Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists September 2016 | Page 10

disabilities, so it is going to take time to make a sustainable presence and impact the community
at large.

Ugandans watch foreigners with an eagle eye, so providing a patient, loving and compassionate
example on “how” to hold, talk, feed, and handle these beautiful children will be essential.
Q: Share your most favorite OT moment from Imprint Hope.
My first week in Uganda I met Joseph, who is a persevering little 7-year old with Cerebral Palsy.
Joseph had spent his life in a dormitory because he never received any therapy to help him
manage his physical impairments. Joseph approached me one day and said ‘Sister, teach me how
to walk, so I can go to school.’
In Uganda, children with disabilities need to be able to walk and be toilet trained to enter a
classroom.
Well after two months of Occupational Therapy, Joseph took his first step independently. In
four months’ time, he was navigating his environment with lofstrand crutches and standby
physical assistance. Joseph is now navigating dynamic and incline surfaces independently and is
going to school. Vividly remembering the look of joy in Joseph’s eyes at receiving this gift of
functional mobility always brings tears to my eyes.
Q: What can we do to help?
Imprint Hope runs solely off the generosity and selfless virtue of others. At this time, Imprint
Hope is in dire need of therapy supplies and financial assistance.
A donation makes it possible to begin constructing Imprint Hope’s rehabilitation clinic. As well
as for children with disabilities to receive rehabilitation services, (i..e therapy 2-3 times a week);
for a child with a disability to sit up for the first time in a wheelchair; for families to be educated
on how to feed, hold, and take care of their child and for all to learn the invaluable potential and
beautiful purpose of every human soul.
HERE IS THE LINK TO DONATE TO IMPRINT HOPE.

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