Limpopo Mom Turns Grief Into Disability Support Movement

Grannie Maake's daughter Princess brought joy to everyone she met, despite living with cerebral palsy that required constant care. When the 29-year-old mother from Ga-Sekgopo village lost her daughter just two weeks after enrolling her in a special needs boarding school, she made a powerful decision: transform her heartbreak into help for others.

For 13 years, Maake devoted herself entirely to Princess's care. She dropped out of college to provide round-the-clock support, carried her daughter long distances over rough gravel roads to reach medical appointments, and relied on disability grants to meet their basic needs.

"She was my whole world," Maake says. "Everything I did was for her."

The challenges went beyond physical care. Princess couldn't walk, speak, or perform daily tasks independently, leaving Maake as her sole caregiver with limited community support. Rural infrastructure made even simple trips difficult since wheelchairs couldn't navigate the unpaved village roads.

Maake had hoped the boarding school would provide structured care and new opportunities for Princess. Instead, tragedy struck when her daughter stopped eating properly and passed away in February 2025.

The Ripple Effect

Rather than let grief silence her, Maake is channeling her experience into action. She's launching a support group for parents raising children with disabilities in her village, creating the network she wishes she'd had.

"I don't want any parent to feel alone the way I sometimes did," she explains. The group will help families connect with social workers, therapy services, and assistive devices while providing a safe space for caregivers to share their struggles.

Her advocacy addresses a critical gap highlighted in recent South African research: mothers caring for children with cerebral palsy in rural Limpopo carry enormous burdens and desperately need stronger social support, mental health resources, and better access to services.

The Limpopo Department of Social Development confirms help is available through social workers who can provide counseling and connect families with suitable care facilities. Maake wants to make sure every parent knows how to access that support.

One of Maake's most cherished memories came just months before Princess's death when villagers organized a celebration for her daughter's 13th birthday. Community leaders and neighbors gathered to honor the girl who touched so many lives with her smile.

Now Maake carries that community spirit forward, determined to honor Princess's memory by helping other families navigate the beautiful, exhausting journey of raising children with disabilities.