Author Archives: Bruno

10 years

Posted on by under Uncategorized

Yesterday, ten years ago, Kristiina and I walked through the night to visit the Erta Ale volcano crater, deep in the Danakil desert. It was a hard walk. I would say, in occasions, a climb. I was tired because the way to the volcano was tough, throughout the night, without sleep, and barely seeing where our feet were stepping. 

But we arrived to the crater and walked on top of hardened lava till we reached the firing living crater. It was a view we could enjoy for an infinite moment. It felt like the time had stopped and we enjoyed every second watching the lava. There was an indescriptible attraction to that view, to that world. I can’t even recall any other moment in my life of such a wonderful peace of mind.

I shared that moment with Kristiina. She was part of it.

Always in our minds.

Five Years

Posted on by under Memorial, Travel

Hola Kristiina,

Five years passed since we last cheered together. Since we last felt the snow. Since we last planned. Since we last got our passports stamped.

Five years that have kept your vivid image in my retina.

Five years.

https://footshark.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/a-marvellous-departure/

School Year End

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

Dani has now finished his course and is ready to receive the yearly certificate of completion. This is rewarding for him, as well as for all of us.

Please see Tesfaye´s last news on his progress:

June 17th,

“… though this time is rainy in Addis, Dani is practicing his exercises regularly and his epilepsy is stable and controlled. The school is closed now and Dani will spend all the day in the orphanage for the next three months.  He might need something to stimulate him
during these days so I will try my best to make him active.”
June 8th,
“Dani is doing fine and there are no withdrawal symptoms that challenge him. He is doing his  best to achieve his functional activities, and participation  as always.
This time the school year is going end and Dani will spend the next three months in the orphanage with the children. It might be longer for him since he has adapted to go to school.”
May 10th,
“On Tuesday I have spent with Dani in the christmas hospital for his medical appointment. Dr Zenebe has asked and assessed how Dani was doing in the past  four months, then I have explained him that he was showing withdrwal symptoms for short durations, for two minutes in the begginning of January, after the reduction of the morning carbamazepine. Otherwise he is stable and active. Then, he has decided to continue with the same dose of carbamazepine (100 mg carbamazepine night and 100 mg phenytoin morning and night)  for the next six months, and to see him again in September.”

 

Up Hill

Posted on by under Health, Memorial
Hola Kristiina,
I am so glad to report with a few lines from Tesfaye, how great Dani is doing. I am receiving as well other nice reports from Addis, that cheer me up. I hope these news make you as glad as I am.
November 15th,
Dani is doing fine. He is grown up and improving every day with his
functional activity and gross motor skills. His gait speed and his leg stride is improving.
He has been going to the special needs  school, with great interest as usual.
November 30th,
About Dani, he is doing very fine and his level of ambulation is
dramatically improving. He is now able to walk over 30 minute on different surfaces (slopes, down hill and on smooth surface).
And he is also attending his school with great motivation and interest.
December 10th,
Dani is doing fine and he has been following his regular physiotherapy

program with great motivation and interest as usual and he has been showing

improvement  in his gross and functional skills.

He will  follow up program with doctor Tim in Cure Hospital for the second
time after six months in December 21st to recheck his level of improvement after
he had had minor surgery one year ago.
Illona invited, Timo (physiotherapist), Sari(physiotherapist), and Tomi.

They were from Finland and spent some time with Dani.

Optimism

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

I just read an e-mail coming from Tesfaye. As usual, he tells me realistic Dani´s progress. But in his realism, he conveys a special optimism. You cannot imagine, Kristiina, how well this optimism feels, and believe it, it is not me the luckiest person to profit from his optimism,  but Dani.

