Dani!
Tag Archives: epilepsy
Up Hill
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
Sunny Glimpse to New School Year
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.
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
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).
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
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.
Spring All Over
Hola Kristiina,
We are enjoying Spring, as well as Dani, as it is changing weather, here and there. It seems we aren´t that far from each other in this time of the year. Spring time comes with hopes.
Please find some excerpts from Tesfaye´s great job with Dani:
April 21,
Dear Roberto;
I have passed your warm greetings
I have passed your warm greetings
to Dani and he is responding with great smile. Dani’s appointment in April eleven, in prosthetics orthopaedic center went very well. They have taken his precast and they will let me know by the time they make ready the KAFO cast and i am waiting for their call.
April 7,
He is very happy .
Dani is grown up very well physically and mentally .
His mental cognition and understanding is improving from time to time
as well. His general health condition is good and doing fine with his
Daily activity. Dani has appointment on Tuesday April 11, in prosthetic
and orthopaedic center for his knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO). Hopefully
Dani is grown up very well physically and mentally .
His mental cognition and understanding is improving from time to time
as well. His general health condition is good and doing fine with his
Daily activity. Dani has appointment on Tuesday April 11, in prosthetic
and orthopaedic center for his knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO). Hopefully
he will start his gait training after he gets his KAFO.
March 28,
Dear Roberto how are you ?i hope you are doing great.
Dani is doing good with all his health conditions and he
has continued to go to school and physiotherapy schedules
as well, although he is not practicing walking as expected because of his KAFO is not yet ready until the prosthetic orthosists has taken his measurement.
Back to School
Hola Kristiina,
Here we go again for an update on Dani´s progress. Please find the latest details coming from Tesfaye:
February 21st:
“He is doing very fine and the wound at the left heel is fully recovered. This couple of days
on 17/02/20017 and 21/02/2017 we were in prosthetic orthopaedic center for the new
left leg -KAFO, knee ankle foot orthopaedics- that prescribed doctor Tim for correction of knee and ankle, in order to keep normal posture and for stability during standing and walking.
Tomorrow February 22, he has appointment in Christmas hospital for his continuous follow up that he was appointed, after four months, with doctor Zenebe, for his epilepsy; though his epilepsy is controlled for a year and three months now.”
March 4th:
“On February 22, Zelalem and I have taken Dani to Dr.Zenebe for his continuous follow up.
After we have explained Dani is in good condition and his epileptic attack is almost controlled, the Doctor has decided to decrease the medication for five months.
On this week Dani has also continued to go back to the school again after four months rest due to the surgery. He is happy and excited.”
The Third
The first year was the beginning of a beautiful project. Resilience channeled towards assistance.
The second year was fond memories. Assistance settled, provided continuity to the project, and hopefully Dani felt a glimpse of routine in his daily work.
The third year has being joy through inspiration. You keep strongly inspiring us.
Thank you Kristiina for the values left.
Thank you to those who directly and from the shadows keep believing in this project and in Dani.
Dani In Progress
Hola Kristiina,
Tesfaye has regularly updated on Dani´s progress throughout the pre-surgery, surgery and recovery process. Please see daily excerpts:
Nov. 6th
“Today November six is his admission to the cure hospital. Now he is in the hospital with Alem (the Nani) and the Nurses informed me; the operation will take place by tomorrow. I will late you know everything by tomorrow. I believe every good things will happen for Dani.”
Nov. 8th
“Dani is in operation room now. I will update you after they finish.”
Nov. 8th
“Dr Tim, American Orthopedics surgeon done Dani’s operation and it went very well, it takes Dani two hour and half to wake up from anesthesia, by the time he wakes up he is
concision ,alert and oriented. Know he is stable and doing very well.”
Nov. 10th
“I have passed your kiss and your masege to Dani; He is getting better know.
This days the staff at cure hospital and the Nanis from Sile Enat were very caring and supportive for Dani. He is out (discharged) from hospital today; and he has appointment for follow up on November 30,because of the surgery and the cast Dani is in bed in Sile Enat and he is not allowed to sit or stand with his leg for three weeks.
I would like to thank on behalf of you for those who have been giving great support and care for Dani.”
Nov. 20th
“Dani is doing better although he didn’t like it to be on bed all day and night. He has almost made it, he has left with 10 more days for his appointment. Since he was on bed he was having constipation; now he is doing fine with ORS and home made foods. He has many stimulation and encouragement as much as possible from the care givers and volunteers. I have also able to see him twice a day although i couldn’t do a lot of things on him beside bed side physiotherapy to avoid bed complication.”
Dec. 1st
Yesterday November 30 we take Dani for his appointment in cure hospital,and the long leg cast(cast above the knee) is changed to the short leg cast(cast below the knee) and has
measurement for ankle foot orthosis. Since in the past three weeks Dani was in cast,today when they remove and reapply the cast it was very painful for Dani. Till he will get better this time is uncomfortable for him. In this second phase as he gets better from the pain he can sit on his wheelchair since the cast is below the knee and he will has better interaction out of his bed. And his next appointment will be for December 14. For this days I have planned to visit him daily and do physiotherapy until he will get better from the pain,that is mainly on the left knee because of three weeks in cast that causes sign of stiffness.
Kristiina Juutinen Memorial Fund 