Edwin's Scoliosis Surgery

Three days before my surgery to correct my scoliosis I was in Nairobi, Kenya to deliver shoes that I had collected for five orphanages. One of the orphanages was called Shelter Children’s home. These kids really touched my heart, they were so happy even in such desperate situations. They love to play football, sing songs, and go to school. 

Older kids were finding shoes for younger kids first before they even thought about themselves, thats how much they care about each other. They have truly beautiful hearts. These older kids also made sure every child found their own special shoes. It was such a joy to see that light in their eyes when they got to pick something for themselves that fit their own personalities that finally got to really show through. One girl in particular said "I'm walking with a bounce" after selecting her first pair of tennis shoes. 

Mary, or 'mama' as the kids call her, is the director of the Shelter Orphanage. Mary was given this orphanage, left to her by her grandmother. She and her grandmother loved children and always wanted to help them so they went to the streets of Nairobi to start feeding the children.

Eventually they got to be too many to feed so other people in her church began to help out. Some children are abandoned, others because their parents die of aids, sweet girls being married off at ages younger than 8 are rescued, and some even worse than that. But at the Shelter they find refuge. They are loved, they are cared for.

However, Mary and the children live day to day not knowing if they are going to have food for the kids. Mary loves them so much but she barely has enough for herself but every day they continue on. When I was there she said they only had enough food in the storehouse for lunch the next day but that would be her job for the next day to get all available money to continue to feed them.

Shelter rely's on the sources of donors and have to put a lot of their money towards their education because that is how these kids are going to get out of poverty is if they can get educated and make it to a better job. That is what Mary is trying to do. She said "no matter what, even if they are hungry, if I can keep them in school I am doing a good job."

Education is very important in Kenya and that was something very eye opening to me because these are things in America I wouldn't even begin to think about. These kids choose to be half starved because they value their education, to break the cycle of poverty, choosing it over food for survival of their futures.

One of the stories of a boy named Edwin Gachwe. The picture of him and I is above. When I met him I noticed he had the same condition as me, scoliosis. Edwin was the first born in a family of 3 children, his parents abandoned them. Neighbors broke the door and rescued the children. They took the children to the police and reported the matter, Edwin and his younger brother Kelly were referred to the home by the government for care, custody, and protection while his younger brother who was 8 months old was referred to Huruma children’s home for baby care.

He entered Mary's care at the Shelter Children's Home at the age of 5. He loves his brother and always wants to be close to him. He is in school and he loves school. He is 16 and is a happy kid just like me despite the unfathomable tragedy he has endured. He has found refuge from this tragic situation in the Shelter Children's Home with the love of his mother Mary. He loves to play football and has friends that love him very much. However, as I mentioned earlier Edwin has Scoliosis. 

Idiopathic Scoliosis, to be more specific. In my experience and his it isn't something that can be prevented but simply just shows up. Mary noticed he was walking strangely and called him into the office and asked if he was trying to impress girls but he told her he was having severe back pain. This condition was by no fault of his own but is just something that shows up when teens begin growing. She took him to the hospital in Nairobi and he was diagnosed with scoliosis. It is also quite severe like mine.

Scoliosis isn't simply a cosmetic deformity, if it is severe enough, the curve compresses the heart and lungs. In Edwin's case if his scoliosis gets worse he will have life long breathing problems, severe back pain, and debilitating heart problems. Living and finding an occupation will also be incredibly difficult with this condition where he lives. Unfortunately that is where my poor friend Edwin is leaning toward. It causes him a lot of pain, I know from experience, and not only impacts his current daily life but will also be incredibly harmful for his future. As I mentioned earlier Edwin and I both have scoliosis and need spinal fusion to correct this. With this procedure the spine is straightened using metal rods and all of those problems can be avoided and he can live a happy and healthy life following the procedure (below is an image of my spine before and after surgery that we are trying to achieve for him). The only difference is that I live in America and have the medical insurance to cover my surgery cost and receive this truly life changing treatment procedure.

When I was diagnosed my parents took me to the doctor and it was no question, I would have the surgery. Mary of course took him and though she loves him and wants all the best for him to get better but the resources of the home simply cannot cover the operation that he greatly needs to improve his quality of life and future.

 

It’s not a lack of love, Edwin has people like Mary that care for him and want to see him happy and healthy but they simply don't have the resources to access physicians and hospitals.

I want to help Edwin and together I know that we can raise the funding needed to have his surgery like I just had mine. Lets make sure he can live a full life, running and playing and finishing his education just like me. 

As I am recovering from my surgery please help me raise the $9700 (as the medical record below indicates) needed for Edwin. He is such a cool kid and together we can make it happen. I would encourage you to watch the video below and get to know him too.

He has such a beautiful soul and inspiring personality. At 16 yrs old, he needs to have the surgery soon before his curvature worsens. Having it soon will also give him a better chance of healing correctly. Any extra funding raised will go towards helping the Shelter Children's Home in continuing to provide a place of refuge for the children in need of Nairobi, Kenya. Below is an image of me as I have just had my procedure and I think that together we can give him the same chance at a happy and healthy life. 

  Meet Edwin: