A mother: My son’s disability has taken my life’s joy
Raqibq Hamidi
Badakhshan, Afghanistan – Latifah, a 40-year-old resident of Faizabad city in Badakhshan province, is a sorrowful mother whose 13-year-old son contracted polio at the age of two, resulting in paralysis of all his body parts.
Latifah, a mother of five daughters and two sons, expresses that her son’s polio-induced disability has taken her life’s joy, and his distressing condition always troubles her.
She recounted, “My youngest son, Nasar, now 13 years old, experienced a fever followed by diarrhea and nausea when he was two. Initially, I gave him the medications available at home, but his condition worsened, forcing me to go to the doctor.”
She recalls that following the examination, the doctor informed her that her son had contracted polio a disease that has no cure.
When polio-affected Nasar sees his peers walking and playing on the road, he too attempts to stand up and engage in play like them, but he is unable to do so © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Raqiba Hamidi
According to her, this news left her profoundly upset, but she couldn’t do anything other than stay patient.
Latifa, as a mother, blames herself and is constantly haunted by the thought that her son could have been safeguarded from polio if only she had vaccinated him.
She states that when her son Nasar sees his peers walking and playing on the road, he too attempts to stand up and engage in play like them, but he is unable to do so.
With tears welling in her eyes, she added, “Witnessing my son in this state fills me with profound sadness, and I often end up crying.”
Latifa says that her son has been affected by polio, to the extent that it has not only paralyzed all his body parts but also rendered him unable to speak.
Polio-affected Nasar with his two brothers and sister © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Raqiba Hamidi
She expresses that, witnessing her son’s condition, she always prays to God that no other child ever suffer from this dangerous disease.
She also mentioned that whenever she meets with fellow mothers, she shares with them the challenges her son faces due to polio, and earnestly implores them to prioritize their children’s health and ensure regular vaccinations in order to protect them from enduring a fate similar to her son’s.
Looking at the story of Latifa’s polio-affected son, Asia Amani, a social activist from Badakhshan, laments that unfortunately, the polio virus continues to endanger the lives of children in our country.
She affirmed that polio is a calamity that inflicts permanent disabilities upon children, making them burdens on their families and society. Furthermore, she added that society’s attitude toward disabled individuals is often filled with disdain and contempt.
She emphasizes that if families wish to prevent their children from becoming disabled, they should ensure regular vaccination.
