Friends Of Nyumbani

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ANNOUNCEMENT

The Nyumbani family will celebrate its 14th anniversary on September 8, 2006. God has seen fit to have it grow from three HIV+ children to a level that would have been unbelievable at inception. But the demand for its services have expanded greatly and thanks to the extraordinary generosity of American, British, Italian and Irish support groups, it has survived with a dedicated staff and Board.

Having celebrated my 80th birthday and becoming more aware of physical limitation daily, I believe it is in the interest of Nyumbani that I tender my resignation as Executive Director as of September 8th. It is with full confidence in the administration and Board that I leave knowing that the vision and goals will be maintained and perpetuated under the capable leadership of Sister Mary Owens as General Manager.

Finally, I want to thank each and every person who has helped Nyumbani from the beginning: benefactors, donors, staff, board and prayers whose intercessions have been mightily and definitely heard.

Angelo D'Agostino, SJ, MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Founder & Medical Director
P.O. Box 24970
00502, Karen
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. +254 20 882429/30
Website: www.nyumbani.org

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Shortly before “retiring” from my Audiology private practice in 2004, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with a special patient, Fr. Angelo D’Agostino. Over the next couple of years, I would see him regularly when he visited the States to work on his ears and hearing aids (services that are not available or limited in Kenya). One thing led to another, we became good friends and last Christmas, my husband, 3 sons and I accepted his invitation to visit him at Nyumbani for Christmas. What an experience!

There I met Mungai, a vivacious eleven year old young man who was orphaned and has lived at Nyumbani, the first orphanage established for HIV+ children in Kenya, since he was 3 years old. Mungai was obviously very bright and articulate but had an extra special challenge – he was deaf. Actually, Mungai “was deafened,” about 18 months earlier, following a bout with spinal meningitis. He could still talk, and to some degree lip-read, but heard nothing. Even the use of a powerful hearing aid provided minimal help. My sign language skills enabled me to communicate with Mungai, we bonded and became special friends. In spite of his deafness, Mungai appeared to be happy, well socialized and vocal.

Six months later, June 2006, I returned to Nyumbani and found a marked change in Mungai’s communication abilities. His speech had become worse and he was having more trouble trying to communicate. Additionally, he was losing interest in trying to speak. None of this was good. It wasn’t fair. The only possible solution would be a cochlear implant which is not available in sub-Saharan Africa. Would we let the fact that it is an $85,000 surgery, we had no funding and the surgery and device are not available in Kenya stop us from finding a solution? Heck no – that’s not the Nyumbani way.

In late June, Sr. Julie Mulvihill, permanent volunteer extraordinaire, and I began a campaign to make this a reality. She pushed from Kenya, I pulled from the U.S. The response from everyone has been absolutely incredible and we have been able to jump over every hurdle from having the device, surgical fees, and hospital fees donated, to actually securing a birth certificate, passport and visa for Mungai. His plane ticket was donated and so far close to $5,000.00 to cover extra expenses while he is here. This was all accomplished in less than 4 months! When people heard what we were trying to do for Mungai, they couldn’t wait to help. There are so many good people out there!

Mungai and Sr. Julie left Kenya on Friday, escorted by a busload of 30 children and adults wishing to see him off at the airport. They landed in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. I got the best phone call ever when he called and I heard him say, “Hello Tomi, I love you.” He couldn’t hear me back but he got my message.

I will join Mungai and Sr. Julie tomorrow in Philadelphia where we will have our first appointment at Children’s Hospital where the surgery will be performed. Following that, he will be seen for a series of other appointments and then the actual surgery. It will take several weeks or months after the surgery to get the actual device programmed properly during which time I will have the pleasure of his company in Northern Virginia.

Mungai has become quite the little celebrity. British Airways upgraded his ticket and allowed him to visit the pilots. The Nyumbani Board is planning a dinner in his honor and he even has an invitation to visit the White House.

Nyumbani is THE model for all of Africa for children who are living with
(not dying from) the HIV virus.  The success has been tremendous.  The
children who need medication are on ARVs and are living long healthy lives. 
They could not have better support. Children do not stop living just because they have the HIV virus.  Nyumbani is committed to making sure every child has the support they need to live full healthy lives.  And they have succeeded.

Please keep Mungai in your thoughts and prayers. For sure, he WILL be the first to hear Santa’s bells on Christmas morning!

Tomi Thibodeaux Browne

Doctor of Audiology

 

 

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From:   "Julia Mulvihill" <sjmosf@hotmail.com>
To:   protus@nyumbani.org, mary@nyumbani.org, angelo@nyumbani.org, ttbe@msn.com, sabs@nyumbani.org
CC:   sjmosf@hotmail.com, theodobson@yahoo.co.uk, enalimae@yahoo.com
Subject:   Mungai the Magnificent
Date:   Tue, 31 Oct 2006 07:39:18 -0500
>hello Everyone!
>
>Mondya was a good day for Mungai.  He got dressed up in his Mr.
>Incredible outfit and we went to St. Agnes Hospital to visit my
>friends and to the motherehouse to see the sisters, pick up a car
>and have lunch.
>
>Mungai was a star.  he came out of both places with plenty of candy
>and shared a great deal of joy with everyone.  i found out he loves
>swivell chairs and had a great deal of fun going round and round in
>the the congregational ministers chair and the VP of Missions chair.
>  We visited different parts ofthe hospital and he was given new
>clothes and candy by the staff from Industricare and candy from
>everyone else.
>
>he did not like my new car because it is very basic and does not
>have automatic locks and windows.  He'd rahter I'd keep driving the
>other sisiters cars. sorry but he'll just need to make due with what
>we have.
>
>Last night he ate a good dinner of pasta and hamburgers and
>entertained all of us.  He was not stop talking which was great.  He
>calls the sisters the girls and asked why Sister mary Beth was not
>at the motherhouse yesterday.  Everyone else was.  He was not happy
>with the explanation that mary Beth is a nurse who works at a school
>for the blind and she was working there.
>
>This morning he woke with a little nose bleed which I think is due
>to the heat in the house but he seems fine. He took all his
>medicines and he ate 3 bowls of cereal and drank juice and is now
>watching TV.  After he gets a shower we'll take off again for my
>sister Mary ann's house where he can go trick or treating.
>
>Take care and say hello to all the kids for me. I pray all are well.
>  I miss all of you.  Julie
>
>So, thanks for keeping Mungai in prayer.  Hopefully all willl go
>well on Thursday.
>

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