Mush CP Story -CP After birth

 

“My name is Omochonwen Bello, I come from Lagos state in Nigeria.My little boy Mush was born perfectly healthy and hearty. I had a safe pregnancy and delivery too. It was a great joy to take home a bouncing baby boy. Like any other parent it was my joy seeing my little Mush achieve his milestones, My son was able to sit, to crawl, stand, play with other children, break things at home , make a few steps and even utter some words. But my joy was however short lived.

Our story changed when he had febrile illness at 9months, at that time there was an outbreak of meningitis but with the spinal tap result the fluid was clear so it was ruled out. He was in coma for more than two weeks and when he became conscious his brain was damaged and he lost all the gained milestones, he was now like a newborn child again. Mush could no longer do anything after he was discharged from hospital. My son lost his smile and could not even wave, his growth was affected that he did not grow any tooth for until after like 7months after he was discharged. He lost his chewing and swallowing ability too and only depended on puree.

Hospital became our second home because feeding him became difficult, sometimes when feeding him the food will pass through his nostrils which results in aspiration and difficulty in breathing and seizures.

Mush was then diagnosed with Spastic cerebral palsy, a disability that affects a person’s movement, posture and muscle tone. Since his diagnosis he fully depends on us to do everything for him, he cannot sit, only sits with support, he cannot crawl etc. My child’s vision was also affected and he cannot see, he has cortical visual impairment. His chewing is slowly coming back, though he still eats only blended or mashed foods.

It has not been easy for me as a parent, I never imagined ending up as a special needs parent or my child who was just healthy ending up disabled, with time I slowly accepted, though at times it still hurts me to think of my child who could now be in school or outside playing with the rest is now disabled and I am forced to take care of him on a full time basis. Just like any other parts of the world, the stigma here in Nigeria is worse too, people still believe it’s a curse or witchcraft."

You can follow Mush on instagram @cerebralpalsy_diary