatment every second week. The care giver at the Children's Home worked relentlessly to help Oprah to practice to roll over, to spend time on her stomach and lifting her head while talking to her and showing her that she is precious and cared for.
Last week Oprah sat for the first time on her own. She has a keen interest in what's going on around her and will try and grab a toy if you bring it closer. She coos and make all the happy sounds a baby should make. She can recognise the people she knows. She has fattened up and looks healthy.
What a lovely miracle. We hope she will continue to make progress and start crawling soon .... and walking ... and running ... and staying happy AND maybe even find a forever family!
She was one month old and her mother never came to fetch her from the creche. She stayed at the creche with no-one giving her much attention until social services removed her and placed her in a loving and caring Children's Home in Johannesburg. She was underfed and weighed as much (as little really) as a baby of three months although she was nine months at that stage.
Although already suppose to be able to crawl, she had little head control, was unable to focus and did not do anything with her hands except suck her fists. Unable to focus on a toy and unable to hold a toy she was happy just lying in a cot. She only made whimpering sounds. Her legs were as thin as my thumb.
We started with an intensive home programme and follow up for treatment every second week. The care giver at the Children's Home worked relentlessly to help Oprah to practice to roll over, to spend time on her stomach and lifting her head while talking to her and showing her that she is precious and cared for.
Last week Oprah sat for the first time on her own. She has a keen interest in what's going on around her and will try and grab a toy if you bring it closer. She coos and make all the happy sounds a baby should make. She can recognise the people she knows. She has fattened up and looks healthy.
What a lovely miracle. We hope she will continue to make progress and start crawling soon .... and walking ... and running ... and staying happy AND maybe even find a forever family!
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It really is inspiring to read articles like these!
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