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Gontse
On 17 July 1990, a set of twins was born in Kalafong
Hospital, Atteridgeville. But what should have been the
happiest day of the young mother’s
life, turned to sadness as one
of the twins, Gontse, was diagnosed with profound intellectual
disability and spastic quadriplegia. His brother was born
a normal baby.
Although Gontse’s mother accepts and loves him dearly,
as a single mother, she is unable to provide his basic
needs or the specialised care and attention that he requires
on a daily basis and, when he was two years old, Gontse
was admitted to LITTLE EDEN.
He is not able
to walk, feed or bath himself and is completely
dependent on his care workers. In spite of this, Gontse
is a content and happy young man. He loves receiving visitors
and responds to attention by smiling and lifting his hand.
LITTLE EDEN took on the financial responsibility of caring
for this precious child as we have for most of our children.
He receives daily medication, clothing, nappies and five
meals every day, as well as ongoing therapy – which
include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, metamorphosis,
reflexology and music therapy – to keep his spastic
body functioning.
Gontse knows that he is important and that he is loved
for who he is. He lives in Blue wing with 23 other friends.
If you want to make a difference by making a donation
towards Gontse’ ongoing care, click
here.
Currently the cost of caring for a child at LITTLE EDEN is R3 200 per month
- over and above the government subsidy
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Gontse
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Chantal
My name is Chantal and I have been living in Boitumelo
Wing at
LITTLE EDEN for as long as I can remember. Sister says
she can still remember me as a cute little girl of 3 years
old with chubby cheeks and yet I will be turning 27 in
September!
I always knew that I was different from other kids my age. I used to live with my mommy and daddy, but I know that it was hard for them to give me the care and attention that I needed day and night.
One day, mom and dad brought me to LITTLE EDEN. Mom cried
a lot and Dad hugged me many times. They promised to come
and visit me and said that I would like living here.
Dad was right. Here at LITTLE EDEN, I live with a group
of people who are similar to me and I fit in. I no longer
feel 'different', just special!
My housemother, my teacher and therapists and Sister accept
me for who I am. They always encourage me to do my best,
whatever it is that I am doing – and I love it when people
come to visit! Some read to me, others simply
chat and another person rubbed my hands and feet.
My friends and I have lots of fun every day. With the
help of our teacher we paint pictures of animals, cows
and donkeys and we sing and dance with our teacher and
the volunteers.
You too can become part of my family at LITTLE
EDEN by making a donation towards my medicines, food and
therapies. Click here to donate.
Or you could come and visit me. Contact Nichollette Zulu on 011
609 7246 to plan a visit soon!
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Chantal
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Johan
On 10 January 1998, Johan was born as a healthy,
normal little boy – but shortly afterwards he suddenly
became very ill. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome,
a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part
of the peripheral nervous system.
As a result of his illness, Johan has profound intellectual
disability and is also physically disabled.
Because of the intensive care he needs 24-hours
a day, Johan's loving family realised they could no longer
care for him and he was admitted to LITTLE EDEN in April
2000. He lives
at the Edenvale Home in Green Wing, with 23 other friends.
Since the day of his admission, this beautiful child was
loved by his care workers and housemother. He is almost
always smiling and loves being outside in the garden and
amongst his friends!
Johan is confined to a wheelchair and is completely
dependent on his care workers for feeding, bathing and
brushing his teeth. Over time, they have come
to understand his gestures and facial expressions when
he wants something or if he is uncomfortable. They describe
Johan as a child who is at ease with himself. He always
asks for second helpings during meal times!
Johan is fortunate to have a loving, caring family that
visits him as often as possible. However, his family is
unable to provide the full amount necessary to care for
him, which includes medication, various therapies
and food.
If you want to make a difference by making a donation
towards Johan’s ongoing care, click
here to donate.
Currently the cost of caring for a child at LITTLE EDEN is R3 200 per month
- over and above the government subsidy
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Johan |
John
John is a young man of 30 years, and he lives
in the Boitumelo wing with 39 other friends. He has the
intellectual ability of a 2-year old and although he cannot
walk, he loves to get out of his wheelchair and crawl or
drag himself to where he wants to be.
