The mother, Peggy Rabekani (40) is widowed with four children. Her second-born child, Ephinia (18) is physically and mentally disabled and has been bedridden from birth.
Her plight caught the attention of philanthropist Linda Twala who will sponsor the birthday celebration on 18 March and musician Nkiyase Mondlana who intends staging a music show to raise funds for the family.
Rabekani has chosen not to work so that she can look after Ephinia. “My child is God’s blessing and wish, which I should enjoy just like anything else,” said Rabekani.
Ephinia can’t talk, but occasionally giggles and smiles. She has no control of her movements and bowels but these are the least of Rabekani’s worries. They have developed a way to communicate that helps her attend to Ephinia’s everyday needs.
Rabekani attended a training programme which also helps her to detect her daughter’s health challenges. Her convoluted spinal cord is said to press on one of her kidneys. This worries Rabekani as, occasionally, it causes kidney-related problems which she is concerned may one day become a bigger threat to Ephinia’s life.
The other, but subdued worry, is the lack of family support other than from Ephinia’s siblings. She said her own and late husband’s relatives shun her, presumably from loathing the child’s condition, fear of expectation of help from them, or some bad omen befalling them from associating with the child. She said her own mother and mother-in-law have not visited her since her husband died in 2007.
“He was my only pillar of strength which disappeared with his death.”
Rabekani’s only support is the child’s monthly disability grant of R1 300. Occasionally, she gets referrals for traditional healing but declines them from the conviction that only clinical medical support could heal Ephinia.
Details: Nkayise 074 235 8774.
