Widow endures 40-year ordeal
THE emotional and physical strain she has endured over the years lingers in her disconsolate tone as she narrates her ordeal.
For more than 40 years she has been a pillar of strength to her brothers, sons and grandson born with the same physical and mental condition.
It cuts through the male bloodline causing a range of conditions including muscle rigidity, involuntary muscle movement and compromised muscle and mental development.
This leads to inability or difficulty in walking, paralysis and speech difficulties.
Science says its cerebral palsy, the African belief system says its an act of witchcraft which needs spiritual diagnosis and exorcism.
Takudzwa Pisirai (17), Tapiwa (22) and Simbarashe Runhindi (25) rely on their mother and siblings for everything.
At least two of the older Runhindi brothers who had a similar condition have since died.
Mrs Grace Runhindi (68) had two brothers born with the physical condition before she bore four male children of her own with the condition.
At least one of her daughters who is now late had a son whom she is now looking after as well.
“I have not had rest from the time I got married to this day. It has been struggle after struggle as I literally have to do everything for my sons who were born crippled,” said Mrs Runhindi.
“I am now tired from carrying them around from one place to another, washing their soiled clothes and blankets and bathing them everyday for the past 40 or so years.”
It’s a labour of love which she cannot abrogate to anyone, she reckons.
Her relief came with the birth of her last born twin boys who, ironically did not suffer the fate of the other male children as widely expected.
She went against medical advice to fall pregnant again after a succession of boys born with the condition.
In one of the lighter moments of the interview, Mrs Runhindi said she does not regret disregarding the advice of health personnel who cautioned her against falling pregnant after her fourth son was affected.
“My mother said I had turned out worse than her as she only had two children affected by the condition while I had four.
“After the fourth, a health personnel helping with physical exercises and emotional support advised us to stop having more babies as it would strain me further but I could not deny my husband. We had twins who are now helping out,” she said.
When The Herald arrived at the Runhindi homestead which has two round huts and asbestos roofed bedroom Mrs Runhindi had gone to fetch water and do her laundry at a nearby borehole.
She eventually arrived and shouts of mhamha, mhamha with a stretched and dragging intonation were heard.
They wanted to express their excitement at her arrival and also to alert her that there were some visitors.
The three were on the ground while three new wheelchairs which were recently handed over to them were lined up on one side of the house.
When excitement or anything tickled his senses Takudzwa would compulsively hit his elbows on the concrete floors.
It would take some massage for the compulsive spasm to stop.
The Herald managed to interview Mrs Ellen Vengere who was a Rehabilitation Technician and Counsellor at Kariba District Hospital at the time.
She conducted physiotherapy sessions with the then three boys.
“When we were doing our outreaches, this was one of the families I got into contact with,” she said.
“As we know cerebral palsy is hereditary with the females being carriers while the males are sufferers or the affected. She had three children with the condition.”
She said the condition was emotionally draining to the family and those directly affected.
The family, she said, needed counselling so that they accepted that it was a condition that was hereditary and ran in the family.
She said the family thought it was witchcraft but counselling sessions helped them understand.
The Herald caught up with one of twins Isheanesu Runhindi who shares some of the burden of looking after his brothers said it was difficult to ignore their plight and the need to relieve his mother.
He says, his life has been centred on helping his brothers cope with their condition.
“Life has never been rosy for me, my siblings and mother as our lives revolve around helping our brothers get by,” he said.
Proceeds from selling the family’s cotton crop have been consumed by travel expenses as they take the three to a home which has accommodated them when schools are open.
This brings some relief to the family as they temporarily shift their focus and effort to other things.
The other twin is now married and Mrs Runhindi conceded that there was nothing he could do since he got married as he has to focus on his own family.
According to science there are several factors that cause cerebral Palsy including brain injury or problem during pregnancy or birth or within the first 2 to 3 years of a child’s life.
It could be caused by premature birth, starving of oxygen and other nutrients before or during birth.
The unusual Runhindi case pricks at the depths of the soul as it stretches human capacity persevere and patience to its limits.