Wanjiku

Wanjiku’s Story (Information taken from www.rehemainstep.com and my observations):

When Wanjiku arrived in February 2010, she was extremely malnourished (like so many that come here).  She was 3 years old but had the body of a 12 month old baby.  She was also diagnosed as epileptic and put on phenobarbital which helped with the seizures.  We are not sure how much damage was done during the first three years of her life with no medication. 

Wanjiku’s mother is mentally challenged, and one time after she was admitted and then discharged from the hospital, she went home and brought Wanjiku back to the hospital thinking it was a good place for her baby to live—it had a roof, beds, medicine, and sometimes a meal once a day.  The hospital could not keep her and contacted the Children’s Office who then placed Wanjiku with InStep.  Wanjiku’s mother was there when staff from InStep picked her up, and there was no emotion on the mother’s part whether that was because of her mental illness or not.  

In 2012 Wanjiku was scooting around with one leg tucked under the other, and more recently she has begun walking on her knees.  She attempts to take steps if someone is holding her up, but she does not put full weight on her legs.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve been watching Wanjiku’s movements and how the Aunties work with her.  She scoots around the floor, walks on her knees, and chews on whatever she can find.  She likes to chew on fuzzy things like pieces she rips off of foam matts, strings, pieces from blankets.  Wanjiku has her own toy keys that the Aunties are supposed to give to her to chew on instead of other things, but she gets bored and tosses the keys in search for something else.  For the most part, the Aunties just ignore her because Wanjiku isn’t a big disturbance.  I’ve been working with her by standing behind her and holding her up by her hands and using my knee to brace her backside—she tries to take steps but cannot bear her whole weight on each leg.  There is also a wooden stool that the top has been removed, and I place her inside and hold her knees so she can’t sit down.  She doesn’t like it and starts to whine after a few minutes.  I’ve been stretching her ankles and toes in an attempt to work the calf muscles.  It’s a slow process, but I think Wanjiku will be able to walk someday.  I think when Wanjiku does start walking, she’s going take off running, and then the Aunties will have to chase her down wherever she goes!