Help, cries mother of epileptic sons

IFE has been very hard with my only two sons who are epileptic and I am appealing for any help to cope with the predicament, a 48-year-old widow of Chongwe has lamented.

Ms. Mary Anne Phiri, a mother of two sons of Libuko village in Chongwe, said in an interview yesterday that life was unbearable as she had to fend for the family and look after the chronically epileptic sons.

“I am a widow of three children and have a small business to make ends meet. The two epileptic young men, Richard Phiri, 21 and Anthony Phiri, 29, have brought a serious economic and social toll on my life. I cannot freely go about my business as they take turns in their epileptic seizures.

“I have been to hospitals and traditional doctors for solutions, but all have been in vain. The medicines are very expensive. I spend not less than K400 every month on transport to Chainama Hospital in Lusaka and an equal amount on medication,’’ Ms Phiri said. She said she was always given prescriptions to buy drugs which were very costly, adding that she could not wait to have a lasting solution to this problem. The older son completed his Grade 12 and had good grades, but his condition could not allow him to go any further as the seizures, sometimes two in a week, were out of hand, she said.

“The younger one was advised to stop school by the doctor. He can have up to three seizures in a week. This is unbearable,” she said.

Ms. Phiri disclosed that the younger son has had the problem since he was 13 years old while his older brother started having attacks last one year. ‘’I am appealing to well-wishers to help me find a hospital where better and cheaper treatment can be found,’’ she added.

“I am seeking any assistance to alleviate this suffering. I don't know whether this is a curse on my life or not.

“How can I have too much to bear with so little resources? The relatives to my late husband are not helpful in any way. These are my only two sons, how can I be helped?” Ms Phiri lamented.