THE mother of a little boy who suffers from Cerebral palsy (CP) is searching for a wheelchair for the three-year-old.

Since the day he was born, Austin Weidlich from Queensburgh had the odds stacked against him. 

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Hypoxia shortly after he was born left Austin, who turns four in December, with Cerebral palsy (CP).

What is CP?

CP is the name of a group of disorders affecting the ability to move, undermining both balance and posture.

It is one of the most common motor disabilities in childhood.   

Austin’s mum, Uandi Weidlich said she had no idea how much help he would need when he made his entry into the world.  

In fact, both her children both had difficulties at birth. 

Her little girl who arrived two years after Austin was born premature. 

Joy

While  on the hunt for a wheelchair, she takes time to savour the immense joy her son brings to everyone he encounters.

“Austin is always smiling, and he gives me a reason to laugh every single day,” she beamed.

Weidlich said it was once Austin’s baby sister began to walk that Austin’s difficulties became most apparent. 

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She said she could see how frustrated he became at not being able to move around freely.

Surgery

The mother of two said he was due to have a surgery to release the tendons at his ankles but this was postponed indefinitely due to pressures on public health due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“He was also supposed to have his tonsils out, and that also had to be postponed,” she said.

“Now he is on antibiotics for regular tonsillitis.”

However, shortly before this story was published he had been admitted to hospital for his tonsillectomy.

Tanie Hanneli

Austin’s mum’s mission to find a wheelchair is aided by Hanneli Preston, who runs the non-profit organisation (NPO), Aunty H Helping Hand (AHHH). 

Preston recently shared the following message on her personal Facebook wall:

“I would like to ask before I start fundraising to buy this specialised wheelchair for little Austin. He is doing so well with his walker that everyone helped with that he now can go to school but needs the wheelchair and the best price is R12 500.”

Preston also requested the donation of a wheelchair which she said would be suitable for a child up to the age of 12, to give him a good nine years of use.

In addition to the CP, Austin is also autistic, which means he faces a double challenge in attaining the same developmental goals that other children his age might be expected to achieve. 

While there are no recent statistics on how many children are born with CP in South Africa, a 2017 study in KwaZulu-Natal revealed that the prevalence of children diagnosed might be as high as 10 in 1000. 

 To assist, call Hanneli on 064 346 8766 or send her a WhatsApp message on 079 960 7809.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting