Chronicle Editor
Amanda Mlevu, Sunday News Reporter
TWO years after he was born, young Amahle Tshalibe, now 13, suddenly became unconscious for 10 days and it was then that doctors discovered that he had cerebral palsy, which has, however, turned him blind, deaf, dumb and cannot chew solid foods.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. After he regained consciousness the family was told to take the boy for a scan. However, the scan then cost US$500 and they could not raise the money. The mother, Ms Kezzneth Mpala (52) said a doctor they knew volunteered to do the scan for free.
“When I went to Mpilo with the results they said Amahle had brain damage and needed to be operated on and we were referred to South Africa as the operation could not be done locally. This was in 2010,” said Mrs Mpala.
The family failed to take him to South Africa for treatment and Amahle is being treated at Mpilo Central Hospital for epilepsy. His mother said failure to get the much-needed treatment abroad in time had left Amahle blind, deaf and dumb.
“As a mother, I wish my son could just look at me and see me and his family, he should at least know the difference when someone he knows is around or not. My son is really suffering. He is bed-ridden, he cannot move on his own, he can only eat mashed foods. Everything you want to give him to eat has to be mashed and it’s very painful,” Ms Mpala said.
She said as a result of the condition, his body was deteriorating every day. She said her husband is a general worker and was not getting much to save for what is needed and was appealing for help for Amahle to restart his treatment. However, the family is yet to get a quotation for treatment in South Africa. Well-wishers can contact Ms Mpla on 0774949520.
Bongani Ndlovu