Molotsi Mufula

Background

On 17 July 1990, a set of twins was born in Kalafong Hospital, Atteridgeville.

What should have been the happiest day of the young mother’s life, turned out to be a rather distressing one, as one of the twins, Molotse, was diagnosed with profound intellectual disability and spastic quadriplegia. His brother was born a normal baby.

Molotse’s disability made him face challenges already early on in his life that many of us will never experience.

As a result of Molotse’s condition, he is not able to walk, feed or bath himself. He is in a chariot when in his day room with his friends.

Although Molotse’s mother accepts and loves him dearly, she is unable to provide his basic needs or the specialised care and attention that he requires on a daily basis. She is a single mother who is unemployed and has 8 children to look after.

Molotse was admitted to LITTLE EDEN on 3 February 1993, when he was two years old and recently celebrated his 17th birthday with his friends at LITTLE EDEN.

Molotse is a content and happy young man despite the fact that he is completely dependent on his care workers. Visitors often comment on his beautiful smile which he seems to wear all the time!

Molotse loves receiving visitors and responds to attention by smiling and lifting his hand.     

He receives his necessary daily medication, clothing, nappies and five meals every day.

The ongoing therapy program, which include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, metamorphosis, reflexology, music therapy, are amongst the various activities which keeps Molotse’ spastic body functioning.

Molotse knows that he is important and that he is loved for who he is. He lives in Blue wing with 23 other friends.

LITTLE EDEN took on the financial responsibility of caring for this precious child as we have for most of the children at LITTLE EDEN.

Molotse is one of the 290 special angels at LITTLE EDEN who needs 24-hour care, love and protection. It takes committed staff, and various 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 Molotse and his many friends know and feel that they are loved and safe.  

If you want to make a difference by making a donation towards Molotse’ ongoing care, click here.
Currently it costs LITTLE EDEN R3 500 per child per month.

Emily

Background

My name is Emily and I have been living in Boitumulo 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 26 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 at LITTLE EDEN.  

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.

Oh and I love it when people come to visit! Some have read to me, others have simply chatted to me and another person rubbed my hands and feet. It made me feel very special.

Of course I have days, just like anyone else, where I don’t feel so good. Sometimes I cry when I miss mom and dad or when my head aches or I have a cold. Luckily, I never have to be alone. Sister or my Housemother will come and hold my hand or give me a hug when I need it. I am so lucky!  

Despite the fact that some people don’t understand me or my friends just because we have intellectual disabilities, I love who I am and I know that I am a very unique young girl.

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!

On Saturday 1 March 2008 some of these pictures of ours will be for sale at the LITTLE EDEN fête. Please will you come and have a look at them? Perhaps even buy one to remember me by? If you want, you could meet me in person and come see where I live. Yes, let’s do that; it will be fun!

Dear friend, will you open your heart to me and show that you care even though you don’t know me? I really hope so!

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 Hulisani Nemaxwi on 011 609 7246.

Danny van Tonder

Background

On 10 January 1998, Danny van Tonder was born as a healthy, normal little boy.

However, shortly after his birth, Danny suddenly became very ill.

He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The latter is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. In the end, the muscles deteriorate to such an extent that they lose their function and the patient becomes almost completely paralyzed.

As a result of his illness, Danny has profound intellectual disability and is also physically disabled.  

Because of his special needs and the intensive care which Danny needs 24-hours of every day; his loving family realised they could no longer care for Danny on their own, as he required constant, specialised care which they were unable to provide.

On 5 April 2000, Danny (aged 2 at the time) was admitted to
LITTLE EDEN.

Since the day of his admission, this beautiful child was loved by his care workers and housemother – in particular for his gorgeous smile!
He is almost always smiling and continuously seeking the attention of his care givers as well as visitors.

Danny loves being outside in the garden and amongst his friends!

He is in a wheelchair and is completely dependent on his care workers for feeding, bathing and brushing his teeth. He also wears a nappy and is not able to move around with his wheelchair on his own.

Despite his disabilities, Danny is a content little boy who likes to share his joy with those around him. He lives at the Edenvale Home in Green Wing, with 23 other friends.

Over time, his care givers in Green Wing have come to understand his gestures and facial expressions when he wants something or if he is uncomfortable. They describe Danny as a child who is at ease with himself. He always asks for second helpings during meal times!

Danny receives the various therapies every week, such as occupational-, music-, physio- and hydrotherapy to ensure that he develops to his full potential. He especially loves the music therapy where he can play the instruments and express himself in a different way.

