Category Archives: Memorial

Angels in Addis

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

Following, please read the current status on Dani´s recovery. In addition to being steady on physio, we keep looking for solutions. Check out Tesfaye´s lines from September 24, 2014:

“How are you doing dear Roberto,(..)
About Dani’s surgery condition,if the entire surgery plan is taking place her in Ethiopia,i think it will be more supportive if he would be seen by another Doctor as well, that will help to identify a Diagnosis two or more Doctors agreed on, to see similarity of their ideas and to see whether there is willingness to do the surgery here or not. There are two or three senior neuro surgeon in Addis. One is the one you met last time,Dr mersha. I have tried to discuss with office in the silenat and Zelalem respond me in the same way, that will help if he would be seen by more than one Doctor.
If you would agree with this ideas it will be Good, during Dani is going to see the Doctor, if there is one person from silenat office, one person from your side (..) or any one you think of could able to follow may be i don’t know there
might be continuous follow up and myself, I hope that will create good understand about Dani’s surgery situation among all.
About orthopedic aid that will be helpful, I will late you know.
Thank you very much.“

THANK YOU

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

Some weeks ago I did update the bank account post with the following message:

We are grateful for the support received and will be implementing our project for the next few years.

For the moment we kindly ask to halt donations as the project is sufficiently funded. We will, therefore, concentrate in the implementation phase.

Dani´s health is our utmost desire and focus.

Despite of it, we keep receiving donations from friends and colleagues who want to drop their contribution. It will be certainly added to the project and we are grateful for it. However, we encourage donors with warmth and respect to kindly discontinue deposits.

Now Kristiina, I leave you with Dani´s basketball skills.

DSCF6311

 

 

 

Day By Day

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

I often think about the future day Dani and I sit together and chat about the past. About the days he struggled on daily basis to improve his condition, and about the numerous hours exercised to gain mobility. I picture this conversation among laughter and emotions. But it is rather a conspicuous picture.

I am so confident that this is going to happen, Kristiina, that no momentary backlash suffered or inflicted to our project will impact its objective. Furthermore, troubles on the way will only encourage us more. 

This, Kristiina, brings me to the never forget to thank all those who keep committing, helping, reading, commenting, and thinking about Dani. Without them, this is not being possible. 

Now, let me show you some Dani in action. This is his day by day effort, coordinated by Tesfaye, our Guardian Angel.

DSCF6295 DSCF6289 DSCF6279 DSCF6282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Featured Image: Niki de Saint Phalle, at Giardino dei Tarocchi. Capalbio, Tuscany, Italy.

July 6th, 2014

Posted on by under Health, Memorial, Travel

Hola Kristiina,

Today is a special day for all of us and while we think about you I would like to express the positive moments we are experiencing:

DSCF6017

Dani is calling me?

DSCF5974

Go Dani, go!

 

 

 

 

 

Dani is doing good. His remarkable good mood has not varied since the last time we talked. He has recently gone through a series of epilepsy attacks that were heftier than normal, but he has been treated and the last two weeks became stable. His seventeen hours of extra physiotherapy with Tesfaye on June have been assessed as responsive and overall positive. This has led to explore the possibility to provide orthopaedic aid, to which we will commit.

The North has been extraordinary. Manamansalo was not only the peaceful retreat you described, but a delight for the senses where life turned around nature, coexistence, sauna, and the lake, a revitalizing presence that was challenging to bring to an end. Karhunkierros presented me a natural diversity on the go that left me speechless in uncountable moments. Northern Ostrobothnia displayed landscapes, people, and animals that were beautiful, hospitable, and gracious.

270620141073

Kitkajoki river at Karhunkierros trail

200620141014

Manamansalo

280620141084

Nilla, the gorgeous Lapponian Herder

260620141063

Around Merenoja, in Karhunkierros trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, Pupunen, we are celebrating your birthday today and will blow the candle on the cake, imagining that Aleksandra and yourself are likewise doing it.

WP_20140706_002

Happy birthday, Kristiina

Happy birthday!

DSCF6090

Happy birthday!

Exercise Day

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

Right before our celebration of midsummer-fest, I wanted to share with you Dani’s gorgeous hyperactivity and optimism with Tesfaye.

Sitting on the chair on his own.

Sitting on the chair on his own.

Now, he's grabbing toys.

Now, he’s grabbing toys.

Yeah, you can do it, Dani!

Oh, that's a cool ball!

Oh, that’s a cool ball!

..and that is so much fun!

..and that is so much fun!

Great job!

Ciaooooooo!

Ciaooooooo!

PT IN SILENAT ORPHANAGE

A Beautiful Day

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

What a beautiful day I experienced yesterday! It was the day we signed our first service contract to provide physiotherapy for Dani. From June 1st, he will have four hours per week of dedicated physio, plus three more sessions at a rate of thirty minutes per session, agreed by the orphanage with the same physiotherapist. Our contract will be automatically extended every three months depending on regular progress assessments. We are hopeful and confident, and wish for a smooth and progressive recovery.

But, Kristiina, this is not the end. Yesterday, after several months I managed to cycle and see my city from the bike. Something I was genuinely missing.

