'My wheelchair will not slow down my dreams': Girl with cerebral palsy clings to dream of becoming a CS

If there is a person who espouses this quote, it would be Melody Morara.

Born prematurely, 21 years ago at Pumwani Hospital following her mother’s tough labour filled with complications, Morara is a fighter who has taken the challenge of living with cerebral palsy in her stride.

According to Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is the most common motor disability in childhood. 

Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development of the brain or damage to the developing brain that affects a child's ability to control his or her muscles.

Morara's mother did not know her daughter had cerebral palsy until taking her for several baby clinics at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where she was diagnosed.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Morara has made several achievements, among them being picked to be Senator for Kenya's Children's parliament between 2016 and 2017.

She said, “Despite being completely dependent on others to even move from one place to another, I still choose hope. Cerebral palsy hasn’t disabled me, it has enabled me differently.”

When in Standard Two, Morara found ways to find hope, one of them being taking up ballet and other extra-curricular activities. 

Following an encounter with then, and now late, Kibra MP Ken Okoth, Morara championed for the construction of ramps in schools to enable people living with disability to navigate facilities.

Morara sees barriers as stepping stones and aspires to get into modelling one day.

“I aspire to one day grace the runway and be the first differently abled model, I believe this will come to pass,” she said.

However, she is currently focused on her studies, acknowledging the important role it plays in laying a foundation for a better future.

She is currently pursuing further studies in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Thika Technical Institute and says she does not feel limited in the scope of careers she can pursue. She one day aspires to become the ICT Cabinet secretary. 

“It is possible,” Morara said.

Friends and well-wishers, impacted by Morara’s story of resilience, came together and successfully raised her fees costing Ksh56,000 for a year.

Odhiambo Ogolla, who runs the social initiative, Spaces for good, said, “Morara is a lady who has defied all odds despite being confined to wheelchair. She has excelled in school, sports, ballet and music. We need to play our part to help.”

Inspired by Morara’s resilience, Ogolla conducted an initiative to raise funds for her by being a ‘cleaner for a day’ at Little Rock Inclusive Early Childhood Development Centre in Kibra - Morara's former school.

On March 24 this year, Morara participated in a workshop facilitated by UNFPA in Nairobi called the Global Bodyright Campaign.

The campaign seeks to end gender based violence online.

People living with disability are often subjected to trolling online with many ending up suffering from mental health disorders because of the targeted online violence.

Morara says, “Hope allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even when the tunnel seems endless. It helps us maintain a positive outlook, even in the darkest of times. And most importantly, it reminds us that we are not alone - that there are others who share our struggles and who are fighting alongside us. Together we can do this,” she says.