Across many communities, families raising children with special needs often walk a journey filled with challenges, courage, and quiet triumphs.
One such story is that of Kenne-Lee Lawrence Green, a mother of four from the City of Roses, who is raising her five-year-old daughter, Lakiyah, who is diagnosed with hydrocephalus and mild cerebral palsy. Green shares that her daughter is cherished and loved by her brothers, Sylviano, Lee-Aim and Jemondré. Her husband husband, Sylvester, has been a great support.
“In our home, nothing about her makes her ‘less than’. Instead, she is a daily reminder that God’s creation is intentional, perfect, and deeply meaningful.”
She explained that hydrocephalus, “water on the brain”, occurs when too much fluid builds up inside the brain, creating pressure. In contrast, mild cerebral palsy affects her movement, muscle tone, and coordination due to early damage to the developing brain.
“Together, these conditions simply mean that Lakiyah reaches her milestones at her own pace and needs extra support, but they do not limit her joy, her purpose, or the strength God placed inside her,” she added.
Green’s journey in motherhood has shaped her in many ways. She learned that she didn’t need to have all the answers; all she needed to do was show up for her family.
“She taught me that strength isn’t always bold or loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, gentle, and wrapped in a tiny body that refuses to give up… You are stronger than you think. Your child is a blessing, even if your journey looks different. Permit yourself to feel, to cry, to breathe, to rest,” she added.
By sharing her story, Green hopes her daughter can be an inspiration to families who spend long hours and nights in hospital rooms. She would also like to show communities, parents, churches, and schools that children with special needs are not to be pitied, but celebrated.
“We are chosen – chosen to love differently, to walk a unique path, to show the world that beauty exists in every form of life, in every ability, in every child! I hope to create a space where hydrocephalus is not whispered about, but spoken of openly, with knowledge, compassion, and pride. I want parents walking this road to know they are not alone!”
Gypseenia Lion
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