What happened and what's the latest?

On 10/28/08 our beloved teacher, mentor and friend Abdoulaye Diakite was taken to the hospital due to carbon monoxide poisoning. As a result of the accident Abdoulaye is currently battling a variety of physical and mental set backs. His condition has been extremely critical however his strong spirit has put him on the path of recovery. The following updates are an effort to keep everyone informed on Abdoulaye's ongoing progress. We continue to pray for a full recovery, that every day we might see positive change.

12-5-2009

Greetings from Dakar,

As some of you already know, our we missed our scheduled flight due to passport issues, and were rebooked for December 3rd. Abdoulaye and I arrived safely in Dakar yesterday morning. We are still a bit jet lagged and waiting for our luggage to arrive (Delta sucks!), but overjoyed for Abdoulaye to be home with his family. As expected it has been quite an emotional reunion with a river of tears flowing, both of joy and sorrow. Abdoulayes level of happiness to be surrounded by kids, grandkids, with and other family is unmeasurable. Everyone is taking very well to learning the new ways to care for Abdoulaye, and it is so wonderful for me to share the respnsibilites of caring for him with his family.
Today is Abdoulayes birthday. His youngest son's, in four days (12-9), and mine, in six 12-11) Sagetarius unite!!! We will be having a joined celebration to be efficient. I will be purchasing a cell phone today so that folks can connect with Abdoulaye and myself over the next couple months and will release that number soon.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Blessings,
Jesse

11/12/09

Well, the time has come for Abdoulaye to return home. Wednesday Nov. 25th, we depart for Senegal. A while has passed since the last update, which means, much has happpened since then. In a nut shell, without playing catch up on too many of the details, Abdoulaye is stronger than ever. His legs, arms and hands are getting stronger, his coordination better,  his mind sharper, etc. We've religiously attended therapy twice a week, accupuncuture once a week, and drum/dance classes 3 times a week minimum, to get Abdoulaye to the point now that he feels saturated with all that can be offered to him here in the U.S. in terms of healing medicine and therapy and is ready to be home with his family to explore other untapped modes of healing.

I willl  be in full support of facilitating as much as possible a theraputic and progressive home environment for Abdoulaye during my stay where I plan to offer training to his family and friends in care and therapy according to a plan that will be laid out by doctors and therapists that have been caring for Abdoulaye until now.

I have been casually planning a going away event to celebrate Abdoulaye's return home, and give folks a chance to give a hug, spend some time, and share some words with our cherished community elder before his departure. Nothing fancy, just some good food, music, and drums. The venue is still yet to be determined but will happen most definitely the weekend of the 21st and 22nd. If anyone has suggestions for a venue please contact me via email, jesswhat@gmail.com, as I will be out of town this weekend. I will post the exact location and time when it becomes definite.

Thank you all, 
Jesse
510-472-0407

8/5/09
My sincere apologies for the delay in writing an update. A lot has happened since the last update, so I will give the main points in easy to read,  bullet fashion.

-Abdoulaye had a massive seizure that put him back into the hospital for a week
-He regained enough strength to be transferred to Herrick rehab where he remained an inpatient for a month and was rehabilitated to his level of function that he had been before the seizure.
-We moved to a lovely new house in Oakland, CA (1032 62nd St.). Come visit!!
-Abdoulaye has stared his outpatient therapy

The seizure Abdoulaye experienced is a common side effect of brain injury. To prevent further seizures in the future, Abdoulaye is now taking preventative medication and well as anti-spastic medication, which are helping to control and limit his muscle spasms. He is back to walking short distances in his walker, he is beginning to balance himself on his own two feet without holding onto anything while he dresses himself, and his memory and cognition continues to improve. He is still not playing drums, but that is soon to be incorporated in his therapy sessions.

Contrary to my earlier beliefs that Botox was the best way to relieve Abdoulaye's muscle tone and spasms, I have been convinced by observation and doctor's recommendations that a proper dosage of anti-spastic medication and daily stretching will be a better long term plan for Abdoulaye, so I am no longer pursuing that route. Thank you to those who gave for this cause at Camp Fareta, please trust that your money is not going to waste!!

Abdoulaye was lucky enough to start his outpatient therapy using the same approval forms that were intended for his sessions pre-seizure, which leaves him with about two-three months of therapy. This means that we will plan on going to Senegal together once therapy is over sometime in late October or early November.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!!

