Latest news with #Down
ITV News
2 hours ago
- Health
- ITV News
Nottingham mum 'would probably still be alive today' if ambulance was sent
A mother, who was found dead alongside her disabled daughter at their home in Nottingham, would "probably still be alive today" if an ambulance had been sent to her, a coroner has concluded. The bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and Loraine Choulla, 18, were discovered last May at their council home in Radford. It's thought they could have been dead for months. The inquest heard that Ms Leuga had called an ambulance asking for help three months before the pair were found dead. An ambulance was never sent because they thought the call had been abandoned. East Midlands Ambulance Service 's head of patient safety, Susan Jevons, told the inquest there had been a "missed opportunity". Today, coroner Amanda Bewley said: "I am entirely satisfied that had East Midlands Ambulance Service sent an ambulance when she called, Loraine would not have died." She added that she can't say for sure whether Miss Choulla would have survived. Ms Leuga suffered from sickle cell anaemia and died from pneumonia. Miss Choulla had Down's syndrome and learning difficulties and was "entirely dependent" on her mother for food and hydration, Nottingham Coroner's Court was told.
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Health
- Morocco World
‘My Brother Didn't Choose to be Trisomic': ‘Pieces of Heaven' Face School Rejection in Morocco
Marrakech – In Morocco's educational system – already ranked among the lowest globally – thousands of children with Trisomy 21 exist in silence. These children – described by their families as 'pieces of heaven' with pure hearts and untapped intelligence – struggle daily against a system that refuses to see them. Each year, approximately 600 Moroccan newborns enter the world with this chromosomal condition, joining an estimated 60,000 Moroccans already living with what medical professionals call Down syndrome. Behind these numbers lie shattered dreams, exhausted parents, and children desperate for the most basic right: an education. Trisomy 21 occurs when a child is born with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two, causing developmental delays and distinctive physical characteristics. The condition is not hereditary, appearing as a chromosomal accident during pregnancy. While these children possess extraordinary affection and unique intelligence, their primary obstacle often isn't their condition – it's society's response to it. According to medical experts, Trisomy 21 represents the most common genetic disease, affecting approximately one in every thousand births in Morocco. At birth, about 40% of these children have detectable cardiac abnormalities that require immediate intervention from neonatal intensive care specialists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons to ensure survival during the early stages of life. The condition was first described in 1862 by British physician John Langdon Down, who initially called it 'Mongolism' or 'Mongolian idiocy' and characterized it as a form of mental disability. Today, medical understanding has evolved significantly, with specialists recognizing that these children have specific cognitive disorders that can be addressed through therapy. Education: A constitutional right denied Morocco's 2011 Constitution explicitly states: 'Basic education is a right for children and an obligation for families and the state.' Yet for Trisomy 21 children, this constitutional guarantee remains hollow. As is often the case in the North African country, the issue is not about the availability of laws and judicial texts but about their application. Framework Law 51.17 on the education, training, and scientific research system in Morocco, along with a new government decree (No. 2.21.81) based on Article 13 of this framework law, requires private schools to allocate 15% of their capacity to students from disadvantaged families, persons with disabilities, and those in special social situations. This situation leads to a burning question: Why doesn't the Ministry of National Education establish an admission quota for children with special needs in private schools to ensure their integration and support? Schools across the country – particularly those of higher reputation – routinely slam their doors in these children's faces, treating them as if they were 'extraterrestrials' or 'monsters' who would disrupt normal classroom functioning. The bitter reality facing these families hits hardest when they begin their search for educational opportunities. Schools openly admit they prefer children with dyslexia or autism 'because they can follow regular courses,' leaving Trisomy 21 children with nowhere to go. Parents find themselves trapped in an endless cycle of rejection, forced to place their children in inappropriate environments where they often regress rather than progress. The National Human Development Initiative (INDH) centers – intended to serve people with special needs – frequently