AZAD (AGE 6)

An eager boy who now looks forward to each class with excitement.

When Azad first came to Ronahî, he spent most of his days lying on the floor at home, playing video games. Because of spasticity in his limbs and weakness in his muscles, he couldn’t sit up straight or lift his head, and his family didn’t know how to help him.

At first, the classroom was overwhelming. He was easily overstimulated and often wanted to go back to his TV. With daily therapy and encouragement, Azad began to find his rhythm. Sitting upright strengthened his neck and trunk muscles, allowing him to lift his head, look at his teachers, and join class activities.

Recently, he moved from a specialized support chair to a regular classroom chair, a milestone that made him feel included with his peers. His mother laughs that he now says, “Turn off the TV, let’s go make soup,” a small but hopeful sign of how far he’s come.

Therapy & Support

• Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs

• Focus: Strengthening muscle tone, sitting balance, and visual tracking (weak eye muscles limit his ability to look around freely)

• Goal: Improve trunk stability and head movement

• Needs: Ankle-Foot Orthosis ($200) and corner chair ($230) for trunk posture support

• Family: His father is seriously ill, and his older brothers are his primary caregivers

• Personality: Gentle, curious, and determined