Tag Archives: occupational_therapy

School Year End

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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.”

 

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Rainy Addis

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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.

The Adolescent

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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”

Happy Day!

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Hola Kristiina,

We are happy to celebrate your birthday today. In different places but similar events took us to wonderful times. We cheer those moments and remind them warmly. Happy birthday Kristiina!

 

Dani is doing good, but his little friend Dani has departed to a different continent. Little Dani will be happy there, and so it is with Dani, although he might not understand it yet.

 

Everything else is good. Dani keeps practicing and visiting doctors regualarly. Soon he will “need knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) to support and stabilize the left leg, which is recommended and will be helpful for his symmetry and weight bearing.” We will be happy to support with it.

 

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Endet Neh

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Hola Kristiina,

Last weeks have been information prolific and Dani visited Dr. Zenebe. Doctor has concluded that for some time a surgical intervention should not be beneficial, and that is what you can read underneath from Tesfaye´s lines:

December 18th:

“Dear Roberto,
I have addressed your thought and everything what you said to Dani, he is happy as always and he was acting like dialing phone to you by saying Roberto,Robeto….”endet neh” means like how are you Roberto“.

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December 22nd:

“Dani is getting better with  his urinary problems, and he is even in good mood after the adjustment of his epilepsy drug (phenobarbital).
As you said Dr Zenebe’s plan of treatment is caring and seems well planned,after we have made multiple Doctors visit,Dr Zenebe give as a better clinical judgement and opinion so what we have here is that to follow his plan of treatment,as I explained for you,Dani will have the appointment in January 31,2014 as part of his continuous follow-up,to see whether there is need for shunting or not,and other symptoms“.

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January 21st:

“Dani is doing good and happy as always,He is keeping on his daily physiotherapy treatment“.

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February 4th:

“Zelalem and I have taken Dani to Dr Zenebe for his appointment of two month on Monday February 2,2015.
 we  have explained to Dr Zenebe that Dani was showing some sort of  withdrawal symptoms after phenobarbital is gradually reduced and finally   stopped to give for him,The Dr. decide to replace for him combination of carpamine and phenytoin instead of phenobarbital and phenytoin.
We have asked him about shunting possibility as well,he has explained,Dani has no good sign for shunting at the moment and  as that will be good to check him in follow up.And He has given one month appointment for march 02,2015 to see how he is doing with the drug combination and if there is any new symptoms as well“.

February 8th:

“Dani is fine and he is better with the new drug combinations and although it seems he need long period of rehabilitation time since other treatment(surgical innervation) is not done for him by this moment due to his conditions and Dr’s opinion.
Yesterday while i went to treat him,there was ceremony with children in the compound by two Ethiopian family and he was very happy I have attached some pictures while he was attending the ceremony“.

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THANK YOU

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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.

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Day By Day

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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.

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

The Warka Tree

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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