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Good news from “The Nest”:
Do you remember Nuhu?
The severely malnourished 12-year-old boy was admitted as an emergency case last November by our partner organisation, THE NEST orphanage, in Nairobi. Nuhu could not speak properly; he had initially been brought in by the youth welfare service two years ago as an abandoned child and placed in a remand prison(!). Officially, it is not permitted to place children in prison, and the youth welfare service should have found him a place in a care home long ago. In prison, he had been severely neglected until he became completely malnourished and seriously ill.
There were suspicions of meningitis: Nuhu was suffering from a high fever and seizures, as well as deep, open bedsores on his hip bones. Added to this were a bleeding wound on his head and swollen hands (which may have been caused by beatings). And to make matters worse, there is also evidence of rape. Furthermore, he was completely neglected and helpless. Nuhu has so far tested negative for HIV. This is encouraging, but the test must be repeated in three months’ time due to the suspected rape.
He was sent from the hospital to ‘The Nest’ orphanage virtually overnight. We have now received the following good news:
In October 2014, we admitted Nuhu to The NEST Home. He was still very weak, though showing much improvement following his hospitalisation. He weighed 26 kg by then. Nuhu could not walk or even feed himself. The carers at the home were tasked with helping him with these activities. He was carried outside and back into the dormitory just like a baby!
As Nuhu couldn’t support himself, he found it difficult to stay in his chair whilst the other children played around him. You could see from his face how much he longed to play like everyone else. The carers could only support him and help him walk about as a form of exercise.
Nuhu, having been severely malnourished, needed meals at very short intervals. We therefore put him on a special diet. Once again, we had to be careful to ensure Nuhu didn’t overeat. He always wanted more and more.
Nuhu continued attending his tuberculosis clinics, which we arranged at a hospital near the Home. To treat the sores on his side, we had to take him to another specialist hospital where he was scheduled for surgery. The surgeon was tasked with removing hardened tissue from the sores as they healed. This was yet another source of pain that the boy would have to endure. Just imagine the pain he must have felt whilst being washed.
Step by step, Nuhu joined the other children in their play activities. He would walk about slowly, ride his tricycle with support, and nod his head gently in time to the music as the other children sang. He was even finally able to feed himself.
We are delighted to report that this boy has made a full recovery. He can run, dance, jump, kick a ball, push a trolley, ride his tricycle unaided, and wash himself! The list of activities is even longer than the one above.
Nuhu is finally a happy boy! He weighed 37 kg at the end of June 2015. That is a tremendous improvement, as noted even by the practitioner at his tuberculosis clinic. The main issue at present is his speech; the problem stems from his previous surgery for a cleft palate. We are seeking assistance from specialists in various hospitals, but we have not yet received any concrete help. We are also continuing our efforts to trace Nuhu’s family and relatives.
A huge thank you to all the donors who have ensured that Nuhu’s hospital bills are covered! May God bless you always!
We would like to echo these words of thanks! A heartfelt thank you to all the donors – you have made this incredible progress and a positive outlook for the boy’s future possible!