Jesse
 

6/9/09
Progress at home:
Well, the progress continues: Abdoulaye continues to gain in strength, coordination, weight and stamina. He has recently finished all the in home therapy that was available to him for the past two months, and now we are looking forward to Herrick Acute Rehab for outpatient therapy. Herrick is a stroke patient rehab center, which means that they specialize in working with patients who have suffered from brain injury. From the evaluations alone, I can tell that these therapists are very good at what they do, understand Abdoulaye's condition and will be well suited to assist in his recovery.
Going to Herrick:
Being an outpatient will allow Abdoulaye to continue to live at home here, but still receive therapy at their location several times a week. He has been evaluated for all three disciplines (physical, occupational, and speech) and is awaiting approval from medical, which, unfortunately, could take up to 6-8weeks. Good news is that we continue walking, stretching, and exercising daily and have a month of preparation to get him to a level that he can most benefit from his time at Herrick. They will most likely approve him for two months of therapy. 
Going to Africa:
After therapy from Herrick, he will have exhausted all of his funding via Medical for professional rehab therapy. Although Abdoulaye is very anxious to get back home to his family and homeland, he and I both agree that it will be best to take advantage of all the therapy available to him here in the U.S. before returning to Senegal. So, the tentative plan is to leave for Senegal once his therapy at Herrick is over, which should be in September sometime. I plan to return home with him and stay in Senegal for one month to help with financial and therapy needs.
Getting treatment that Medical won't cover:
On Wednesday, June 10th Abdoulaye has an appointment to be examined as a potential candidate for Botox treatment. This is a series of localized injections of a drug that acts as a paralyzer to over tight and spastic muscles that cause pain and prevent full range of motion in Abdoulaye's legs, arms, and back. The benefit of this treatment is that it addresses the problems of muscle tension and spasticity, and since the drug never enters into his central nervous system, he does not suffer from all the negative side effects of an anti spastic or pain medication ie. lethargy, disorientation, drowsiness, depression. He received this treatment upon leaving Alta Bates earlier this year and it proved very effective and helpful.
Unfortunately, Medical does not cover treatment costs for outpatients, so this will have to be an out of pocket payment . We will know the exact cost after his appointment tomorrow, but the estimate is around 5 thousand dollars. So we will need to raise that money QUICK!! If any one has access to any kind of funding or ideas on how to raise this money, please contact us ASAP. We do not want to miss this opportunity to get Abdoulaye the treatment he really needs due to money and medical bureaucracy.
Anything helps, Please get involved:For all those of you who want to help, but don't know how or where you are needed, here is a list of things that are needed at this point:
-Web skills: Someone who can work with me to develop an online calendar that will act as a streamlined reference point to express Abdoulaye's needs in a positive way and allow folks who desire to actively participate, see clearly what they can specifically do and when.
-Cooks: People to come and cook from time to time. Bringing food is a very helpful and meaningful thing to do at this point. It gives a good excuse to come spend time with Abdoulaye as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are actively participating in his recovering him by nurturing his body with good food and relieving some of the financial burden of buying and preparing food everyday.
-Therapist and Healers: People to come and either give therapeutic massage, stretching, or whatever your specialty is; or learn some of the therapy and stretches from myself and fill in for me from time to time. I have a massage table here at the house (thanks Rachel!).
-Musicians: Lets not forget of the power of music!! Bring your instrument and offer a moment in musical healing. 
-Money:Obviously, money is needed and will be needed in the future for treatment, travel, and basic needs. If you are good with fundraising or getting money through social services, have access to funding, or have good money management advice, please bring that to the table.
-Offerings: Always welcomed and appreciated are things like international phone cards, grocery gift cards (or money), Movies (Good times, Columbo , Sanford and Sons, westerns, kung fu and actions flicks in general), Music cds (Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Kandia Kouyate, etc.) and any nice thing you can think of, but most of all just coming to visit is most appreciated.

********If you want to get involved, call (510) 472-0407 or email: abdoulayeupdate@gmail.com**********

Sincerely,
Jesse

5/3/09
The progress continues with Abdoulaye here at the house. He has been getting therapy at home for a month now and has made some really amazing improvements. The largest of those improvements I would say is walking with a walker. Although he can't quite do it completely independently, the only assistance need is to have someone stabilize the walker and standby to position his wheelchair when he gets tired. But that aside he is beginning on the first steps towards walking again.
 
There is still alot of pain and stiffness to get through each day which can make exercises extremely challenging when they are simultaneously wiping away your energy and putting you through excruciating pain.
Keep the prayers going.

We made some progress in trying to get him onto another acute rehab center for outpatient therapy but it seems there are some hoops to jump through first. Crossings the fingers.

