Popular professional photographer and videographer Faustine Lipuku, widely known as Baba Talisha, shared intimate details of his struggles as a single father in a candid interview with TV47’s Betty Kyalo on Friday, July 25.<\/p>\n
Baba Talisha revealed that his daughter, Talisha, was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 2, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Dyslexia.<\/p>\n
“Recently she was diagnosed with some conditions,” he stated, “she has ASD level 2, and then we have ADHD, and then she has dyslexia.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A Life-Altering Accident and Unfair Accusations<\/h3>\n
He explained that these conditions are a tragic consequence of a devastating road accident that occurred on August 15, 2020, on the Thika Superhighway. The horrific crash claimed the life of Talisha’s mother, Milka, on the spot, while Baba Talisha and his daughter survived.<\/p>\n
Talisha suffered a severe brain injury and a mild concussion, which led to internal bleeding and swelling in her brain. She was admitted to the ICU, lost her ability to speak, and had to relearn basic functions from scratch. “She had a brain injury, a severe brain injury… the speech disappeared, her tongue was cut so they had to do something with it. She went back to being a child from zero,” he emotionally recounted.<\/p>\n
Beyond the immense grief and the challenges of caring for his daughter, Baba Talisha also faced financial hardships and the daunting task of balancing his work with Talisha’s intensive care. To add to his suffering, he revealed that some people cruelly linked him to his wife’s death, baselessly claiming he had “sacrificed” her.<\/p>\n
“Some said that I sacrificed my wife; a lot of things were said; many people judged,” he shared.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Advocating for Children with Special Needs<\/h3>\n
Despite these immense personal trials, Baba Talisha remains resolute. He urged parents with children facing similar conditions to champion for them and avoid hiding them from society.<\/p>\n
“I decided that since Talisha’s story came out like this, I want to champion for her, and any other kid out here who has the same condition,” he asserted. “There are others who acquired it through a road accident, others through negligence… so we should stand up for these kids.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
His powerful message underscores the importance of support, understanding, and advocacy for children with special needs, especially those whose conditions are a result of unforeseen tragedies.<\/p>\n