My name is Babirye Namutebi Imelda. I am a proud mother of four children and a co-founder of Darraine Stitches, and now the Director of Darraine Cerebral Palsy Organization Limited (Darraine CPO).
As a mother of a child (Son) with cerebral palsy who is now 12 years old, I have experienced firsthand the struggles, heartbreak that come with it. My life changed forever the day I received his diagnosis, but amidst all that, I also discovered a purpose that drives me to make a difference in the lives of others like us.
💔 How My Story Began
At just 20 years old, I became pregnant with twins. My pregnancy was normal, though very uncomfortable towards the end. At 37 weeks, I experienced an abrupt complication and underwent an emergency C-section. My twins were born (a boy and a girl). We were all admitted to the intensive care unit. As I was battling for my life in the ICU, my babies, fragile and tiny, were also fighting their own battles.
Eventually, by the grace of God, we were discharged. At home, I noticed early signs that my son was developing differently from his sister. At 6 months, after being dismissed by several paediatricians, a nurse gently told me something I will never forget:
“Don’t be afraid, your son is not bewitched (Many mothers believe their children are bewitched). But he may never walk, talk, or grow like other children.”
I was in disbelief. He looked perfectly fine. But a referral to a special needs hospital confirmed what no mother is ever prepared to hear: Cerebral Palsy, Athetosis type.
🌍 The Turning Point
That moment shattered me. I was not just raising a child anymore; I was entering a world of:
• Constant hospital visits and therapy sessions
• Financial strain and uncertainty
• Loneliness, stigma, and countless silent prayers
• Fear of what will happen if I’m no longer here
But I knew one thing for sure: my son deserves a full, joyful, and dignified life.
As the years went on, I realized I was not alone. So many mothers, just like me, are struggling silently. Women who love fiercely but are stretched beyond their limits, with no time or means to support themselves. Children who dream, laugh, and feel are shut out of schools, play spaces, and opportunity.
✂️ From One Stitch to a Movement
In 2023, I organized the first DarraineStiches Charity Event, held on my son’s birthday as he made 10 years. The goal was simple but powerful:
• Gift new outfits to special needs mothers.
• Provide necessities through community donations.
• Create a space for us to share our stories, hopes, and healing.
• Bring in medical experts to educate caregivers about cerebral palsy.
In 2024, the event grew even bigger, and something unexpected happened:
When I appeared on a local TV station to raise funds, the majority of calls I received were not from donors, but from fellow mothers, desperate for support.
I realized that one annual event is not enough. We needed more. That’s why I founded Darraine Cerebral Palsy Organization Limited.
💪🏾 Why We Exist
Darraine CPO is a promise to my son, to myself, and every child and mother walking this journey.
We are committed to:
• Raising awareness and ending stigma around cerebral palsy
• Empowering mothers with skills training, startup capital, and group support
• Providing assistive devices, therapy tools, and access to care
• Creating a community of belonging, dignity, and hope
This is not just charity.
This is survival. This is dignity. This is justice.
🤝 Why I Need Your Help
I have come this far through faith, hope, and the kindness of others. But to grow our impact and reach more families, I need your support.
Your donation will help us:
• Continuously supporting over 60 families
• Host our annual Charity Event,
• Expand our skills training and economic empowerment programs for mothers
• Provide mobility aids, therapy tools, and emotional support
• Launch awareness campaigns to shift how society sees cerebral palsy
🌟 Be Part of the Story
Every smile my son gives me… every mother I meet who finds hope in our work… it all fuels this mission. But I cannot do it alone.
🙏🏾 Your donation won’t just change lives it will save them.
Join me in making the invisible visible.
Join me in building a world where our children are not just accepted, but celebrated.
Join me in putting a smile on the face of a special needs mother.