Nana’s Journey: Finding Hope Through Therapy
In the heart of Kisenyi, a suburb of Kampala, lives a brave 4-year-old girl named Nana. Born with cerebral palsy, Nana faces challenges that most children her age never have to think about. She lives with her mother, a devoted single parent of six children—two of whom live with serious health conditions. Nana’s older brother, Elias, battles diabetes, while Nana continues to work hard every day to overcome the physical limitations of cerebral palsy.
A Mother’s Strength
Nana’s mother, a refugee from Somalia, has faced unimaginable hardships. After her husband disowned the family upon learning that two of their children had incurable health conditions, she was left to care for her six children alone. Life in Somalia became unbearable; medical resources were scarce, and access to treatment was nearly impossible amidst the ongoing war.
With courage and hope, she made the difficult decision to flee to Uganda in search of better medical care for Nana and Elias. The move came at a heartbreaking cost: she had to leave her other four children behind with relatives and neighbors because she simply couldn’t afford to bring them all.
Now living in Kampala, she continues to face daily struggles to provide for her two children. Without stable employment, she relies on the kindness of neighbors and well-wishers to get by. But despite the challenges, her love and determination never waver.
Finding Hope and Progress
When Nana first came to Hope Speaks, she struggled with nearly all aspects of daily living—she couldn’t sit, feed herself, or move around independently. But since beginning physical therapy with the Hope Speaks volunteer team, her transformation has been nothing short of inspiring.
Today, Nana can sit on her own, feed herself some food, pull to stand, roll across the floor, and even take supported steps. She’s also starting to find her voice, attempting to talk and engage more with those around her. Each milestone, no matter how small, is a celebration of her perseverance and the dedicated care she’s received.
“Hope Speaks has indeed given my baby a chance to enjoy being a child,” her mother shared joyfully. “She is now happy and willing to try every task done by her agemates—sitting, feeding, standing, and playing. Thanks to Hope Speaks’ physical therapy in Uganda.”
The Heart of Hope Speaks
Hope Speaks exists to bring life-changing speech, occupational, and physical therapy to children with disabilities across Uganda. Many of these children, like Nana, come from vulnerable backgrounds where access to quality healthcare is out of reach. Through the compassionate work of therapists and volunteers, Hope Speaks helps children discover their abilities, build confidence, and live with dignity.
But this life-changing work is only possible because of generous donors and volunteers in Uganda who believe in giving every child a voice and a chance at a brighter future.
If you’d like to make a difference, consider supporting Hope Speaks. We’re always looking for volunteers in physical therapy and have cerebral palsy volunteer opportunities to help our community. If you’re interested in donating to Uganda, your gift helps provide therapy sessions, medical equipment, and community outreach to families in need.
Donate to Uganda and help us bring hope and healing to more children like Nana.
