URBAN Renewal officers have pledged to do all they can to help a young disabled girl fulfil her potential.
Four-year-old Trinity Turnquest was born with arthrogryphosis, a rare congenital disease that affects one in 3,000 newborns. After meeting her by chance, the officers decided to intervene.
Inspector Ricardo Richardson said: “We were in the Toothshop Corner area and we came across this little girl who, as it stands, is not living life to its fullest.
“Getting her some assistance would really mean a whole lot – not just to us but to her family. It would mean so much to help her live a normal life, and if we could get her some much needed assistance it would be another thread in our hats.”
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is characterised by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis.
Trinity experiences contractions in her knees which make it difficult for her to walk.
Insp Richardson said: “Just last night (October 4) we had a graduation for persons who participated in our 2012 computer class and during the graduation, Prime Minister Christie challenged us to go into the communities and find out who are the children, who are the persons living in those communities with disabilities.
“We came across little Trinity during a walk-a-bout and so we are very happy to see how best we can assist her and her mother. It is our belief that, once we get her the proper assistance she needs, she can live as normal a life as possible insofar as improving her mobility is concerned.”
Trinity, who was born on March 30, 2008, is the daughter of Doniesha Turnquest, a 21-year-old single mother who lives in Toote Shop Corner off East Street.
Miss Turnquest said her daughter is an intelligent, beautiful and respectful little girl who is full of life despite her disability.
“She loves going to pre-school, being with her friends, spending time with her teachers,” Ms Turnquest said. “The only thing she cannot do stand up on her own, (but) she can hold onto objects to move; she crawls, she climbs, she is very strong in her arms.
“The way she has to move on the floor from one place to another, however, is unhygienic, particularly when she goes outside. We tried mittens, but she does not like to keep them on and so we try to keep her inside as much as possible. When she is outside, she uses a wheelchair but the braces will be a better form to help her walk.
“She was born with the disorder and the doctor said there was nothing that caused it and nothing that could have been done to prevent it and so its just a situation we have to deal with.”
Ms Turnquest said she has had numerous discussions with doctors regarding her daughter’s medical condition, including about the possibility of surgery — although this will be the final resort.
“Right now Trinity needs braces to help her walk,” Ms Turnquest said. “Also she would need a spine test for them to see if they need to do any work with her spine before working on her feet in order to release her muscles, in order for her to bend her knees and walk properly.
Ms Turnquest said braces will cost around $1,200 while the tests will cost another $3,500.
“I don’t have the money to do it,” she said. “I just want for her what any caring parent would want for their child — an opportunity for their child to live as normal a life as possible,” Miss Turnquest added.
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