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

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!

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

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.

John

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.

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