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Our special little "angel" Jody Rischbieter, our 18 year old mentally handicapped boy. This is his story.
Dec 2006 Dec 06 Dec 06 19 Sep 07 19 Oct 07 24 Oct 07 He has had a very difficult and traumatic life so far and he has motivated the inspiration for this website and the source for helping other families who have been suffering alone. Many mentally handicapped children in South Africa are not able to attend school. This could be because of the stigma attached, or it might be because parent cannot afford the fees which are far out of reach of most families. This is partly due to the fact of a shortage of these homes and schools servicing this population and the lack of funding. There are limited opportunities for learning disabled people. Having lived in Port Elizabeth from the age of 4, and being no facility for me, after numerous investigations I was accepted at a school in Hermanus in the Western Cape where I went to school for 9 years. I was SO happy there but at the age of 16, after my parents transferred to Gauteng at the end of 2005, was told that I needed to leave the school. There was no assistance in finding other suitable schooling for me or help in getting a grant. I was put on a plane in July 2006 and sent home. We think it was because my parents could not afford the fees and they could no longer subsidize us. Although my parents were told that I would not cope in the adult facility. Sadly, this is when my problems started! My parents worked long hours in order to earn enough due to the higher cost of living in Gauteng. We battled to find a school. No-one was interested in me because I was 16 - too old for normal school and not yet 18 and too young for adult sections. Having being used to the routine and performing my duties I felt insecure with this change. We tried numerous care-givers but they were never reliable. In October 2006, my mother found a place nearby who would take care of me. Although it was hard for her to leave me there as she was not happy about it, she had no choice. I was left in the care of my 13 year old sister every afternoon which was not ideal. I suffer with epilepsy, and my mother worked in Sandton and we live in the Westrand. On 15th December 2006, my mother fetched me at lunch time for the holidays and found me suffering with severe diarrhea. I had not been taken to a doctor! I would not drink or eat and being deeply dehydrated went into epileptic shock. My brain was affected and I have not spoken since then. My tongue does not stop pushing at my lip, and I feel constantly afraid. I cant dress myself anymore, I have forgotten about normal hygiene and want to gulp my food down. I am so afraid! On the 4th August 2007, I turned 18 years old. My parents were still looking for a boarding home for me where I could get 24 hour care. I have been waking up during the night and wondering around the house aimlessly. Mom wasn't getting any sleep and this affected her in her work, but I could not help it. On the 19th September 2007 I swallowed a plastic packet with some crisps in that my sister had brought home from school while in the care of my care-giver who did not see at the time, and this got stuck in my throat. Paramedics were called and had to perform a tracheotomy to save my life. I did not do well in hospital having major complications and stayed there for 35 days mostly in ICU. Two further tracheotomies had to take place. I developed the MSRA bug not allowing me to heal. As my throat was badly infected and swollen, no tubes could be inserted as there was no space left in my throat. I was only on a glucose drip which they said was sufficient food and my parents complained as I was getting too thin. My parents were told to expect the worst and advised to sleep at the hospital one night. I was not about to give up though and my mom demanded a milk drip to be inserted into my arm. After hours of prayer and food, I started responding. (My eyes were already glazed and shutting down). I am still very skinny and weak and want to gulp my food down (scared maybe I will go hungry?). Then our prayers were answered! Woodside Sanctuary accepted me and I have been there since the 19th November 2007. My parents and I are afraid and praying for my recovery in totality but we have to remain hopeful and positive that this is the best for all of us. We praise God for blessing us with this opportunity and for sparing me. Oh and I am sure you might be wondering whether I was born mentally handicapped? Well what happened was my mom had problems when they tried for 3 days to induce her and bring on the birth - she had to keep walking up the corridors while they tried everything but she also was not dilating. They eventually used a suction to try get me out. The doctor kept on releasing the suction and forcing it back again because he tried to pull me out. My mother and I both suffered and I was born with a big hole in my head from the suction. We are sure this caused too much distress and affected my brain. My sister Emma who is younger than me is fine and she was born by caesarian section. Can I ask you to pray for me? My mom gets sad to see my regression when once I was swimming, playing ball and always laughing doing things that normal 5 yr olds could do. Now I do not have any emotion. If you will, pray for my mommy too - it breaks her heart to see me this way.My progress will also be updated here. If you would like to chat to my mom, she will be happy to hear from you. Jody my boy, your mom and dad love you with all their hearts - may God protect, guide and nourish you and may no man take advantage of your condition again! If you would like to monitor my progress please click here
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