Persons with intellectual disabilities are often
viewed as incapable or useless, but what
I witnessed recently in the hydro-therapy centre at our
Home in Edenvale, opened my eyes and made me realise how
much they are able to accomplish!
On that particular day, John was
lifted out of the Jacuzzi by his Housemother, Doris. She
played a game with him by letting him lie on his stomach
and having him turn on his back. The time and effort it
took him to perform such a simple action was hard for me
to comprehend. What I saw in John's eyes though,
was determination and courage.
Then, Housemother Doris pushed his wheelchair approximately
3 metres away and asked him if he could get into his wheelchair
by himself.
John smiled and began to crawl towards his wheelchair.
To me watching, there was no possible way that he could
do this alone. However, when he reached the chair, he turned
around and slowly but surely climbed up into it. When
he was finally seated,
he began to sing “beautiful
wheelchair; I got in my wheelchair!” He
was rewarded with a loud applause from everyone watching.
John was able to learn how to get into his own chair
after many years because of the encouragement from the
staff members and their faith in him. He is not compared
to anyone else, but is allowed to be himself and to move
at his own pace.
It is seemingly small achievements like these that make
our children feel content and confident. They have faith
in their own abilities because of the faith that our staff
have in them.
As long as we have the support of the community, LITTLE
EDEN will be able to continue to do whatever is necessary
to help our children reach their full potential.
Should you wish to meet John or want to contribute to his
ongoing care, click here to donate.
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John
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Judy
On 18 October 1993, a beautiful, tiny baby girl named
Judy was born. She was diagnosed with profound intellectual disability and micro-cephalous.
Her mother is employed as a domestic worker and is unable
to provide Judy with the intensive care which she needs
24 hours each day. She also takes care of Judy’s
older brother.
Judy was admitted to LITTLE EDEN at the age of 3.
Here she participates in the Care and Stimulation programme
every day. She is extremely spastic, and therefore
immobile. She is also partially sighted and hearing impaired.
Judy wears a nappy and is fed and bathed. She is
moved around frequently to ensure that she is as comfortable
as possible, and receives regular physiotherapy for her
chest.
Judy loves it when people visit and talk to her.
When you touch her arm, she beams with delight! She receives
occasional visits from her mom, who loves her dearly although
she is unable to provide for her financially.
Currently, Judy lives in the blue wing with some of her
friends, Johannah, Ralph, Lebohang and others who all require
the same intensive care.
If you want to make a difference by making a donation towards
Judy’s ongoing care, click
here to
donate.
Currently the cost of caring for a child at LITTLE EDEN is R3 200 per month
- over and above the government subsidy
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Judy |
Julie
Julie, who has Down Syndrome, was one of the first 3 little
girls in day care when LITTLE EDEN opened in
1967.
Having been with us for such a long time, she feels
completely at home at Elvira Rota Village, where she lives
with 119 other residents with profound intellectual disability.
At
the age of 49, she is like a mother figure for the younger
residents at the Village. She looks after newcomers and
tries to help those who cannot feed or dress themselves.
She also rinses the cups and plates in the kitchen before
they go into the dishwasher and is very proud of her
'job'.
Although independent to a certain limited degree, Julie
needs assistance with many things. She is extremely
attached to Mrs Venter, the kitchen supervisor, and is
very sad whenever Mrs Venter goes on leave.
Julie also enjoys music therapy. A highlight for her
was when she played the part of the witch in Snow White
and she stirred the pot!
Her favourite pastime is to sit under a tree with some
of her friends such as Desiree and Sibusiso. She lets
Sibusiso sit on her lap and play
with her hair.
It takes committed staff, and numerous resources to provide
for the basic needs such as bathing, feeding, nappy changing,
carrying, brushing teeth and so many other daily exercises,
of our residents and to ensure that Julie and her many
friends know and feel that they are loved and safe.
If you want to make a difference by making a donation
towards Julie’s ongoing care, click
here to donate.
Currently the cost of caring for a child at LITTLE EDEN is R3 200 per month
- over and above the government subsidy |

Julie
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