Transformation of a Child, Or "Way to Go, Ricky!"
By Jean Armbruster, Physical Therapist
Elder, University Presbyterian Church
When
I arrived at House of Moses in Lusaka, Zambia, the end of June, I was asked to
work with a some of the babies who were having special challenges. One was Ricky,
an AIDS orphan, who had arrived at House of Moses severely malnourished, just
over two months ago. He was 11 months old, but was still unable to do anything.
I found him in his crib, laying on his back with his eyes open and head tilted back. He made eye contact with me and tracked me to the opposite side turning his head, but otherwise he was very, very "floppy", with no head or trunk control. His facial expression was fixed. He made no attempt to grab at a toy and made no sounds. After doing some play therapy with him I noted he did have all his reflexes and palpable muscle contractions in his trunk.
Slowly over the next few days, after asking staff and visitors to slowly introduce "exercises" and play routines, Ricky has gained head control, trunk control, gross grasp and a wonderful smile complete with a giggle that could melt your heart! He can now sit on his own, look around at the other children, reach out to touch things in this world, stand on his feet with support and even has begun "talking", using traditional baby talk. He is still behind a normal 11 month old, but at this rate he will catch up in no time.
During the five days I was in Zambia we watched a miracle. Ricky emerged from
a sickly child who was thought to be another Zambian AIDS statistic, to a bright
and happy child of God who appears to be loving his "new" world.
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