Dipo receives a new wheelchair!

Some of you may have seen the short video we posted on Facebook or the photo on Twitter a few days ago which showed young Dipo getting a new wheelchair. It’s had a great response, so we thought we’d share with you how it all happened…

When the Roding Valley High School team was over a few weeks ago, we went with a few of the children from Greater Joy School to visit their homes. It was at one of these homes we met Dipo and his family.

We heard that when Dipo was four years old he caught malaria and got very sick. Since then he has been unable to walk and unable to talk. He is now seventeen years old. Dipo is taken care of by his Grandmother as sadly, but not unusually, both his parents have died. It is clear to see that he and his Grandmother have a very happy relationship, when she comes near him his face lights up!

It’s not easy taking care of Dipo and getting the support they need. On most days for the past few years Dipo has been sat in a contraption that is a plastic garden chair set in a metal frame. It once had wheels but they have long stopped working.

All of the Roding team who met Dipo were moved by his story and wanted to be able to help the family in some way. A wheelchair was top of the list, but we didn’t know how we might get one. A couple of days later, just before the team were heading home, we heard that a container had arrived for another organisation and that in the container were some wheelchairs. After a phone call or two and with the generosity of the Roding students, Dan went to pick up Dipo’s new wheelchair.

So, this week we went to Dipo’s home and delivered the wheelchair to him this was the moment the Grandmother received the news!

And this is the moment Dipo was wheeled outside for the first time in a very long time:

Even though I am writing this a couple of days after it happened I am still moved as I recall the moment Dipo came outside; the smile on his face, the happy noises he was making, his Grandmother’s obvious delight and the celebration from friends and family! Life for Dipo has changed.

To the Roding team, in the words of Dipo’s Grandmother “Thank you, you don’t know what you have done.” 

And in case you missed the video, here it is!