{"id":121768,"date":"2023-11-28T12:29:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T12:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=121768"},"modified":"2023-11-28T12:29:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T12:29:11","slug":"express-christmas-appeal-porridge-changes-life-of-schoolgirl-with-sickle-ce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/world-news\/express-christmas-appeal-porridge-changes-life-of-schoolgirl-with-sickle-ce\/","title":{"rendered":"Express Christmas appeal – porridge changes life of schoolgirl with sickle ce…"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

A girl with Sickle cell disease living in the heart of Zambia gets carried to school daily so that she receives a warm cup of nourishing porridge.<\/p>\n

The daily dose of nourishment has totally transformed Anastasia’s life.<\/p>\n

The grade one pupil, eight, mounts onto the back of her grandmother Joyce, 68, who treks uphill for around 30 minutes to Tafika Primary School every day.<\/p>\n

The quiet schoolgirl suffered a stroke years ago which has left the arm and leg on the one side of her body paralysed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Speaking on a step outside her school in Chithambo, Joyce said: \u201cAfter Anastasia started taking porridge at school, her health has improved compared to the past. The problem with her hand and leg doesn\u2019t occur often since taking porridge. That means there\u2019s an improvement in terms of health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she\u2019s unwell, because sometimes she complains about pain in her leg, then she can’t come to school. The first thing she complains about is missing the porridge. She would have loved to have gone to school so she could get porridge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anastasia is among the more than 2.4 million children across 18 nations who receive porridge thanks to UK charity Mary\u2019s Meals.<\/p>\n

The Express Christmas appeal is raising funds for the cause to ensure millions of youngsters in poverty can continue to receive at least one hearty meal a day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The shy schoolgirl has been taken care of by her grandmother since aged two when her mother remarried a man who refused to look after the child, Joyce said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile her father \u201crefused to take responsibility for the pregnancy\u201d.<\/p>\n

Joyce added: \u201cAnastasia was born in 2015. She was born ok but then at four months old, she started being ill. She was taken to the hospital several times where we were told Anastasia was born with Sickle cell disease which affects her body parts. We\u2019ve tried so many different medications.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis problem became worse in 2021 when Anastasia started developing something like a stroke. We also discovered she has anaemia. This led to her hand and leg being paralysed. I discovered she was unable to walk or stand up with two legs. She started complaining about not being able to use her hand.<\/p>\n