Foundation gives hope to Indonesian cerebral palsy sufferers

Corry Elyda

The Jakarta Post

Publication Date : 06-11-2014

Sixteen-year-old Maria Theresia Lanina sat quietly in her wheelchair, having finished distributing garlands to distinguished guests at an event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her school, the Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children (YPAC) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Maria is able to stand and walk several steps, her 64-year-old grandmother Gismulat Wardhani said, gazing at Maria.

Guests in attendance included Vice President Jusuf Kallas wife Mufidah Kalla, former president and chairwoman of the Indonesian Democracy Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa and acting Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas wife Veronika.

Gismulat told the VIP guests that Maria was diagnosed with light cerebral palsy (CP) when she was six months old. We were concerned that she wasnt holding and grasping objects eagerly, so we decided to have her examined, she said.

CP is a physical disorder resulting from non-genetic factors that cause brain damage, such as oxygen deprivation, infection and physical trauma, during or after pregnancy. The damage disturbs motor abilities like speaking and walking.

Gismulat said Marias parents decided to bring her to YPAC for study and therapy when she was 18 months old.

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Foundation gives hope to Indonesian cerebral palsy sufferers