Community rallies for Ugandan boy with cerebral palsy

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Samuel Mutungi, 5, is all smiles as he walks with the help of braces and crutches at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics in Exeter. Born with cerebral palsy, Samuel came to the country with his mother Joy Mutungi in August 2013 from Uganda, Africa, with the help staff at Access Sports and the Rye Congregational Church for medical treatment.Suzanne Laurent photo

February 16, 2014 2:00 AM

EXETER Little Samuel Mutungi has a smile that melts the hearts of all who meet him.

The 5-year-old was born in Uganda, Africa, with cerebral palsy, and it took a small village of sorts to bring him and his mother, Joy Mutungi, to the United States on a medical visa to be evaluated and begin to receive treatment.

The Rye Congregational Church set up a fund in Samuel Mutungi's name to assist his family with medical expenses. Donations can be sent to the Rye Congregational Church, Attn: Ugandan Missions Samuel, 580 Washington Rd, Rye, NH 03870.

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To watch a video of Samuel, visit http://bit.ly/1gADHYj

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital disorders of childhood, affecting muscle control and coordination. It is not progressive, but some children can have significant orthopedic problems.

Samuel's condition caused his legs to turn inwards and he had lower extremity weakness, making it difficult for him to walk without the help of his mother or using a walker.

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Community rallies for Ugandan boy with cerebral palsy