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Thursday 25 September 2008

A Boy Named Safari

I have been watching a hospital programme each night here in Australia, it is filmed at Royal Prince Alfred hospital, and follows patients stories, treatments, etc.
One little boy from Kenya has really grabbed my attention, he will no longer be a little boy as it was filmed in 2001 when he was aged 6 turning 7.
I have posted a link here to to his story (below).
This child suffered severe burns, but all I ever saw him do was smile, throughout his numerous operations, all this sweet little boy did was offer a huge smile to everyone.
He was truly an inspiration to us all.
In between the TV programme, during the adverts we had a flash of Celeb Rehab, these stinkingly rich people in rehab, totally spaced out on drugs/drink etc, seeking help for their own self inflicted pain. Feeling sorry for themselves.

And then we have Safari, here is his story.......

Safari Kimanthi and his uncle Kilonzo arrived in Australia on 12th January 2001 to stay for 12 months. During this time some six to eight operations will be performed on Safari to correct severe burn disfigurement to his face and left arm. Safari was six years old and at the age of three was accidentally burned when the blanket in which he was wrapped caught fire as he sat in front of an open fire in his parent's hut. Amazingly he survived the ordeal but his future and quality of life had been jeopardized. The fusion of his lower face to his body meant that spinal curvature would result in later life and eating would be inhibited. His left hand had melted and was non-functional and extension of the left arm was severely restricted by scar tissue webbing at the elbow and underarm. In short the future for Safari was not bright.
Read More.........

http://www.safariappeal.com/seit1_10/story/story_story.html