jon

This is Jon and his father Charles. Jon is two years old and is thought to have cerebral palsy, although he has never been officially diagnosed. He has no control of motor functions and spends everyday lying on a mat inside his house. His mother left when she realized his condition. There is a social stigma against people with such disabilities in Ghana. Rebecca, the social worker, explained to me that many people used to believe/still believe that people have disabilities either because of something bad the family has done (so the person with a disability is bringing a curse upon their family) or because of some evil spirit. For this reason, Jon has spent most of his life indoors because a lot of people fear him. Fortunately, the people who live around Jon have started to become used to him, which has allowed the father to bring him outside more often now.

I first met Jon about a week ago. I sat next to him and tried to hold his hand. His whole body continually twists around, including his head, but he kept trying to look at Rebecca and me. He often looks directly into your eyes and it is clear that there is some sort of recognition there. I think he is pretty high functioning for a child who has not had much stimulation. Jon is also extremely malnourished, currently weighing about 14 pounds. His arms and legs are stick skinny. You have to be really careful when you hold him, because his head is too heavy for him to hold up (partly due to the malnourishment and partly due to the CP). He is malnourished because his dad can’t hold a job because taking care of Jon is a full-time job.

Unfortunately, there are not any government services to help provide for Jon's needs. He is in need of several things, including a proper diagnosis from a medical facility, a treatment plan that most likely will include medication, fees for an orphanage to help improve his condition, and immediate food to feed both Jon and his father. Rebecca has found an orphanage that helps children with special needs that will be able to take Jon in for a few years if funding for this can be procured. She believes this is necessary because it is the only way his father will be able to find a job that will hopefully enable him to take care of his son. The goal for Jon is to be able to live independently, so hopefully the orphanage will help get Jon to that place so that his dad can continue working after Jon returns home. Charles, Jon’s father, was at first very reluctant to part with him for a little while, but knows he has to in order to help him. Everyone is hoping that Jon will only have to be in the orphanage for less than five years.

Jon’s smile is contagious. Whenever I go and visit him I can’t stop smiling either. Watching him and his dad together is the most amazing thing…it is so evident how much Charles loves his son. Everytime Jon looks at his dad, a huge smile spreads across his face. If anyone would like to help Jon and his dad out, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can assure you that any support would go directly to Jon and can even be specified to wherever you would want to contribute, whether it would be for food, orphanage fees, doctors fees, or medication.

Charles & Jon in front of their house