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Who is Shadrack? Shadrack Otieno is an orphan living in the largest slum in Africa. He has diabetes and had a brain abscess which required surgery on March 28, 2007. The surgery was successful and Shadrack is doing great! Latest News: July 27, 2008
Just a quick update to let all the friends of Shadrack know that he continues to do great. He is still attending boarding school at Treeside, thanks to Corby's Castle. When Shadrack goes in for appointments, the doctors emphasize keeping his weight under control.
When he's at home during school breaks, Mama Margaret watches his diet closely. She makes sure he eats lots of vegatables instead of the Kenyan staples of high-carb Ugali and high-fat fried Chapati.
She has encouraged the staff at Treeside to keep an eye on what Shadrack eats. Overall, this is a fairly small problem related to his diabetes. In general, we are all delighted by the fact his health is terrific.
Previous News: February 19, 2008
Shadrack in his
The results of the MRI in November showed that Shadrack had completely recovered from the surgery and we can now say the surgery was a total success. Please click here to view the summary report.
As of early February, Shadrack began attending a special boarding school in northern Nairobi called The Treeside School.
Treeside is aimed at educating children like Shadrack who have special challenges. Due to setbacks caused by his brain abscess, doctors have recommended Shadrack go to a school like Treeside to help him make the best progress with respect to his developmental needs.
The school is a bit expensive, but thanks to Corby's Castle, the fees can be paid.
Shadrack was so excited about Treeside from the moment he saw it, and particularly loved the playground. Since there were no playgrounds in Kibera, he considers it a very special aspect of the school.
Latest News: November 18, 2007
November is an important month for Shadrack. He will have an MRI on November 22 to evaluate his progress. Since his brain surgery in March, he's been doing great, without suffering even one seizure.
At this point, the neurosurgeon wants to ensure that after 8 months, the brain has healed properly. Please pray for Shadrack, that the MRI will go well and his progress will continue.
Shadrack's medical expenses are being covered by his sponsor, Corby's Castle, a Christian youth group in Houston. We thank God for these wonderful young people.
Previous News: July 26, 2007
The upcoming month of August is the last month that Shadrack is taking his medication, which is quite expensive. Because Shadrack is doing so well, after August, the doctors will take him off of the medicine, and evaluate how his body responds. The hope is that he won't have any further significant problems with his diabetes or seizures. This represents a huge step forward for Shadrack!
Unfortunately, the balance in the Shadrack medical fund is now down to zero. So any donations to help with Shadrack's ongoing medical expenses, which include medication, doctor's appointments, and transportation, will be deeply appreciated. Please email dax@lahash.net if you are interested.
More News We are now keeping all the older news on a separate web page. Please click here to read all the Shadrack news in recent months.
More About Shadrack Shadrack lives in a
slum where residents have almost no access to running water, indoor plumbing, or sanitation services. His parents have both passed away. But these aren't the only big problems in this precious boy's life. In November 2006, Shadrack found out he needed brain surgery. That news would be scary for any child, but especially for an orphan in Kibera, Kenya, where even basic needs are rarely met. Kibera, part of
the city of Nairobi, is the largest slum in Africa. Its residents
endure harrowing living conditions. There, more than 30% of the people
are infected with HIV. There, electricity and garbage disposal are
almost nonexistent, and raw sewage pools in the roads where children
run barefoot. There, a child with Shadrack's medical situation has very
little chance of survival. Help for Shadrack The wonderful news is that the funds for the surgery were donated and the surgery has taken place. See above for more news.
You can make a PayPal donation by clicking on the button below:
You may prefer to write a check. If so, please mail it to the address below; please write Shadrack in the memo.
Lahash Representative for Tenderfeet: In Nairobi:
The
Tenderfeet Children's Center is associated with Lahash International, a
non-profit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization that partners with compassionate East Africans
to tackle the health, educational and social issues facing the poorest
citizens of their country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||