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Little Tamy was found abandoned in Eastleigh, 7th Street, at around 4.00 am on 16 February 2012; she was suffering from hypothermia, malnourished and close to death. She was rescued by a security guard who was patrolling the street. Eastleigh is one of the overcrowded slums in the metropolis of Nairobi, which has a population of 5 million.
The security guard immediately reported the matter to the police. They collected the baby and contacted the child welfare services. Tamy was subsequently transferred to THE NEST orphanage and is now under the care of the child welfare services. At the time of admission, Tamy was estimated to be four months old.
At THE NEST orphanage, Tamy was thriving, but showed symptoms of a cold, with a persistent cough and a runny nose. This is not unusual in Nairobi: as a result of the high levels of air pollution in the city, many young children suffer from coughs or develop respiratory conditions, including chronic bronchitis.
On 9 July 2012, however, a carer at the orphanage noticed whilst on duty that Tamy had a high fever and severe breathing difficulties and appeared to be very unwell.
She quickly took the child to Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in Nairobi adequately equipped to specialise in the treatment of infants.
Following thorough examinations, she was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, which, on the third day of her hospital stay, necessitated her transfer to the intensive care unit due to worsening breathing difficulties. Tamy was placed in an induced coma and required mechanical ventilation for seven days.
Fortunately, her condition improved, and she was transferred back to the general ward on 17 July. She remained there for a few more days for further observation and was then discharged to outpatient aftercare at The NEST, where she continues to receive medication. Since then, she has been doing well and has made a full recovery.
In the meantime, a suitable Kenyan couple had finally been found for the baby’s potential adoption. Tamy and her new parents have settled in well together.
However, the adoption was at risk:
The new parents have a monthly income of only around 300 euros. Even with the best will in the world, they were unable to settle the outstanding costs of 7,000 euros for little Tamy’s hospital and intensive care treatment, and so for a long time an adoption was not possible and ultimately became increasingly uncertain.
Thanks to your donations, the life-saving treatment has now been paid for and Tamy has finally been welcomed into the arms of her adoptive parents in her new home.
Thank you very much!