A severely disabled girl from the Steyr region has been cared for at home day and night for 14 years – the parents are now at their limit, but continue to fight for their daughter. “We promised her that,” say Tanja and Gerhard.
“I had lost part of my faith in God,” says Tanja, thinking back to the very, very difficult time fourteen years ago. Her daughter Lea was supposedly born healthy, but after three weeks of intensive cuddling in her own four walls the big shock came.
Streptococcal Meningitis
“She was not doing well and her condition deteriorated dramatically. It then turned out that Lea was infected with streptococci when I was born, which caused meningitis. She was in an induced coma for four weeks, faced organ failure and we didn’t know what to do next. We were then told that she was severely disabled in several ways. Her brain no longer exists. She only has the cortex of the cerebellum and the brain stem, which is responsible for pain, hunger, thirst and very few other things,” says Tanja, who has now also found peace with God and, together with her husband Gerhard, sacrifices everything to get home to be able to take care of Leah.
Fears, worries, but also hope
“Our daily lives are characterized by fears, worries, but always a little hope. It’s all about Leah. She needs continuous care 24 hours a day,” the 50-year-old said. At least twice a week, the family from the Steyr region receives three hours of support from the Children’s Palliative Network and MOKI (Mobile Children’s Nursing).
“Mentally, emotionally and physically on the border”
“Otherwise it wouldn’t work anymore,” says Tanja. Especially because Lea’s condition has deteriorated dramatically, we are currently waiting for an operation date for an artificial bladder outlet.
“The year was extreme, we were always at the limit mentally, emotionally and physically! But the love for our Lea is unconditional. We promised her that we would always be there for her, that we would do everything for her,” said the loving mother, who also works as a caregiver at a school for children with disabilities. Dad Gerhard is at home all the time – also because Lea is gaining weight – which means that in addition to the enormous stress of everyday life, there are also financial worries.
Larger hospital bed and lift for bathing
Things that would make care easier are difficult to finance despite support. “We needed a lift with an adapted network. “The three of us currently have to bathe her,” says Tanja. Lea’s hospital bed also becomes too small because her father always lies with her at night so that she can respond in case of an emergency.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
