Traveling Kenya for Help!

Over the past few months, a variety of urgent medical care issues arose that kept us traveling all over Kenya to get help!

We continued to cover the costs of treatment and medications for a number people right in Oyugis’ s fine hospitals, but several instances required us to travel to Kisii, Kisumu and Nairobi.

One young teen, Moses, couldn’t be diagnosed locally and sent us on to Kisumu where he was required to have day surgery to treat his issues. Another case that require several surgeries sent us to Nairobi to remove a facial disfigurement…one surgery down, another one yet to go. His dramatic picture and the change after just one surgery is included with this report.

Several times we were contacted by local hospitals about children seen and released without necessary medications so we made sure they got them. Sonko came across a mom with her young children who needed to be seen. The little guy had a tumor growing on his leg and his little sister was suspected to have malaria…she did.

Another child needed emergency surgery but had no money. The hospital administrator made the decision to proceed with the life-saving surgery and then asked Olalo of Hope-Kenya to pay for it…. when and as we can. It is very humbling to be a trusted resource in the community and to be called on for the urgent needs that cannot be financially met by those needing to be treated.

This is all possible because of YOU, our great supporters! Thank you for stepping up and helping us to save lives and make a difference in the lives of those who would otherwise go without urgent medical care. 

Your support for this is very much appreciated by all of us at Olalo of Hope-Kenya, and by those who lives are impacted through treatment received because of this medical project.

Thank you.
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya

Urgent Medical Needs Are Met!

To our Amazing Donors...a special “Thank You” goes out to you for supporting Olalo of Hope-Kenya’s Urgent Medical Care project.

In just the last month, there were 14 babies, kids and adults recovering from a multitude of illnesses and injuries because You cared enough to support Olalo in our efforts to provide the means to get the urgent medical treatment needed. 

Whether it was surgery following a miscarriage, covering the cost of medications, dealing with stomach ulcers, malaria, typhoid, loss of eye sight due to infection, x-rays for a stabbing victim or a child with a growth on his foot, each one got the urgent care they needed and are on the road to recovery!

One very recent case really stands out and I’d like to share it with you. 

While out visiting a friend in a town 5 hours away, Sonko, one of our amazing Kenyan volunteers, noticed a child on the side of the road. Her legs were scabbed, crusted and turning colors. Upon further investigation, he finds she is two-and-a-half-year-old Shantel and she is no longer able to walk due to the condition of her legs. Shantel was abandoned by her mother when she was just 6 months old and no one knows who her father is. A neighbor has been looking after her since she was abandoned.

We got her into a local hospital where she was evaluated and kept for several days while they attended to her legs. To avoid any possibility of her catching something from the other children in the hospital she was sent home with medications and instructions on how to care for her. It was determined an infection had gotten deep within her leg bone which was causing all the issues and rendering her unable to walk.

After just a few days it was reported that our little Shantel was healing and she was even trying to walk again. What an amazing fete and journey this young child has already been through at just 2.5 years old! The doctors are confident that due to her young age and getting treatment when she did, she will make a full recovery.

Thank You on behalf of this young child who may now grow up and have the use of her legs. 

And on behalf of Olalo of Hope-Kenya, thank you for supporting us in this area of Urgent Medical Care. 

You are making an impact on many lives…. saving lives and changing lives!

Thank you!
Merry Broughal
Olalo of Hope-Kenya

Medical Program Update

It’s been a busy few months for Olalo getting the ill to the hospital for treatment and medications, and MANY THANKS to YOU, we were able to offer assistance to everyone coming to our attention who needed help.

There were many of the usual cases…typhoid, malaria and upper respiratory infections, (our most common illnesses), but then we came across someone diagnosed with an amoeba.

According to Harvard Health at drugs.com, “About 10% of the world's population is infected with amoebas, particularly people who live in Mexico, India, Central America, South America, Africa and the tropical areas of Asia.”

An amoeba is a parasite that causes infection in the large intestine. It can live there without causing much damage until it gets into the wall of the large intestine and causes ulcers, bleeding and other symptoms. It can travel to the liver causing additional symptoms including fever, severe pain and worse.

Most people get the parasite by consuming unwashed fruits or vegetables, produce grown in contaminated soil and general unsanitary conditions.

Our gentleman with the amoeba also had contracted both malaria and typhoid as well, leading to his need to spend 5.5 days in the hospital for treatment. Had this occurred here in the US, I’m not sure we’d have the funds to get him the needed treatment and pay for his hospital bill. But since it was in Kenya, the hospital charges amounted to a grand total of $116.87.

THIS is exactly why we get excited about our medical fund and we hope you do, too! 

With your support, Olalo is able to help countless people- children and adults in Oyugis when the need for urgent medical care arises and they have no money to get help.

Thank you for making this all possible! Thank you for the healings that can take place and the lives that are saved! Thank you!

Merry Broughal, Project Leader
Olalo of Hope-Kenya