fail these children by grouping all disabilities together without differentiation. Children of various ages, needs, and behavioral profiles are mixed haphazardly, sometimes resulting in Trisomy 21 children returning home injured or adopting negative behaviors they never displayed before. For families fortunate enough to find appropriate schooling, the cost becomes another insurmountable barrier. The minimum monthly expense for proper medical care and education reaches MAD 2,500 ($250) per child – an impossible sum for many Moroccan families, especially considering that the average monthly wage hovers around MAD 3,000 ($300). This financial burden continues throughout the child's life, as they require lifelong medical attention and support. Beyond education, these children need access to various therapeutic services that many consider luxuries rather than necessities. Activities like swimming and music – critical for their development – are often dismissed as frivolous by officials, despite being essential components of treatment for these children. The United Nations recognized the importance of this issue in 2011 by adopting a resolution declaring March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day, calling on all member states to raise public awareness about the condition. 'They are not Moroccans?': One sister breaks her silence The sister of an 18-year-old with Trisomy 21 decided to speak out after witnessing her family's decade-long struggle to secure her brother's education. The young man – described as calm, wise, organized, and possessing 'a form of incredible intelligence' – faces a bleak future after his school announced its bankruptcy and closure with no alternative solution for its special needs students. 'When searching for a school for my brother in El Jadida, we faced a painful reality,' Zaïnab Lyassaa, whose family learned of her brother's condition on the day of his birth, tells Morocco World News (MWN). 'My brother didn't choose to be trisomic or to have difficulty speaking… These children are angels among us, with pure hearts and intelligence waiting to be revealed – if only someone would give them a chance.' 'From the moment of his birth, we accepted him with joy,' Zaïnab recalls. 'He truly felt like a gift. But deep down, we worried about his integration into society.' Her mother devoted herself entirely to her son, following up with speech therapists and working tirelessly on his development – even while battling cancer in 2013. 'Now she worries constantly about his future,' Zaïnab reveals. 'Who will take care of him if something happens to her?' 'When schools tell us they only accept dyslexic or autistic children, I have to ask: aren't Trisomy 21 children Moroccan too? Don't they have the right to education?' she questions with palpable frustration. 'Why doesn't the government require every educational institution to accept children with special needs of all types, integrating them into regular classrooms while also providing specialized support?' Her brother's journey reveals the painful cycle many families endure. After years in the same kindergarten class with no advancement, his family found a promising school – Shiraz educational institution – that provided both integration with regular students and specialized support classes. For the first time, he felt 'like a student among others,' not different from his peers. Despite being 18, he had just completed his first year of middle school, progressing gradually with targeted exams adapted to his level. 'He had his world, but overnight he saw it collapse,' his sister reveals, describing the moment they learned his school would close. 'And now we're back to our starting point from 2010. Where will my brother go?' The family's early experiences trying to find appropriate schooling proved traumatic. 'We tried a regular private school that functioned more like a daycare to establish a routine for him,' Zaïnab explains. 'But there was no progress because they lacked expertise in supporting these children.' Later attempts at specialized centers proved even worse. 'He would come back either beaten or assaulted and began adopting behaviors he never had before. We saw deterioration instead of improvement.' The family's desperation echoes that of countless others across Morocco. Most initiatives for Trisomy 21 children exist only in major cities like Casablanca and Rabat, forcing families to uproot their lives and relocate simply to access basic services. Those in small towns and rural areas face even grimmer prospects. 'These children are pieces of heaven given extraordinary abilities and a special kind of intelligence by God,' Zaïnab insists. 'Why do we hold them accountable for something they didn't control? Why don't we support them and help them achieve their dreams?' 'Without their families, there's no one to care for them,' she stresses. 'I can't find appropriate words to describe this situation, especially knowing my brother's case is just one among many. How is it possible that in 2025 Morocco, we find a group of Moroccans with marginalized rights?' Her brother dreams of traveling alone, driving a car, and working – aspirations she fears may never materialize. 