Danny 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 Danny on a monthly basis, which includes medication, therapy and food, to name a few.  

Danny is one of the 290 special angels at LITTLE EDEN who needs 24-hour care, love and protection. It takes committed staff, and various 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 Danny and his many friends know and feel that they are loved and safe.  

Danny van Tonder

James Barker

Background

To many people, an institution such as LITTLE EDEN is simply yet another place where people with intellectual disabilities spend their days until they pass away.

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, in fact, able to accomplish!

James is a young man of 29 years, and he lives in the Boitumelo wing with 39 other friends. He has the mental 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.

On that particular day that I happened to be in the hydrotherapy room, James was lifted out of the Jacuzzi after relaxing in the water for some time, 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 James’ eyes though, was determination and courage.

Then, Housemother Doris pushed his wheelchair approximately
3 meters away and asked him if he could get into his wheelchair by himself.

James smiled and began to crawl towards his wheelchair, while he was singing softly. To me watching him, there was no possible way that he could do this alone. However, when he reached the chair, he turned around and slowly but surely forced himself up into the wheelchair.  Finally, when he was sitting in it, he began to sing “beautiful wheelchair; I got in my wheelchair!”  He was rewarded with a loud applause from everyone watching.

James 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.

All the various therapies and activities that we make available to our children are to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible. When they are comfortable, it becomes easier for them to try new things and to achieve more - because they are able to!

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.

James Barker

Nthabiseng Sedibeng         

Background

On 18 October 1993, a beautiful, tiny baby girl named Nthabiseng was born. She was diagnosed with profound mental handicap and micro-cephalous.

Her mother is employed as a domestic worker and is unable to provide Nthabiseng with the intensive care which she needs 24 hours each day. She also takes care of Nthabiseng’s older brother.

Nthabiseng was admitted to LITTLE EDEN at the age of 3. Here she participates in the Care and Stimulation programme every day. She receives a lot of love and attention from staff, volunteers and visitors!

Nthabiseng is also extremely spastic, and therefore immobile. Since she is partially sighted with impaired hearing, Nthabiseng is fully dependent on her care workers for all her needs.

Nthabiseng wears a nappy and is fed and bathed. She is moved around frequently to ensure that she is as comfortable as possible.

She receives regular physiotherapy for her chest.

Nthabiseng loves it when people visit and talk to her. When you touch her arm, she beams with delight! She follows movement with her eyes and has the smile of an angel.

She receives occasional visits from her mom, who loves her dearly although she is unable to provide for her financially.

Currently, Nthabiseng lives in the blue wing with some of her friends, Johannah, Ralph, Lebohang and others who all require the same intensive care. Various combined therapies keep them as comfortable as possible.

Nthabiseng is one of the 290 special angels at LITTLE EDEN who needs 24-hour care, love and protection. It takes committed staff, and various 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 Nthabiseng and her many friends know and feel that they are loved and safe.

Nthabiseng Sedibeng

Lillian Brown

Background

Lillian was one of the first 3 little girls in day care when LITTLE EDEN opened 40 years ago in 1967.

She has been with us for a long time and she feels completely at home at Elvira Rota Village, where she lives with 109 other residents with profound mental handicap.

Lillian has Downs Syndrome.

She is independent to a certain limited degree, but still need assistance with many things.

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.

Lillian rinses the cups and plates in the kitchen before they go into the dishwasher and she is very proud of her “job”.

She loves collecting crayons and pencils in a plastic bag and every so often, it has to be emptied again by the staff members!

Lillian is extremely attached to Mrs Venter, the kitchen supervisor, and is very sad whenever Mrs Venter goes on leave.

She always helps to put lotion on the younger residents after their baths and helps those who are unable to dress themselves.
Lillian particularly enjoys music therapy. A highlight for her was when she played the part of the witch in Snow White and she stirred the pot! She still refers to it often.

She has many friends at the Village and is loved by all.

Her favourite pastime is to sit under a tree with some of her friends such as Desiree and Sibusiso. She lets Sibusiso (a younger resident), sit on her lap and play with her hair.

Because of the mental handicap, Lillian ages more quickly than a person normally would.

We provide her with a loving home, stimulation, therapy and a variety of activities, to enrich her life for as long as she will be with us.

Lillian is one of the 290 special angels at LITTLE EDEN who needs
24-hour care, love and protection. It takes committed staff, and various 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 Lillian and her many friends know and feel that they are loved and safe.   

Lillian Brown