Thanks to Linda, and Rachel for coming and giving Abdoulaye massages. Thanks to Lam Toro, Jerrel, and Michael for providing food. And thanks everyone else who has also come by to visit, drop off goods, come to drum class, offered assistance with social services, etc. All your help is so crucial and has made this challenge a village effort. 
Sincerely,
Jesse

4/15/09
I wanted to expand, fill in some blanks and correct some mistakes made in the last update.
First off, I was wrong about Abdoulaye being on a waiting list for Stanford Medical. He has not been added any waiting list there. It was basically a list to treat spasticity using Botox, which Abdoulaye has already recieved when he was at Alta Bates. Alternatively, I am trying to schedule an appointment with a neurologist at Alta Bates to for Abdoulaye.
I failed to mention that Abdoulaye has been approved for Medical, so all his hospital expenses will be covered begining with his first trip to the E.R., so that is a HUGE RELEIF!!
Abdoulaye has his own wheel chair, provided by Medical, and is lerning to wheel himself around. We do standing excercises and stretches everyday to get him ready for walking again. Next week will be his first shot at a walker.
Just today I received some good news that it may be possible to get Abdoulaye in as an outpatient Care at Harrick Acute Rehab, which would mean that he could continue acute rehab without having to live on the hospital grounds. Harrick is a much more convenient location, walking distance to our house, and it has a very good reputaiton. Keep that in your prayers that he gets in!!
Also, next week we have a meeting scheduled to evalutate Abdoulaye for eligibility for SSI benefits (money). If he gets this, it could be a long term solution to financial needs of his while he is not earning any income. Another big one to pray for.
Ok, thats all for now.

Keep us in prayer, Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Jesse

4/7/09
Abdoulaye has left Fairmont and is now residing with me at 2245 Ward St. in Berekely, CA. This is his second week with me here. He has improved dramatically since leaving the hospital grounds, and his spirits have been lifted significantly. He sleeps better, eats better and is consistently making strides towards a more independent life. Since his Medical has been approved he is now able to receive in-home care through Professional Home Care that provides him with 3 visits per week by physical, and occupational therapists. He has also been assigned a social worker who is helping him apply for financial assistance via SSI and other programs (if anyone knows of other programs, financial aid, or grants that Abdoulaye would possibly qualify for, please contact me).
Abdoulaye has made and continues to make progress in becoming more independent each day. He can now transfer himself to bed from his wheel chair on his own, bathe himself, brush his teeth, eat independently, etc. The immediate primary goals are to strengthen and stretch his legs, which suffer from a significant amount of spasticity that causes pain and prevents full range of movement, as well as to rejuvinate his right arm, which have increased range of motion, strength and coordination limitaions. He is on a waiting list for outpatient care at Fairmont, and we are trying to get him into Harrick acute rehab outpatient care as well. 
Mentally, Abdoulaye is keen in some areas and weak in others. This, of course, is due to his accident and the location of injuries to his brain. For example, he can recall detailed rhythm patterns, but has trouble following the sequence of how to buckle his seat belt. He talks to his family nearly everyday and his personality is as robust as ever. In general his mood is positive and ambitious to continue working to recover. Although Abdoulaye plans to return home to Senegal as soon as possible, no date has been set to determine when this will happen.
Feel free to visit or call any day, but please call before coming @ 510-472-0407. Surprise visits can be unpleasant and inconvenient for both of us, plus we spend a lot of time out of the house as well. If you wish, you can bring food, give a massage, train in therapy exercises etc. (please see "you can help"). If anyone is interested in training to assist in therapy (general stretches, transfers, leg and arm exercises, etc) please contact me. Any help will be greatly appreciated and very useful in the grand scheme of Abdoulaye's recovery.
Thank you to all of you who helped Abdoulaye through his tough times in the hospital by bringing food, visiting, massaging, bringing herbal tinctures, social and financial advocacy, playing music, etc. you have been an invaluable source of support who's faith and dedication kept Abdoulaye moving forward.
Please continue to pray for us both. We hope to see you around at a dance class, drum class, or just out and about if you live in the area.

Sincerely,
Jesse

2/18/09
Well, this marks Abdoulaye's first month @ Fairmont, and his progress has been amazing!! Ask anybody who has visited him lately and they should tell you the same. He has, as of today, been approved for a two week extension of stay until the 17th of March, with the option of further extensions if he continues to progress as he has been.

Some key points in his progress have been:
-regaining movement and control in his right arm and hand
-beginning movement in both legs
-increase in cognitive thinking, comprehension, and
-increase in his vibrant/fiery personality and sense of humor
-increase in appetite
-beginning to play his drum and remember the name of the rhythm he plays
-consistently attempting to transfer himself and stand on his own, though his body still lacks the strength and flexibility to do so

Some significant immediate challenges he still faces are:
-daily pain
-limited flexibility and physical strength
-limited comprehension of daily activities
-bed wounds

Other important news:
-Efforts to bring his wife over from Senegal are moving forward
-The benefits and support continue! La Pena, Drum 4 Change, Ashkenaz (2/20), Bontle and Rene's dance class (2/22)
-We have formed an organized system to bring Abdoulaye fresh homecooked meals on a daily basis, next to come is an organized team of massage professionals, and musicians to assist in therapy.

          Those of you who wish to help with music and massage, we hope to hear from you!! 
                                      Please email us: abdoulayeupdate@gmail.com

Thanks to all those who have been active in your support for Adboulaye. Many hands make for light work and a STRONG community is forming around this effort to bring back our beloved teacher. Be well and keep the faith.

