Dr. Jean B, a pediatrician from the UK, was able to return to Kenya last week. She and her husband, a micro economist, are there for 2 years with VSO, Volunteer Services Organization. She is the doctor who helped Ken so much at the end. They had been evacuated back to the UK when all the trouble happened but have now come back.
She emailed me this morning that she was able to examine Sammy, there also happened to be an American doctor visiting.
What she said was that he has had several strokes, due to the CMV and HIV. He is starting to recognize some people and say the "odd word." But, there has been extensive neurological damage and recovery is impossible. He is paralyzed. They also reviewed his ARV and viral load history, and the results of the tests that tested his virus against his ARVS.
There are no ARVs available in Kenya that will help him.
I don't know what to say.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
A Little More News
Sammy K is on the right medicine. They also were able to test his blood to see which ARVS would work the best against the strain of HIV he has. Hopefully the right ARVS will be available in Kenya or through PEPFAR. That would not be an issue in any Western country, he would have whatever he needed. It's only in the poor countries that the world thinks it's okay for children to not have access to what will keep them alive. Like medicine, food, clean water. Something to think about.
As the medicine he's on does his work he's suffering from seizures. Those are most likely caused by the disturbances in his brain caused by CMV. They are treating them, and hopefully they won't cause any further damage. He faces a long road back to what will still be an uncertain future. If your kids ever tell you life is unfair, tell them about Sammy.
The link to My Two Grandmas is for the best blankets ever. My niece makes them and all the kids in Cottage D have them and really love them. They come highly recommended!
As the medicine he's on does his work he's suffering from seizures. Those are most likely caused by the disturbances in his brain caused by CMV. They are treating them, and hopefully they won't cause any further damage. He faces a long road back to what will still be an uncertain future. If your kids ever tell you life is unfair, tell them about Sammy.
The link to My Two Grandmas is for the best blankets ever. My niece makes them and all the kids in Cottage D have them and really love them. They come highly recommended!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Linking You Up
Elizabeth showed me how to add links to other sites on my blog. So, now you can effortlessly get to Nyumbani, Elizabeth's blog, or apply for a Fulbright!
Sammy is on the right medicine, but is having some unpleasant side effects that include screaming. The good news is that he can obviously make noise again but he's still not speaking.
More snow here, and Ali will be learning to be a doctor at UW Medical School!
Sammy is on the right medicine, but is having some unpleasant side effects that include screaming. The good news is that he can obviously make noise again but he's still not speaking.
More snow here, and Ali will be learning to be a doctor at UW Medical School!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)