The Hope Physiotherapy Service (charity funded for those that cannot afford to pay) has been operational for 10 months. You can read a recent progress report here.
Here’s an update on one of the patients being treated:
Benon is a 19 year old boy from Nsambya. He was admitted to Hope Ward in April 2009 with severe anaemia and despite numerous blood transfusions ended up being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where he required a tracheostomy and the support of a ventilator to breath. Despite this he continued to have low levels of oxygen in his blood and as a result suffered a hypoxic brain injury.
He was treated daily by the physiotherapy team initially to assist him to clear his chest and later to teach him how to sit again. Throughout physiotherapy, even when he was acutely unwell, he maintained his motivated attitude and his smiley personality. After some weeks he was weaned off the ventilator and transferred back to Hope Ward. On Hope Ward his walking was very uncoordinated and he required assistance from the physiotherapist; he was at times anxious about falling.
In May 2009 when he was medically fit he was discharged from hospital. At this time he was able to walk with assistance of his mother and a wheeled walking frame. He required assistance to stand from a chair and with his washing and dressing
Benon has been attending outpatient physiotherapy through the Hope Physiotherapy Outpatient Clinic since June 2009. His balance and co-ordination continue to improve; he is now able to sit unsupported to wash and dress himself. He can stand from a chair using a frame for support, and his walking is more coordinated such that he can now use a 3 wheeled rollator to walk with close supervision. He also no longer fears falling as he has been taught how to get himself up from the floor if he does fall.
Recently his therapist decided that Benon would benefit from exercise within a pool to help control his uncoordinated shaking in walking. This week he attended his first hydrotherapy session where his abilities in the pool impressed himself and the team. Benon reports he really enjoyed the water as he used to swim prior to his admission and is looking forward to his next session.
Benon’s ultimate goal is to return to boarding school and we are working with him to set goals to assist him to achieve this.
Benon is a 19 year old boy from Nsambya. He was admitted to Hope Ward in April 2009 with severe anaemia and despite numerous blood transfusions ended up being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where he required a tracheostomy and the support of a ventilator to breath. Despite this he continued to have low levels of oxygen in his blood and as a result suffered a hypoxic brain injury.
He was treated daily by the physiotherapy team initially to assist him to clear his chest and later to teach him how to sit again. Throughout physiotherapy, even when he was acutely unwell, he maintained his motivated attitude and his smiley personality. After some weeks he was weaned off the ventilator and transferred back to Hope Ward. On Hope Ward his walking was very uncoordinated and he required assistance from the physiotherapist; he was at times anxious about falling.
In May 2009 when he was medically fit he was discharged from hospital. At this time he was able to walk with assistance of his mother and a wheeled walking frame. He required assistance to stand from a chair and with his washing and dressing
Benon has been attending outpatient physiotherapy through the Hope Physiotherapy Outpatient Clinic since June 2009. His balance and co-ordination continue to improve; he is now able to sit unsupported to wash and dress himself. He can stand from a chair using a frame for support, and his walking is more coordinated such that he can now use a 3 wheeled rollator to walk with close supervision. He also no longer fears falling as he has been taught how to get himself up from the floor if he does fall.
Recently his therapist decided that Benon would benefit from exercise within a pool to help control his uncoordinated shaking in walking. This week he attended his first hydrotherapy session where his abilities in the pool impressed himself and the team. Benon reports he really enjoyed the water as he used to swim prior to his admission and is looking forward to his next session.
Benon’s ultimate goal is to return to boarding school and we are working with him to set goals to assist him to achieve this.
