Rainy Addis

Hola Kristiina,
Rainy season is once again hitting Addis, and Dani is making the best out of it with Tesfaye`s valuable help. He is cheerful, as usual, and eager to keep practicing, despite of the inconveniences.
Here, please find a few recalls from Tesfaye:
August 8th,
Dani is doing good and i have passed your big hug and plenty of kisses;

he is very happy as always he does.

Dani is showing a very good improvement in his gait (walking) activity
with the support of left KAFO (knee ankle foot orthosis) and with right
side axillary crutch. he is know walking slowly about 30 meters;it is like

walking distance from his bed room to physiotherapy room.

Hope fully this will improve his endurance,strength, cardiovascular
and his over all functional activity even better.
July 30th,

I have passed your plenty of kisses for Dani;he has responded with happy smile as always.

I have taken him for his appointment to Dr.Zenebe on July 14, after we explained Dani has
good general conditions, no epileptic attack for almost nine to ten months and he is  on school brake
as well ,then The Dr.the decided to decrease the dose of carpamazapine to 50mg morning
and night;that was 50mg morning and 100mg night and to continue with the same dose of phentoin.
Dani is doing good with the new dose still he doesn’t show any withdrawal symptoms;he is doing very good.
And Dr.Zenebe give us next appointment for October 14 after three months to see any symptoms.
July 4th,
Although this days the weather of Addis is  Rain,chilly and cloudy;

Dani is able to manage it very well.He is doing good with his general appearance and regular physiotherapy.

We have received Dani’s school certificate from mekinisa school,
That his card shows in two pages written in Amharic , subjects he has been taking(Food training,physical exercise,communication,matching and training,self care,toilet training,and painting) and improvement he has scored.
Dan’s Teachers state on his card that he has  good improvement on
concentration,understanding, remembering, and fallowing orders, after comparing his activity through out the year.This is one big step for Dani,exposing him to different environment and situations helps a lot to improve his memory and motor learning.
This will  be a good indication to see even better challenges and more exposure to different new environments in the future.
Dani”s Continues follow up with Dr.Zenebe in chrismass hospital after two months will be in July,14;We will take him and discuss again about his medications.
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The Adolescent

Dani

Hola Kristiina,

Dani looks like a young man. The child we knew is starting to fade away, turning into an adolescent.

Please find Tesfaye’s recount on his last events:

“Dear Roberto; how are you these days?

Dani is doing good and I have passed all your meseges about his
learning, practice and that you are thinking a lot about him as well.
He was very happy and he was saying “eshi, eshi…”that is to say Ok,Ok….

In the last week, Zelalem and I took him out for Dinner out side Sele Enat compound,
it was a good experience for Dani; he was giving his charming face and hand for
greeting to every body passing beside him.

Dani was busy the past weeks beside his class and practice, we also took him for shopping as well to buy for him jackets, tshirts, underwears,
trousers and what he needs especially for this rainy time and he was very happy.

Oona has also come to visit Dani as well.

Dear Roberto;Thank you very much for everything.

Best Regards.”

“Dear Roberto;How are you doing?
Dani is doing fine, he has no epileptic attack even after his last appointment.
he is showing good progression with standing and walking.
And he is still attending his classes,they will close the school
for summer after two weeks.
Thank you very much for everything.
Best Regards,
Tesfaye”

Good morning, Kristiina

Hola Kristiina,

Forgive my delay, but as you say, I have been kind of busy the last month. I have met many good hearted, caring, and loving people, from your ample family and friends. Many of them unknown to me, some others known by your continual references. They have all shared their warmth with me, with my mom, and even with Chiara.

     But I want to update you about our progress with Dani. He is fine, playing drum with one stick and singing, as usual. Anne has emailed me the picture below, where he plays with little Dani, as well cheerful.

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Two Daniels

     Well, you knew that the orphanage had sent Dani for an MRI, and that doctor said that his clinical condition is Dandy-Walker syndrome. You knew as well that Hanna had gathered his clinical history and that some of your colleagues were networking to find a neurologist in Addis who would want to take over Dani’s case. So here’s where the news come:

Nathalie and her husband, Umberto, are further looking for neurologists. They have kindly contacted two of them, and we are waiting for their responses, although a birdie told me that help is on the way. As you know, this is not an easy task in Ethiopia, but they are highly supportive. We thank them so much. At the same time, I keep contacting the neurologist advised by your contacts and I am confident to get his response.

     On the orphanage side, Regula and Anne keep volunteering and they update me regularly with news about Dani. Hanna is in the loop, as well as the senior staff. They have kindly approved our wish. Your friends in Addis have showed interest to visit the orphanage, and perhaps drop a hand sometimes. This is very kind of them.

     As you can see, we are not alone in this. In addition to the help provided by the family and friends mentioned above, there is an immense number of people who are financially supporting, among them Jose Luis and Yolanda, Irja, Emilio, Mima, Patricia, Dacio, Rene, Sergio, Amelie, and Julian, Tea and Carmine, Rossana, Ruth Elisabeth, Juliane, Carlos, and Mateo, Sahar, Monica, Matthew, Stina, Tanis, Linda, Päivi, Melanie, Giorgia and Veljko, Isabelle, Leila, Vera-Maria, Matthias and Andrea, Giorgio, Eloy, Eija, Liisa, Ville and Outi, Titta, Laura and Markus, Hilkka, Tuomo and Sirkka, Hannu and Kali, Terhi, Jaakko, Reima, Arja, Petri and Viljami, Laura, Viivi, Anna and Eva, Laura, WFP colleagues in Copenhagen, Vikke, Tiina and Tatu, Pohjan Veikot, Kaj, Stefan and Mirja, Kulkijat, Pia, Familia Sanjurjo, Prof. Hagemann, Maria, Maria, Riitta and Antti, Antti and family, Kaarina and Mick, Teuvo, Tanja, Nadja and Noora, BJ, Sirpa and Sofi, Marie, Rebeca, Carlo and Chiara, Helena and Hannu, Helena and Matti, Anne, Anna-Riitta, Maija and Kimmo, Annukka, Annikki and Veijo, Isabelle, Susanna, Tiina and Timo, YMCA Oulu, Anna ja Petri, Kaisa and family, Yobdar, Hannu and Pirjo, Anna-Kaisa, Kalle and Aapo, Irja and Teuvo, Helinä and Pekka, Riikka and family, Birgitta and Panu, Chiara, Manuel and Regula, Veera, Markku and Soile, cousin Elina and her family, Eeva-Maria and Kimmo, Ullamaija and Kaarle, Inma and Miquel, Pauliina, Atte, Marianne, Henrietta and Klaus, Aira and Seppo, Auli, Risto and families of cousins, Leena, Pentti and families of cousins, Veera, Jessica, Andres and Mercedes, Marta, Rafael, and Mariaana and Veltsu. But this is not all, because support is still incoming.

    Kristiina, I would like to let you know that we do not forget about Izabelle, our travel mate, and Desta, our driver. Please tell them that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Talk to you soon, Pupunen.

Roberto