By Stefanie Cunard | Community Based Rehabilitation Project Leader
Perseverance is one of our 5 key priorities at Operation Mercy. In our city we often come across children and families who have endured difficulties and discouragements through war, through loss of family members, through disabilities, and through lack of resources. While the hardships of life weigh heavy on some, we see others who are able to persevere through the hardships they’veencountered. Haneen and her family are a prime example of perseverance. When I met Haneen for the first time it was at the request of another local whose heart broke for this family. Haneen was 1 of 5 kids, and 4 of them have quadriplegic cerebral palsy and are completely dependent on their caretakers. Their mother was also a widow of 5 years, after losing her husband shortly after they survived the occupation and war that terrorized their city. Haneen was the youngest of the 4 disabled children and her 3 older siblings already had so many contractures in their bodies thatmade it nearly impossible for them to maintain a normal sitting position. Their mother worked day in and day out to clean them, feed them, change them, and provide for them. She was determined to do her best for her children, regardless of their circumstances. However, she maintained a special hope for Haneen, that one day she would have the opportunity to get better and be more mobile than the older 3.
Feeling almost overwhelmed by the desperation of this situation, one of our PT’s began treatment with Haneen, working towards any functional movement that could potentially help ease the workload on the mother. Yet, the mother and the youngest sister caught wind of the hope that was rising for Haneen to do things the rest of her siblings have never been able to do. She nowmaintains a proper sitting position on the floor, she is rolling and crawling, she can stand in a gait trainer and is working towards the ability to take steps by herself in the gait trainer.
It has been our joy at Operation Mercy Iraq to persevere alongside Haneen and her family to see the incredible progress she has been making. For Haneen, persevering through challenges has been proving to be her hope for the future.
By Steffanie Cunard | Project Leader
By Steven Smalley | Project Supervisor
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