An African story - James

Urgent medical treatment neededJames is always given plenty to eat, yet he is always hungry, writes Gerry O'Donoghue of the Maintain Hope Kenya charity. He is eleven now, but looks eight. He rarely speaks and when he does, only his little brother Daniel can understand him. Daniel is only six and does his best, but cannot always communicate what James is saying.

James and his brother Daniel are just two of the one hundred and eighty children who live at Shelter Children’s Home. They are there because their parents were killed in a car accident as they tried to avoid a barricade during the post-election violence in 2008. The boys appeared unhurt and were placed at Shelter by the courts because they had no relatives capable of caring for them. It was reasonably supposed that James was silent and reluctant to eat because of the trauma which he had endured. However, he was alive when others were not, and in the harsh reality of orphan life in Kenya, he would just have to make the best of it.

During routine medical screening, Sue noticed what others had missed. James wanted to speak. James wanted to eat. He could not do either because his jaw was fused. He had been injured in the car accident, but because he appeared unhurt and because the hospitals were overwhelmed by casualties, he was not even examined.

James needs surgery. This surgery will work. James will speak and eat again. Maintain Hope has secured the services of a top class surgical team, who are giving their services for free. However the operation cannot proceed until we have €2,000 to pay for the theatre and the hospital care.

When the food cupboard in Shelter is bare, do we pay the hospital or feed the children? Please help if you can. Do a coffee morning, run a marathon, get your club to fundraise, persuade your children to forego birthday presents. Please do something.

Why am I asking for help in these most desperate of times? I am asking because, like all our dear children and grandchildren, James was born to sing and dance and tell his story. He deserves a chance. His chance has been taken away. I am asking, because somebody out there can give him back his chance. I am asking because you have helped before. I can be contacted on 087 2642887.