Tag Archives: volunteer

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.
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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.”
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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.

Spring All Over

Posted on by under Health, Memorial, Uncategorized

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

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
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.

 

The Third

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

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

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

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.

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Minor Surgery, Major Step

Posted on by under Health, Memorial
Hola Kristiina,
I am glad to pass on to you the following news coming from Tesfaye. There will be a minor event, hopefully turning into a major outcome:
“We have taken Dani to Cure hospital on September 23, 2016 as per
the appointment.
Two Orthopedic Doctors assessed and checked over Dani after
I have explained about his current general health condition; they have
come up with the idea to do minor surgery(tendon release)
over Dani’s left Achilles and hamstring to help him to extend the knee
and to Dorsiflex the ankle joint (to make the foot to stand on it), and
they recommend for him to continue his anti epileptic drugs.
The plan after surgery is to use properly fit knee ankle foot orthosis
(KAFO) for left leg and ground reaction ankle foot orthosis  (AFO)
for right leg to control the ankle instability.
As per Dani’s surgery schedule he will check in on November 6,2016 that will be on Sunday and he will undergo surgery
on the next days (most probably on Monday).
Dani will also have neurosurgey follow up with Doctor Zenebe before
his surgery on October 16.
I have attached for you Dani’s day in cure hospital and
while he was taking hip X-ray as well.”

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The Adolescent

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

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”

Growth

Posted on by under Health, Memorial

Hola Kristiina,

Last developments in Dani´s life are positive. While he practices daily, the incidences on his health are diminishing. At the same time, he is growing. Soon, he will be a grown up. In the meanwhile, Tesfaye is taking good care on his routine, encouraging him to continue practicing.

Let me show you a few graphic evidences.