Chenna Kesava Naida is a sponsored child, which allows him and his family to access important services like education, healthcare, and housing.

This is particularly important for Kesava, who was born with cerebral palsy. Kesava was born long after his due date and was admitted in NICU for 22 days because he didn’t cry when he was born. When he was old enough, his parents enrolled him in one of RDT Cerebral Palsy Centers.

“We visited the early intervention camp 3 years ago, after 1 year of counselling we felt it was best to enroll Kesava him in the CP center,” says Balaraju, Kesava’s father. “He has learned how to do his daily chores though he requires help. It is a huge improvement, earlier he could not do any of it.”

“We have been giving him medicines for epilepsy for a long time now. The medicines and the treatment at the RDT Bathalapalli Hospital is free of cost for him,” says Lathamma.

“I am really grateful for the children’s fund that Kesava receives every year,” says Lathamma, Kesava’s mother. “It is like a security for his future. I am constantly worried about who would take care of him after us.”

Both Kesava’s parents are agricultural laborers. Since the pandemic began, his mother hasn’t been able to work in the fields because Kesava requires constant care. Bringing him with them to the fields is not an option. Kesava’s parents do not let him out in an unfamiliar environment because it triggers him. This has made periodic visits from Kesava’s therapist and tutor Kalawathi invaluable.

Before the pandemic, Kalawathi worked as a therapist and tutor at RDT’s Kanekal Cerebral Palsy Center. Now she visits the Center’s patients at home to continue teaching them important life skills.

“I teach activities of daily life like toilet training, hygiene, bathing, identification of objects and coloring,” explains Kalawathi. “During home visits we ask the parents to extend emotional support to the children and assign them simple tasks at home to keep the children busy.”

In the center she worked with 55 children, but she makes field visits to a total of 87 children. She visits about 3 or 4 children every day.

“I feel extremely happy and satisfied with my profession,” says Kalawathi, smiling. “It gives me a sense of content and a feeling of fulfilment.”

“We feel relieved that the therapist is coming home because it is helpful for us to continue his progress without too much break,” explains Lathamma.

Kesava has made a lot of progress since enrolling in the Cerebral Palsy Center.

“When Kesava was enrolled in the center, he had no control of his neck, neither could he stand nor sit. There was no eye coordination as well. But now there is a noticeable cognitive improvement,” explains Kalawathi.

Thanks to the support of Kalawathi, the Cerebral Palsy center staff, and his sponsor on the other side of the world, Kesava is well on his way to achieving his dreams.

“When I grow up and become a bus conductor, then I can drive and meet my friend Lingaiah. I haven’t seen him since 1 year now,” exclaims Kesava