Through a mama’s eyes
We’re back again with another instalment in our series of Kafika House stories – and this time, we’re sharing our healing journey through the eyes of a parent.
Mama P gave birth at home. When she first saw her son, she cried: she had never seen a baby with cleft lip and palate, and didn’t know what was wrong with him.
She hid him from friends and neighbours, afraid of stigma and judgement.
Luckily, her brother-in-law had seen a Kafika House poster, and encouraged her to bring him to us. Little P required two surgeries: one for his lip, and another for his palate. When he arrived at Kafika House, P was just two months old and anaemic. We built up his health to get him surgery-strong, and when he was ready, his lip was corrected.
During his time with us, Mama P stayed with him. She learned how to support his unique needs and participated in our Mamas Education Programme, which empowers caregivers with new skills and knowledge they can take home with them. Her favourite seminar was animal husbandry – she plans to raise chickens for eggs, to feed her family and earn an income.
The most impactful part of her stay was being in the company of other mamas of children with disabilities. She felt welcomed, accepted, and heard.
It has given her courage: ‘I will speak to other mothers with children with a cleft lip, or other disabilities. I will speak up at my health centre and village.’
We just love how this story gives a glimpse into the ways our healing journey transforms not just the lives of children, but parents, families, and whole communities.
Now that he’s 9 months old, little P is ready to have his cleft palate surgery.
It costs just $1,200 to complete P’s healing journey, making a different future possible for him and his mama.