It was a beautiful day!

Thanks.

Dani & Tesfaye

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

We have finally agreed on a physiotherapy plan for Dani. Tesfaye, experienced physiotherapist in Addis, has presented us a draft with the hours he is going to spend with Dani. Four individual hours per week, plus one and half hours included in his regular visits to the orphanage, should be a good starting point for a consistent and regular physical practice. Dani is going to love it, as he is very receptive to exercise and company.
We are currently finalizing the operational aspects of the “physio plan” and although we do not have a time limit, it will be dependable on the next results presented by the Children Hospital at the Universitaetspital Basel, where a neuro-paediatric doctor has agreed to study Dani’s case.
So, Kristiina, as you can read we are steadily advancing, and once more, we must thank all the people engaged in bringing lots of smiles to Dani’s face.

 

Dani and friends

Dani and friends

 

Dani & Dandy

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

We have got further reports on Dani’s syndrome, which probably dates back to a possible stroke he suffered during his early days or even while in his mother’s womb. One of its effects is hemiplegia, which developed after an atrophy in the right side of his brain, due to a lack of blood irrigation throughout the years. This made a vacuous on the right side that has been gradually filled with brain fluid. The fluid is pressuring the left side of the brain and slowly harming this side too. The hydrocephalia could be attenuated through neuro-surgery with a shunt, although the risk of fatal brain infection is rather high, especially with Dani’s living conditions.

With such prospects, Kristiina, we are going to look for possible clinical solutions out of Ethiopia. As well, we would like to improve Dani’s living conditions by establishing a consistent amount of regular physiotherapy sessions and search for educational opportunities, that could provide him with some future independence.

Kristiina, as you can read Dani has to learn to live with “Dandy” and we believe we can support him in this endeavour.

 

Dani

Dani

*We would like to thank the Black Lion and Bethel Teaching General hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Warka Tree

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

I was thinking about our first trip in Ethiopia, now a year ago. We arrived to Aksum, expecting to find reminiscences of an ancient civilization. Instead we enjoyed our time under the immense Warka tree in downtown, chatting with the local kids, and watching the goats acrobatically reach the lower branches to eat its leaves.

My memories brought me back to Dani, and I would like to explain you his progress on behalf of our friends in Addis, who are tirelessly looking for his well being. So I take the liberty to quote their lines:

“Last week, (the)(…) occupational therapist went to see Dani. She gave practical advices to the staff of the orphanage in order to allow Dani to become more independent, like for example letting him dress himself. They were very receptive and Dani is cooperative. She also told them to make him wear shoes so that his good foot doesn’t get more deformed. (…). The regular visit of a physio is very important for Dani (…). It is important to maintain and work on what Dani can do in his actual condition and only a physio can help regarding his physical disability. The occupational therapist can advise the physio and the caretakers but cannot do the job of a physiotherapist.”

In addition to this, Kristiina, our friends keep looking for a neurologist that could see Dani, and all of us, in different countries, are looking for similar possibilities.

But now, Pupu, I will keep responding to the numerous people who are helping Dani, while I enjoy our Warka tree memories.

Dani and his friends in the playground

Dani and his friends in the playground

With a Little Help of Our Friends

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

It is a beautiful sunny day in here, and I am confident you have sent this wonder to us. Dani had a great drive on Friday, when he visited the Korean Hospital. He was cheerful and excited, as I thought it was going to be. He laughed and shared his “shark-charm” to his car mates and people in the hospital.

Image

Shark-charm

However, and that kept us kind of baffled, there was not much information we could get from Dani’s visit to Dr. Marsha. Apparently the doctor needed background information regarding Dani’s mother pregnancy and his early life. Unfortunately, it is unlikely to obtain this information as Dani arrived to Sele Enat Mahiber from another orphanage and there are no records available.

We have been brainstorming during the weekend and came up with different curative ideas. We could provide for physiotherapy, for diction therapy, for orthopaedic support, and even for education, as Dani has not attended yet school. But none of us is a health professional and do not know well if it is going to help to a high degree. Nevertheless, we think it is not going to harm, as I have personally experienced his physical progress during my time with him, so we agreed to start helping Dani with physiotherapy and a consultation by an occupational therapist.

Therefore, Kristiina, we will keep looking for a doctor who could treat Dani and reportedly agree on what his medical problem is.

Regarding Dr. Kiplesund, the neurologist you managed to find with your tireless networking, I have to say that I did not get any reply to my emails. But I am confident he did not learn about them, probably due to some technical problems or electronic address misspell. But I am confident as well that publishing this lines will, somehow, reach him. We are hopeful in this, and we are grateful for any support from people who could help finding a doctor for Dani.

Kristiina, do not think we got disappointed by the last event. As your mom says, we knew it was not only provide and raise money, but a common and dedicated effort towards Dani’s health improvement, and that will take time. We feel strong, and every step backward will only be to get impulse.

And now, Pupunen, enjoy with us Dani’s sunniness, the one that draws smiles from every person that crosses his path.

Image

Dani waits for the Doctor