My name is Joy and I am 45 years old. I am going to tell you my story because I want you to understand that you must never give up.
I had to leave my homeland in West Africa to come to the UK for health reasons. At the age of 28, I suffered my first stroke and since then I have suffered three more strokes. This has left me with limited use of the right side of my body, which means I have problems with mobility.
Despite my health issues, I had my daughter who is the joy of my life. She means so much to me because she’s the only family member I have in the UK. I would like to share with you why my daughter means so much to me. She came into this world at a time when life was difficult for me. During pregnancy, I suffered from pre-eclampsia which was particularly severe. Maya was born at 26 weeks and weighed 1.6 kilograms. If my daughter was born back home, she would have died.
At the age of 14 months, Maya developed asthma, so since her birth, she has been a fighter, just like me.
Being a stroke survivor with mobility problems mean that I am restricted in what I am can do, therefore, I receive daily support from carers who are a lifeline and they also provide support with caring for Maya. Before the pandemic, I tried my best to give Maya opportunities to learn and socialise with other children. I used to take her to the library, community events and she attended the after-school club. So when the pandemic arrived, it heightened my anxieties as I worried about what would happen to Maya if I became ill. Shielding led to increased isolation and it impacted Maya’s ability to learn as I couldn’t afford to purchase a device to enable her to access online learning. Maya was diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic, and receiving this diagnosis helped me to understand how best to support her. Taking on the role of teaching wasn’t straightforward due to my limited mobility but I tried my best and we received support from my carers.
My social worker referred me to Boloh, as she felt that the service could support Maya and me.
The helpline advisor contacted me just before Christmas and I shared what we were experiencing. At the time, I was just grateful to have someone to speak with, so I never expected to receive the support that followed. The helpline advisor provided Maya with a refurbished iPad which allowed her to access school work. The lockdown was an isolating experience for Maya, so the device allowed her to connect with others. We were also provided with vouchers which I used to purchase food and Maya’s school uniform.
The support received allowed me to put a smile on Maya’s face and this means the world to me.
I am grateful for the emotional support provided and it has helped me to be a better parent. I have told my friends about Boloh and recommend that they make contact if they need support.
Boloh Helpline
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