Disabled mother gets funding to keep baby

Jenny Sosich with son Matthew. Picture / Stephen Parker

Disabled mother Jenny Sosich feared she would have to give up son Matthew when caregiver assistance was about to run out.

But, 11 long months after Matthew was born, the Rotorua woman has secured the funding she needs from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development.

Ms Sosich has arthrogryposis, a condition she has had from birth, which confines her to a wheelchair. It left her with short limbs and limited use of her arms and legs, which means she struggles to care for Matthew without caregiver help.

During the battle to gain funding she was subjected to public criticism, including comments on talkback radio that she should not have had a baby.