Baluku John and his mother live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, three days' walk from Kagando in Uganda. John has epilepsy and used to suffer from multiple daily fits. As a result, he and his mother were thrown out of their village. In many rural African regions, epilepsy is viewed with fear and suspicion as little is known about the condition. Hence children are shunned and often abandoned.  

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In 2014, when John was 12 years old, he and his mother heard about Accomplish's new epilepsy clinics held in Kagando village. They decided to undertake the arduous journey across the Ugandan border, three days' walk each way.

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At the epilepsy clinic, John received treatment that stopped his seizures. This meant that he could start school. At last, he was able to make friends and play with other children. John and his mother were able to return to their village once his seizures stopped and were accepted back into their community.

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John and his mother made the long journey to Kagando every month to attend the clinic and obtain free medication. Then John's mother fell ill. She was nursed by other villagers, which would not have happened had John not be receiving treatment. But how was John to make this long monthly journey? Bravely, he did it alone. By now, villagers who lived along the way were used to him and no longer frightened by him, so they helped. 

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Now John’s treatment is stable so he makes this trip every other month. Not only has his life been transformed but also his mother’s too.