Danika Linton became a media sensation after her story was highlighted in Against the Odds, a feature shared by this paper and CNC3 Television. The outspoken Danika shared her remarkable story with courage, winning over the hearts of many.
Her condition is rare; it happens in one of every 30,000 births. Called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, the condition is a collective term applied to various syndromes characterised by non-progressive, multiple joint contractures present at birth, causing the deformity in the joints of the feet and the arm.
But faced with the rare condition, Danika, an eight-year-old pupil of Sacred Hearts Girls’ in Port-of-Spain, has offered a unique response that has been a source of inspiration to many. She is adamant on making a difference.
Beyond the pain
Her mother Danielle Skeete remembers September 13, 2006, the day Danika was born. She said her pregnancy felt normal and doctors only realised something was wrong when she was giving birth. “It was during labour they realised that Danika was frank breech”, Danielle said. In this position, the baby’s buttocks are aimed at the birth canal with its legs sticking straight up in front of his or her body and the feet near the head.
“It was then I got scared when they stopped inducing labour and prepared me for C-section.” Some hours after when the doctors brought Danika to her, Danielle’s first response was tears. “I cried when I first saw her, she was my first child and to see her limbs all twisted it was painful to bear. I was so hysterical that I was given medication to sleep,” she said.
But soon, Danielle’s priority became to give Danika the chance of leading a normal life in spite of her condition. Danika was sent to the Sick Kids Hospital in Canada, where doctors corrected her feet, so that she could walk. Doctors are also considering the option of another operation which would allow Danika to move her arms fully.
“I question myself over and over, as to why Danika was this way. I was comforted by my mother, Kathleen who always told me ‘God is on our side and Danika will get through,’” she said.
Eight-year-old inspiration
Since her appearance on set with CNC3 news anchor Golda Lee Bruce, Danika’s following on Facebook has grown. Her story was one of the most viewed in the station’s history, with close to one million shares. Many people shared comments thanking Danika for her inspiration.
DANIKA BEGINS HER DREAM AS A NEWS ANCHOR Danika Linton dreams of becoming a news anchor despite her challenges. So we gave her a shot at it live at the end of our 7pm newscast and she did pretty well.
Posted by CNC3 Television on Thursday, April 16, 2015
Danika’s father, Dwain Linton said, he knew deep down that Danika was different despite her challenge.
“When Danika was eight months old, she started to speak and this was strange for us. While she was abroad in Canada, it was amazing to see Danika communicate with staff at the hospital at eight months old. She also spoke Spanish after watching children shows in Spanish,” he said.
“We were amazed and now she always inspires us.”
Danika’s grandmother, Kathleen, who owns a preschool, started to teach Danika to write in her own way. Danielle said, “I was impressed by the way Danika was excelling. She has been so excellent that she now attends the Sacred Heart Girls’ School.”
Born to be different
The eight-year-old says she wants the whole world to know how she was born. She says “I feel no way being special but I know I am here to be different.” Danika wants to become a lawyer and says she is doing great in school. Danika is already planning which secondary school she wants to attend after Sacred Hearts Girls’ School. “I want to attend St Joseph Girls Convent,” Danika said.
Danika noted about her condition that, “I hope that one day I can use my arms, so that I can be able to use the washroom by myself, also I can bathe. Also, I can eat certain things by myself and be able to use the household appliances.” Danika said, “I want special children to know not to be shy but confident.”
Danika’s father, Dwain, said he had to thank all the doctors in T&T and Canada. He said, “Danika is one of kind, she was amazing from birth and I truly love her, I know she will excel in life because we pray as a family for all of this.”
