HELP ME OUT

Mucha Moalosi, a 37-year-old mother from Moroka village near Francistown says her 15-year-old daughter, Nicolette Moalosi was born normal, only to develop abnormalities at around nine to 10 months, and was later diagnosed with Hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles deep within the brain. This excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen, putting harmful pressure on the brain's tissues.

In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Moalosi pleaded for help from members of the public and private hospitals to assist her daughter with physiotherapy.

The teen was attended to from Nyangabgwe Hospital since she was two years old until she was 11, with the hospital stating that she was not improving hence they had no choice but to stop assisting her.

"I have faith, and believe that if my daughter could get medical help, she may become better but since I am unemployed, I cannot afford to pay for a physiotherapist at private hospitals," Moalosi cried.

Moalosi pleaded with well-wishers to donate a wheelchair for her daughter as she has been using a baby pram since was born.

At times, Moalosi gets overwhelmed with stress as her child needs more diapers and special diet, for which government assists despite not being enough.

While narrating her story, Moalosi shed a tear, stating that the condition of her daughter has severely affected her.

She has even thought of taking her life a few times before as a result of the overwhelming situation.

What saved her is the family support that strengthened her to soldier on and continue doing her best to provide for her first born daughter who has a younger sister aged three.

Every morning, Moalosi makes sure that Nicolette is bathed, fed and taken back to the old dilapidated baby pram, which they exchange for her bed every 30 minutes.

Moalosi has since accepted the conditions of her daughter and encourages all mothers with children with disabilities to accept and embrace them with love because God has trusted them to be best mothers to them.

She said the child needs serious therapy, especially on the legs to allow the easy flow of blood. If she could get help, she would be the happiest mother.

Meanwhile, Dr Tefho Gabonthone explains that the causes of Hydrocephalus vary as they include but are not limited to improper development of the brain during pregnancy, genetic syndromes, trauma, infections and tumours.

"The presentation varies, and depending on the cause and how quickly it develops, they may have an increased head size during pregnancy or after, delays in their development, changes in behaviour, nausea and vomiting,

headaches, appearing very ill and seizures," said Gabonthone.

He further said the treatment depends on the cause and how severe the symptoms are. In addition, how severe the brain was injured or its development impaired if at all, the child may have special needs and require extensive care or may even grow up well.

Gabonthone, who is a General Practitioner, says that for parents, the road ahead will be challenging, and urged those who have been granted the responsibility of caring for these children, be they parents, siblings, friends and so on, to stay strong. (To assist, call 3908408 or whatsApp 71655544)