Charlotte therapists reach out to help a Kenyan boy with cerebral palsy gain strength

A rain storm in Kenya last year brought Mayian Musembi to Charlotte this summer.

Charlotte pediatric physical therapist Amy Sturkey was on vacation in the summer of 2012, photographing the great animal migration in Kenya. Rain forced her group into a lodge in the middle of nowhere, where she met 11-year-old Mayian and his family.

The Musembis brought Mayian, now 12, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, across two rivers in a wheelchair to watch the migration.

I was so impressed with this familys will and determination to get this child out on safari that I went over to introduce myself, Sturkey said.

Sturkey and the Musembis hit it off.

Mayians mother, Catherine Simaton, was pleasantly surprised by Sturkeys demeanor. Most of the time, Simaton said, people only see the wheelchair and not Mayian.

She said, Come to Charlotte, we can help him.

Thats why Simaton, Mayian and physical therapist Grace Wanja spent the last six weeks in Charlotte, working on therapies to build his strength and independence. They are heading home to Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, and will leave with a stronger child and strategies and equipment to help others.

During one of their sessions in Charlotte, Sturkey told Mayian she approached him at the Kenyan lodge because he was so handsome, which got a huge grin from Mayian.

Before flying from Nairobi, Sturkey visited Mayian at home.

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Charlotte therapists reach out to help a Kenyan boy with cerebral palsy gain strength