Little Clinton & George Fund

This is the story of two amazing and extremely resilient little boys who, despite coming from a tragic beginning, are Thriving, Shining and Glowing! We just need a bit of your help to keep it going...

Background: After 15+ years as a Trauma Therapist, and work with programs in the USA, India, Tanzania and Ethiopia, I decided to move to Kenya to establish programs for war trauma and torture amongst refugees. In November 2013, I decided to leave my full time employment (along with any stable income) to start the Global Trauma Project (GTP) in order to support more people (regardless of income or location) in healing from the detrimental impacts of trauma (abuse, violence, war, etc.) and to realize their full potential.

Well... I thought that leaving my country, empolyment, income, and security would pose the biggest changes and challenges of my life. Little did I know that things were about to change even more. During the 2013 Christmas break, I was visiting a friend in Masaai Mara, Kenya. During my visit, we visited a children's home that I had been to several times to see how the children were doing. I was particularly concerned about a small baby named Clinton, who had been so sick the last time I was there in October, that we were all worried that he may die. He could barely stand, couldn't move or speak, and his eyes rolled back up into his skull.

After taking him to the local doctor's clinic, I still wasn't sure that he would make it. The home was in extremely bad condition, with 2 small rooms, 1 caregiver for 20 children (who cooked over charcoal, hand washed all laundry, etc.) No electricity, very little food, no mattresses, and all 20 children (ages 1-8) sleeping together on a cement floor in the cold. Flu, respiratory problems, and malnourishment were the norm.

(George and Clinton are 3rd and 4th in the back row.)

By December, Clinton was moving around a bit, but still very sick and weak. The director of the home asked if I may be willing to take Clinton to Nairobi over the holiday break, for medical treatment and medication. She then asked if I would also consider taking another boy, George, who was also among the most ill. I was told that George was HIV+ and that Clinton was likely so as well. Both boys only spoke Kiswahili and zero English, and I was quite hesitant to take them for treatment, as I didn't know how I would manage on my own. I called a friend from my yoga class, Alex, who is an amazingly sweet and caring Kenyan man, and asked if he would have any interest in coming over to help me with the children over the break. He said "Yes- absolutely- bring them!" And so I set off with Clinton and George on the 3 hour Matatu ride back to Nairobi. They didn't move or make a sound that entire trip.
(This was Clinton's permanent expression. No smiles, crying, talking or expression except for this.)

During the next few weeks, we learned that both boys were HIV negative, and had no major diseases. They were very sick simply from severe malnourishment, neglect, and parasites/ bacterial infections/ etc. They were on 13 different medications to begin with, were very weak, couldn't lift themselves onto a chair, sweat profusely, and went poo-poo every 10 minutes. 90% of Alex's and my conversations were about poo-poo for the first month. The kids couldn't understand a word I said, I couldn't understand them, and we had to learn how to interpret certain behaviors- ie, that putting on their shoes really meant that they needed to go to the potty. Needless to say, it was an incredible- and exhausting- month.

With time, we came to learn that the owner of the children's home was using the horrible state of the children to obtain sympathy and money from tourists. After visiting the local county child welfare office, and asking what we should do with the boys, we were told that the home was being closed down due to abuse and neglect, and asked if we would be willing to continue being the caregivers for Clinton and George. The staff of the home had disappeared, and Child Welfare did not know the whereabouts of the other 18 children. As a Kenyan, Alex was granted temporary legal custody. We are posting this page with the blessings of the county child welfare office, who have been very supportive and behind us in caring for the boys. 

We were told that if no relatives came forward to claim the boys, that they would be freed for adoption after 6 months (3 months remaining.) Alex is a wonderful friend and role model to the boys, but young and just starting an adult life of his own. I have known for a long time that I would one day adopt children, but this was totally unexpected and the timing was really not good, given that I had no income and was trying to start a new organization. Nonetheless, I realized that clearly god’s plan is more in charge than mine, and I decided that I would completely commit myself to the boys’ wellbeing, and work towards giving them a loving family to be a part of. 

Thus has begun a long and complicated journey… and also a greatest journey of a lifetime. The boys have been thriving! They literally doubled in size in the first 5 months (Clinton growing from 8 Kgs- 15kgs.) Shoes that were too big one day, literally did not even fit onto their feet 1 week later. I’m not a nurse, so haven't had experience with this before. I realized I needed a nanny fast, and as they began to blossom, I realized that they also were actually ready to begin pre-school. Their ages are unknown, with no birthdates or certificates, but we were told they were around age 2 and 3.