'It breaks my heart that my brother has dreams,' Zaïnab confesses, 'but deep inside, I know he won't be able to achieve them. What about children whose parents don't have health coverage or stable employment? What about those in villages and small cities?' 'We're asking for so little,' she continues. 'When even education becomes a dream that's difficult to achieve, we must ask questions and raise concerns.' Experts confirm the current situation is 'not optimal' for Trisomy 21 children. While medical advances have extended their life expectancy beyond 50 years, specialized structures for their education remain very rare, leaving parents in regrettable distress. Yet amid this institutional abandonment, hope persists in the determined voices of families fighting for change. In one of her LinkedIn posts chronicling her family's struggle, Zaïnab concludes with words that balance desperation and determination: 'Perhaps this post will resonate, perhaps it will touch someone who can enlighten us or even help us find a new school. In the meantime, I continue to believe that a more inclusive Morocco is possible.' Tags: down syndromeMorocco's educational systemTrisomic children
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and Loraine Choulla: Disabled daughter left alone for weeks with her mum's dead body
Horrifying new details have emerged in the case of a mother and her daughter who were found dead months after an ambulance was called but failed to arrive. The bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and her teenage daughter Loraine Choulla, who had disabilities, were found during a welfare check on 21 May, 2024. It is now believed Ms Choulla was alive and alone for weeks inside their home with her mother's decaying body before she, too, died, an inquest has been told. Ms Leuga called for an ambulance on February 2, 2024, giving the address of her Radford, Nottingham home and said 'would you send an ambulance? Please come, please'. But the ambulance did not come and Ms Leuga died of pneumonia, likely on the same day of the emergency call. Detective Jack Cook, who led the investigation, gave evidence that Ms Choulla, who had Down syndrome and learning disabilities and was entirely dependent on her mother's care, was left alone with her mother's dead body for weeks after her death, before she tragically died as well, the BBC reported. He told the inquest that Ms Choulla had been alive until at least February 28, 2024, as she had been using her electronic tablet. '(Ms Choulla) had been left in the premises alone and had been alive until her device had lost charge,' he said. The investigating police believe that it is likely she died before her 18th birthday in April. At the hearing, Mr Cook said he had previously visited the home in 2023 as part of a social services assessment of the property. He said the home had been 'clean and tidy' with a well stocked fridge and beds made. However on his second visit, when the bodies were discovered, there was a mass of mouldy food throughout the kitchen and other rooms. In one of the bedrooms, Mr Cook observed what he said was a 'den' made by Ms Choulla out of bedding and pillows on the floor between two beds. The inquest, led by assistant coroner Amanda Bewley, began on Monday and has been told that the emergency call was made by Ms Leuga days after she 'discharged pragmatically' from hospital on January 28 in order to return to her daughter. There was an agreement that Ms Leuga would return to the Nottingham City Hospital the following day, but she did not. Both Ms Leuga's GP and the hospital were unable to contact her. Then, she made the emergency call on February 2, the transcript of which was read aloud earlier this week during the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court. The call handler asked Ms Leuga what language she spoke and whether she needed an interpreter. Ms Leuga had not responded to those questions but gave the operator her home address and requested an ambulance. Susan Jevons, a paramedic and head of the coroners' service at East Midlands Ambulance Service, told the inquest that an attempt had been made to call Ms Leuga back. Ms Jevons said an ambulance was not sent to the home because the emergency medical adviser thought it was an 'abandoned call' and 'closed the call down'. The police analysed the electronic tablet used to make the emergency call, and found that in the weeks following Ms Leuga's likely death, a number of calls were made by Nottingham City Hospital, which were answered. Some of the calls had been replied to by text using one of three prepared messages, which police believe were sent by Ms Choulla. Ms Leuga's eldest daughter, Elvira Choulla, has spoken out about the loss of her mother and sister. She said her mother always 'strived for the best' and was 'a very strong woman' and said her sister had a 'big positive energy' and was 'such a happy person'. 'When I was happy, I was happy because of Loraine,' she said. The inquest continues.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Teen died after weeks with mum's decaying body
