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Comment by Swansea Jack on May 12, 2012 at 12:28pm

The latest news item from Swansea - http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Hari-s-got-gear-Liberty-job/story...   - this follows on from one a day or so ago: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Harri-walk-tall-Ash-Liberty/story...    

 

You camwatch the match,. here in the US, on FuelTV on you cable or satellite TV. Match coverhgar beginsa t 8:56 am CDT, Sunday 13th.

Comment by Swansea Jack on April 29, 2012 at 8:37am

Hari continues to make waves. Here is the latest - from the Daily Mail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2134952/Cerebral-palsy--B...

 

He also has been invited, by Swansea City player Ashley Williams, to be one of the 'walk out' kids at the Liverpool v Swansea match on May 13th. If, as it likely will be, on TV (Fox Soccer Channel in USA) - or online at  www.ESPN3.com - watch for it.

Comment by Swansea Jack on April 27, 2012 at 5:31pm

Thought I'd make an addendum to this earlier post:

 

As noted previously, Hari is back home in Wales and is doing very well. I an hoping to son receive (and share) some video-footage of his progress since his SDR surgery.

 

I had never heard of SDR before, but it evidently is a growing practice and there is a large influx of UK children coming to the US (St Louis in particular) for this surgery. Why is it not available in the UK?  As soon as we heard about Hari, my wife asked (paraphrased) "'Why don't doctors from the UK come over to learn these SDR procedures - so that the families can have the benefits of it at home - not having to trek half way around the world - causing even more family disruption?" 

 

Watch here - it IS now being debated in Parliament; let's hope for success - not just in the operating room, but in the government insitutions:

 

 

 

Now, there is movement afoot to get the ball rolling - and it is coming from Hari's parents. See this editorial from a UK newspaper:

 

 

 

Comment by Swansea Jack on April 25, 2012 at 10:04am

Here is an article in today's 'Evening Post' (the 'daily' in Swansea) about Hari's progress: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Belief-got-America-mdash-believed...

 

The on-line story doesn't do justice to the 'print' version from which this photo of a 2-page spread was extracted (from a FB post)

Comment by Swansea Jack on April 20, 2012 at 7:26am

As noted previously, Hari is back home in Wales and is doing very well. I an hoping to son receive (and share) some video-footage of his progress since his SDR surgery.

 

I had never heard of SDR before, but it evidently is a growing practice and there is a large influx of UK children coming to the US (St Louis in particular) for this surgery. Why is it not available in the UK?  As soon as we heard about Hari, my wife asked (paraphrased) "'Why don't doctors from the UK come over to learn these SDR procedures - so that the families can have the benefits of it at home - not having to trek half way around the world - causing even more family disruption?" 

 

Watch here - it IS now being debated in Parliament; let's hope for success - not just in the operating room, but in the government insitutions:

 

 

 

Comment by Swansea Jack on April 11, 2012 at 7:17am

Update:   Hari Kieft and his family, seen here -  

 

 

two weeks or so after his surgery, returned to Wales last week. Before they left, I received this photo of him -

 

 

standing outside the hotel where they had spent an entire month while Hari underwent his spinal surgery and post-op rehabilitation therapy. Hari's parents proudly told me that before he left for Wales, Hari had taken as many as 40 unaided steps. When I visited them 10 days or so before they left, they gave me one of the lapel pins - seen here - 

          

-  that they had made to commemorate his first steps.

 

Whilst the Kiefts were far from home, they were in constant touch with family and friends back home in Wales and around the UK. I learned that during Hari's stay here, there have been several other families from the UK with children undergoing similar surgery here at St Louis Children's Hospital - it is a world renowned facility. It was good to know that these families had each other for support, encouragement, advice and were able to get together to share each other's company and take in a little shopping, dining and picnicking between the more stressful parts of their ordeal. Hari may have to return in August - for more surgery, I'm told. But in the meantime, his progress has given so much delight to his parents, his sister, and all who have known and met him. We can all say - Iechydd da, Hari - and we hold the same wishes for all the others who will follow in your footsteps!   It was MY pleasure to meet you.

Comment by Swansea Jack on March 16, 2012 at 10:34pm

Here's an item from the Swansea newspaper a few days ago.  

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Brave-little-Welshman-continues-a...

 

I think the family must have adopted my nickname for Hari - here is the envelope that contained the card I made when I gave them the donation, on March 7th, from the St David's Society of Greater St Louis.

 

Comment by gaabi on March 16, 2012 at 8:07am

Ah, that's such good news!

Comment by Swansea Jack on March 16, 2012 at 6:16am

This morning, I received this simple note:     'Hari is continuing to exceed expectations'
 

Short - but sweet! 
 

Comment by Swansea Jack on March 14, 2012 at 6:05pm

I got an update yesterday from Hari's parents:   

 

He was released from the hospital on Sunday evening and is with his parents at a nearby hotel for the next 4 weeks before they return to Wales.

 

He is going daily - sometimes twice daily - to the hospital for therapy during that period. 

 

He is doing amazingly well - climbing the slide repeatedly.  But, he is still awake a lot in the night with spasms. 

 

When the family get Hari's physio schedule for next week, they'll arrange a meeting with my family. I'll have more - maybe photos (parents willing) after that.

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