‘I just want to see her walk’ - Mother fights for bright future for child with cerebral palsy

Michelle Nicolson carries a mother's greatest hope. She yearns to see her six-year-old daughter, Ariya Samms, live a normal, fulfilling life. Samms, who suffers from cerebral palsy due to complications at birth, faces immense daily challenges. Yet, her mother's unwavering determination to see her thrive remains unshaken.

"When she was born, she wasn't breathing," Nicolson, 43, shared, her voice trembling with emotion. "The doctor said she wasn't breathing for 10 minutes, and that's what caused parts of her brain to be damaged. It's why she can't walk or talk properly."

The signs of Samms' struggles appeared early.

"At six months, she wasn't rolling over. By one year, she still wasn't doing it," Nicolson explained to THE STAR. Multiple visits to doctors confirmed the diagnosis of cerebral palsy, leaving Nicolson grappling with the reality of her daughter's condition.

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, often occurring before or during birth. People with cerebral palsy may experience challenges with muscle coordination, motor skills, and speech, and the severity of symptoms can vary widely.

In her case, Samms communicates using limited words, struggles with motor skills, and relies on her left hand due to the weakness on her right side. Yet, Nicolson remains hopeful.

"I see the potential in her. She tries to walk and do things on her own. With the right physio and help, I know she can walk. That's my greatest wish," she said.

Nicolson, a housekeeper living in Stony Hill, St Andrew, is no stranger to hard work, but the financial and emotional demands of raising a child with special needs have taken a toll.

"It's not easy," she admitted. "Most of my money goes to transportation to take her to therapy. I leave her at daycare, but it's costly because she's six years old and still in diapers."

Adding to the struggle is the difficulty of securing proper schooling for Samms. "The cheapest place I found charges $80,000, and even the place that does it for free has been full since last year. Every time I call, they say they'll get back to me, but no one ever does," she lamented.

Nicolson believes access to school and therapy would be life-changing for her young child.

"If she's around other children like her, she'll learn and grow. Right now, she's at a daycare with toddlers, and she needs more than that," she said.

Despite these challenges, Nicolson remains hopeful. Samms underwent surgery last year to loosen the muscles in her feet, giving her a chance to walk one day.

"With the right help, she can do it. That's why I'm asking anyone who can help, please help my daughter. She deserves a chance to live like other children," she said.

Nicolson emphasised that any support, whether financial - for assessments - access to therapy, or school fees, would make a world of difference.

"I just want to see her walk, go to school, and have a chance at a normal life," she said. "That's all I want for her."

Persons wishing to assist Ariya Samms may contact her mother, Michelle Nicolson, at 876-314-9865.