Horrifying new details have emerged in the case of a mother and her daughter who were found dead months after an ambulance was called but failed to arrive. The bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and her teenage daughter Loraine Choulla, who had disabilities, were found during a welfare check on 21 May, 2024. It is now believed Ms Choulla was alive and alone for weeks inside their home with her mother's decaying body before she, too, died, an inquest has been told. Ms Leuga called for an ambulance on February 2, 2024, giving the address of her Radford, Nottingham home and said 'would you send an ambulance? Please come, please'. But the ambulance did not come and Ms Leuga died of pneumonia, likely on the same day of the emergency call. Detective Jack Cook, who led the investigation, gave evidence that Ms Choulla, who had Down syndrome and learning disabilities and was entirely dependent on her mother's care, was left alone with her mother's dead body for weeks after her death, before she tragically died as well, the BBC reported. He told the inquest that Ms Choulla had been alive until at least February 28, 2024, as she had been using her electronic tablet. '(Ms Choulla) had been left in the premises alone and had been alive until her device had lost charge,' he said. The investigating police believe that it is likely she died before her 18th birthday in April. At the hearing, Mr Cook said he had previously visited the home in 2023 as part of a social services assessment of the property. He said the home had been 'clean and tidy' with a well stocked fridge and beds made. However on his second visit, when the bodies were discovered, there was a mass of mouldy food throughout the kitchen and other rooms. In one of the bedrooms, Mr Cook observed what he said was a 'den' made by Ms Choulla out of bedding and pillows on the floor between two beds. The inquest, led by assistant coroner Amanda Bewley, began on Monday and has been told that the emergency call was made by Ms Leuga days after she 'discharged pragmatically' from hospital on January 28 in order to return to her daughter. There was an agreement that Ms Leuga would return to the Nottingham City Hospital the following day, but she did not. Both Ms Leuga's GP and the hospital were unable to contact her. Then, she made the emergency call on February 2, the transcript of which was read aloud earlier this week during the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court. The call handler asked Ms Leuga what language she spoke and whether she needed an interpreter. Ms Leuga had not responded to those questions but gave the operator her home address and requested an ambulance. Susan Jevons, a paramedic and head of the coroners' service at East Midlands Ambulance Service, told the inquest that an attempt had been made to call Ms Leuga back. Ms Jevons said an ambulance was not sent to the home because the emergency medical adviser thought it was an 'abandoned call' and 'closed the call down'. The police analysed the electronic tablet used to make the emergency call, and found that in the weeks following Ms Leuga's likely death, a number of calls were made by Nottingham City Hospital, which were answered. Some of the calls had been replied to by text using one of three prepared messages, which police believe were sent by Ms Choulla. Ms Leuga's eldest daughter, Elvira Choulla, has spoken out about the loss of her mother and sister. She said her mother always 'strived for the best' and was 'a very strong woman' and said her sister had a 'big positive energy' and was 'such a happy person'. 'When I was happy, I was happy because of Loraine,' she said. The inquest continues.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Two-time Academy Award Nominee Jeremy Renner to Headline Global Down Syndrome Foundation's Star-studded Event
GLOBAL's Award-Winning Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show will honor GLOBAL Ambassador Guion Macsovits and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee Kevin Iannucci Denver, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner and a fantastic celebrity lineup for its annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. 'I'm honored to be invited back to GLOBAL's amazing event and to hang out with some of the coolest people who happen to have Down syndrome,' says Jeremy. 'I'm excited to give back in a meaningful way, to help raise funds for research that will lead to healthier, longer lives. It's going to be a great night, and I hope we can break some records!' 'We are thrilled to have Jeremy Renner, Ambassador Guion Macsovits, and Quincy Jones Awardee Kevin Iannucci join our GLOBAL family,' says GLOBAL President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. 