Please, find a few excerpts from his latest messages about Dani:

April 1st,

“Dani’s is doing fine;the epilepsy condition is even much better

after my last email, he didn’t show any withdrawal symptoms since

then.he is adapting him self with the change in reduction of his medication
the ‘Carpamazapine’. the gradual reduction of his medication will help in the
future to control the epilepsy with minimum medication or non.
About his exercise program he is becoming use to it and he is happy to
exercise with great motivation and always ask to do his exercises regularly.”
March 14th,
“About his epilepsy after the reduction of the carpamazapine in the past
three months, he was showing one to two minute withdrawal for two days otherwise
 he is fine and that  doesn’t affect his daily activity. This sign is common after the reduction of epilepsy medication especially the  carpamazapine since it has addictive property; so that we have decided to follow him with the some medication with out increment of the medication and although his forth month appointment with doctor Zenebe is in end of April .
Dani’s overall epilepsy condition has showing very great improvement; he has spent
his days with different activities; going to school, doing exercise, playing with children
and studying without the epilepsy attack this is great result compared to his past
experiences.
About Dani’s function skills ,activities and level of cognition is also progressing from time to time with his great participation and motivation.”
March 4th,
“Dani is doing fine and working hard to improve from time to time. Even though this days the weather of Addis is raining like rainy season, Dani is working hard even in uncomfortable weather conditions. I have passed your kisses and big hugs to Dani; he is responding with great smile and happiness. The usual question he ask me is  “Roberto endet new” which means how is Robert.”
IMG_20180309_123158

Sunny Glimpse to New School Year

Posted on by under Health, Memorial
Hola Kristiina,
Sun is shining again in Addis, and around the orphanage. Dani is glad about the  new school year commencement. Please find Tesfaye´s excerpt:
“The weather in Addis at the begging of the new year (Ethiopian New Year)
looks bright and sunny but now it seems like the rainy season will start over.
Soon I will get full information about Dani’s school schedule and comment and ideas from Dr. Zenebe after two months of Christmas hospital appointment.

Dani’s new year school registration will start on Tuesday October the second. He is very eager to go to the special school after three months of break. It will be a good place for him to improve his cognitive ability.

Dr. Zeneb’s will check at new year´s appointment, Dani´s state after the carbamazapine reduction. I have explained him that his epileptic condition is stable throughout the two

months after the reduction of the medication. And he has suggested to continue with same dose and to check results again after three months.”

Stats & Dats

Posted on by under Health, Memorial, Travel

Hola Kristiina,

Another rainy season is hitting Addis, and for the reports, this one seems heavy. However, “dat” doesn´t mean Dani slows down his practice. He is involved and joyus, as usual. He plays and enjoys the company of the other children at Sele Enat. Please find excerpts from Tesfaye´s reports:
July 7th
I have collected Dani’s result from his special need school
of the half semester. He has attended after he had the operation.
His result shows it is very encouraging and progressing for his full
independence in the future. His teachers have documented his result like
this on his cad after 5 months continuous assessment (self care-60%,toilet training-75%,food training-95,sensory integration-90, physical exercise-95%,matching and tracing-98%,communication skills-95).

Regarding Physiotherapy treatment has been on training which will help
him in his independent walking like open exercises with different environment
challenges and stimulation.

Dani will have also appointment of his continuous follow up to Dr. Zenebe in the next week after four months; to see if possible to decrease the medication he is taking.

His plan is to order EEG (electroencephalogram) and if there are positive changes on
the reading to reduce and to follow.
July 22nd
Here everything is going well, except this rainy season that looks heavy.
Today although I have taken Dani to Christmas hospital for his continuous
follow up, I didn’t get Dr. Zenebe because he is out of the country and I had to take another appointment for July 26.
Otherwise Dani is doing fine and he has kept practicing his exercises regularly.
Sele Enat organisation have passed great thanks for you and for those who have been involved for the support of Dani as well.

Dedication

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

If I were to express in written how much I appreciate the work Tesfaye is doing, I would need several blogs. He is consistent and caring. He gives away smiles and shares comfort. In exchange, he receives trust and so much love.

Tesfaye has the utmost level of dedication I have encountered. Therefore, I am humbly paying him a little homage in this post.

Thank you, Tesfaye, for taking so much care about Dani and the other children at the Special Needs Ward.

 

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