LITTLE SOPHIA MAKES PROGRESS Toddler still needs both financial and medical assistance
Weighs an alarming 70 kg at only 4-years-old
Little Sophie Padi, who suffers from Disruptive Sleep Apnea, is finally able to walk, thanks to the exercising classes that she currently benefits from.
At only four-years old she now weighs an alarming 70.50 Kg, and when the campaign to assist with her weight began last year, she weighed in at 55Kg.
The toddler’s mother , Memory Padi tells this publication that her weight is still an issue, as she grows.
Padi’s only comfort is that her daughter is now walking, which is giving her hope. At first she couldn’t walk. Other than being worried about her child’s abnormal weight, Padi says that the condition is also affecting her physically as she is forced to always assist little Sophia to get up.
She also has to help her with everything that she needs.
“Although there is progress, she is getting heavier and has become very active, so she always asks us to help her stand. I have thus developed a severe back pain, and I am always taking painkillers which no longer help either”, she says. Padi further explains that she has been booked for physio spine care to help ease her pain. In addition, the doting mother expressed worries about her child’s education, because she doesn’t go to crèche like other children her age, although she is passionate about school and learning.
She laments that they cannot afford a tutor, otherwise, they would get her one to do home schooling especially during this Covid era. “I feel that when she is at school, she would need extra care as she can just fall, or may end up falling on others, while playing so I have accepted that it is impossible to take her to school, for now”, she said.
According to Padi, there is no greater agony to a parent than being told that, ‘nothing can be done to help your child’. Her child’s doctor at Princess Marina Hospital has since told them that there isn’t anything further that can be done to assist Sophia and this has left her with a broken heart.
However, a doctor at Bokamoso Private Hospital has suggested surgery and it has been three months now, since they have been waiting for response regarding this. “It really pains me that when we are hopeful that there could be a solution, there are also some delays and to me it feels like they are not treating my child’s matter urgently,” Padi laments.
Thus far, Padi has been advised not to use certain weight loss products on Sophia because she is a minor, but she is tempted to use them because she is tired of seeing her child suffer.
She is however thankful for the support that people have shown since the campaign, although she wishes that more people could lend a helping hand, while there is still time than to wait for her to become critical.
Meanwhile, the founder of Sone Setho Humanitarian Organisation and also former Mrs Botswana 2018/2019 Keletso Desiree Linchwe is the brains behind the campaign ‘Please assist princess Sophia with her wellbeing’. Linchwe says they are hopeful that the little princess will finally get help.
She explains that due to her condition, she needs a unique diet that is very expensive, as well as transport fare for her regular exercise activities, and therefore requests the community to assist.
Through their campaign that aimed at raising P100 000, 00 for her 10 months ago they have only raised P3 010, 00 for now. People are asked to donate P5.00 under the campaign which has only two months to go.