'Our Down syndrome community is so grateful that Jeremy is fully recovered, and we are excited to provide his New York Times bestseller, My Next Breath, as a gift for attendees. Guion and Kevin are both brilliant and beautiful role models who are helping us break stereotypes and showing the world that if society gives us a chance, people with Down syndrome can reach their goals and live their dreams. But we have to have good health and a long life to succeed, and that's where we come in.' The event will honor Jeremy's friend, GLOBAL Ambassador Guion Macsovits, and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee, Champions actor Kevin Iannucci. They will join award-winning film and TV actor John C. McGinley; beloved actress from the longest primetime TV drama on ABC, 'Grey's Anatomy' Caterina Scorsone; model and actress Amanda Booth; and award-winning local NBC anchor Kim Christiansen, who will emcee the event. In its 17th year, the award-winning event will be held on Saturday, October 18 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Proceeds will benefit GLOBAL's life-saving and transformative research and medical care. 'I'm excited to have one of my favorite superheroes, Jeremy Renner, back at the fashion show,' says Ambassador Guion Macsovits. 'I went to his house and to an Avengers movie premiere. He told me I was a 'real superhero.' It was one of the best nights of my life.' Guion Macsovits is a fun-loving 18-year-old with a heart as big as his smile. He recently graduated from Cherry Creek High School, where he was known for his kindness, thoughtfulness, and the way he naturally makes people feel valued. Whether holding the door between bells, checking in on a friend, or offering a word of encouragement, Guion has a way of making the world a little brighter. His emotional intelligence is off the charts, and he leads with empathy in everything he does. Ambassador Guion and his family will work closely with GLOBAL to make sure it raises both funds and awareness towards elongating life and improving health outcomes for children and adults with Down syndrome. 'I am so grateful to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation for giving me this important award,' says Kevin. 'It is even more meaningful as we lost the iconic Quincy Jones last year. I hope that all my Champions friends and castmates are going to join us for this amazing event that is helping to save lives through research and medical care. Can't wait to raise some funds and hit the runway!' Kevin Iannucci was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has quickly distinguished himself as one of today's most sought-after young talents with Down syndrome, with an impressive body of work that has earned him a reputation as a favorite among prestigious directors. He will receive GLOBAL's highest honor – the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. Past recipients include Jamie Foxx, DeOndra Dixon, Woody Harrelson, Sofia Sanchez, Bobby Farrelly, Madison Tevlin, Caterina Scorsone, Eric Dane, Jamie Brewer, Colin Farrell, Tim Harris, John Lynch, Zack Gottsagen, John C. McGinley, Karen Gaffney, Eva Longoria, Frank Stephens, Kyra Phillips, Marián Ávila, and Beverly Johnson. GLOBAL's advocacy and lobbying efforts with Congress and outreach to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have resulted in an unprecedented increase of the national Down syndrome research budget, from $27 million in 2016 to over $140 million in 2024. Proceeds from the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show support the important work of GLOBAL and GLOBAL's affiliates, including a team of over 400 scientists working on breakthrough life-saving research at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the CU Alzheimer's & Cognition Center, and a dream team of medical professionals providing excellent medical care to over 2,500 patients from 33 states and 10 countries at the Anna and John J. Sie Center at Children's Hospital Colorado. To learn more, visit: and follow us on social media for updates: Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To sponsor a table or buy tickets, visit: orhttps:// For celebrity interviews, additional information, imagery, or to cover the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, please contact trishdavis0707@ For more information on the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, please visit About Global Down Syndrome Foundation The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL established the first Down syndrome research institute and supports over 400 scientists and over 2,500 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus, and the GLOBAL Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at Denver Health. GLOBAL's widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information, and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World TM. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit and follow us on social media Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. CONTACT: Anca Call Global Down Syndrome Foundation (720) 320-3832 Trisha Davis Global Down Syndrome Foundation (818) 640-9259 trishdavis0707@ in to access your portfolio
