This is the final story in our series of honoring special needs moms in Uganda. We hope that inviting you into these stories has both inspired you and given you joy as you have seen the real impact your donations are making!
Joy loves her family with her whole heart. She is married and has two sons and one daughter. One of her sons, Jordan, was born with cerebral palsy.
Had Jordan been born into a different family, it’s likely he would have been abandoned. In Uganda, children living with special needs are often stigmatized and hidden away because they’re considered cursed. But Jordan’s parents chose to see him through the eyes of God – they see his value because of who made him. They love Jordan unconditionally, just like his Father in heaven does. We’re so incredibly thankful for this because a loving, stable family changes everything!
When we first met Jordan he was incredibly loved, but his health was struggling. He was unable to sit independently, or grip things, and he had never attended school before. His family had the desire to raise him well and wanted to see him thrive, but they simply didn’t have the resources to do so. We invited them to join our Community Care Program, and Jordan immediately began physical, occupational, and speech therapy. His family received counseling and medical support, and his mom joined one of our CORE Groups; a community of special needs parents who could relate to her family’s story and encourage her as a mother.
Jordan’s family has certainly transformed. Joy shared with us,
“Our family has really changed since the first day we joined the Community Care Program at Ekisa. We now have a lot of hope. My son Jordan is now able to say a few words like mommy and daddy, he is able to clap and give high fives, he laughs and smiles. He makes our whole family very happy. Before he could not sit independently in a wheelchair and was scared to socialize with others. He has changed so much.”
Today Jordan is a student at Ekisa Academy where he continues to progress and develop. This year we celebrated as he reached two milestones: he can now sit upright on his own and can even move independently by using his arms to scoot himself across the floor. We're so proud of his hard work and determination!
It's an honor to walk alongside Jordan’s family and to see them equipped to provide the best care possible for him.