Love & Respect,
Jesse

1/17/09
Yesterday Abdoulaye was moved to a new facility, one of the two Acute rehab centers in the S.F. Bay area @ Fairmont hospital in San Leandro. This is a huge step in the positive direction of Abdoulaye's recovery. Though the facility he was at before was to say the least "lacking" in the area of good care giving, he had an especially talented physical therapist who worked with him diligently, pushing him to move beyond previous borders to get to the point he is at now where he is now ready for acute rehab. At Fairmont he will be receiving at least 3 hours of intense therapy in the areas of physical, occupational, and speech. The aim of the facility is  to bring all their patients to their highest level of recovery before leaving. As compared to a long term care facility he is much more likely to be aided and pushed to recovery in an acute rehab center, where the primary focus is rehabilitation.

This is a great opportunity for Abdoulaye to achieve his highest level of recovery yet and I would encourage EVERYONE to involve themselves in some way and be part of this process. Here are some suggestions:

He needs to EAT GOOD FOOD. Abdoulaye has lost more than a quarter of his total body weight!!Can we find a way to bring him at least one home cooked meal EVERYDAY? No food, no muscle growth, no recovery.
 
He needs MENTAL and SPIRITUAL stimulation. Bring in your memories to share with him via pictures, music, videos, etc.

He needs PHYSICAL stimulation. Body workers, healers, herbalists....BRING IT!!

All that said...there NEEDS TO BE ORGANIZATION in the work that will be done with Abdoulaye. So those who wish to volunteer with Abdoulaye please EMAIL or CALL ME asap (abdoulayeupdate@gmail.com or 510-273-2492). Don't wait for someone else to do it, or another time. NOW is the time. 

Here is the information as to where he is. He is in building H bed 15 @:

Fairmont Hospital
15400 Foothill Blvd.
San Leandro, CA. 94578
[map and directions]
Telephone: (510) 895-4200

If you cannot give in time or activity, please help by donating to the Abdoulaye Diakite Fund (click on "you can help" for details). I am handling personally all the funds donated to this fund and make sure that ALL the money from the fund goes directly towards his family and his own needs.

Thanks for all your support. Keep the faith and positivity alive!

Jesse

1/6/09
On New years eve Abdoulaye was moved to a new location in east Oakland called Willow Tree Nursing and Rehabilitation center. The move was rather quick and I have been focused on getting him settled into his new temporary location, getting to know and collaborate with a whole new team of therapists, nurses, doctors, and social workers, so I apologize for the delay in this update. 

The address is: 
2124 57th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94621

The reason this move happened so quickly was that his bed was needed at the hospital and he technically didn't need the acute level of care they were set up for. Abdoulaye does not yet have Medical and had only a few choices, and this was, in my opinion, the best facility out of his options. He is still receiving therapy in all three fields which are speech, physical, and occupational. Speech therapy will aid him in reviving his memory and cognitive skills, any swallowing difficulties, and any speech impediments. Physical therapy will work on strengthening his muscle control, keeping his well stretched, and active. Occupational therapy will help Abdoulaye to regain daily skills like the motions of brushing one's teeth, eating and drinking independently, etc. If you go to visit him you may be a little worried by the location and or the look of the facility itself, but I can attest for the good care he is receiving in the areas of therapy. I have met and worked with all his therapists and feel confident that they will do their very best to get him ready for acute rehab. The daily care is somewhat of a concern to me and that is why I would like to call on the community he is such a vital part of to be more active in assisting in his daily care (see bullets below). The plan of care at this point is to work him up to the point where he can participate in an acute rehab program. He has not yet been accepted into one (acute rehab center) because of his limitations physically and mentally, but HE IS MAKING PROGRESS and will be evaluated by a representative of an acute rehab center at the end of two weeks to determine if he is eligible for their program. 


Some things to consider....


*Abdoulaye has lost a lot of weight since his hospitalization over two months ago!! He can use some encouragement and a friendly face to be there at meals to assist (7am/12noon/5:30pm). Bring in some savory home cooked meals from time to time. 


*As a result of his brain injury, Abdoulaye has a painful increase in muscle tone that can permanently disable him if he is not continually stretched and exercised. Contact  Jesse if you want to learn passive range of motion exercises that you can do with him upon your weekend visits when he will not be receiving physical therapy. 


*His memory is still there, but needs to be prompted in special ways. Bring music, videos, and pictures or anything that you feel might jostle a memory loose or put a smile on his face. Sit with him and BE POSITIVE. Bring flowers or art to liven up the room too.


Thank you all for your support. Keep the faith and stay positive.


Peace,
Jesse


12/19/8
Hi Everyone, thanks for all of your support thus far in Abdoulaye's recovery process. He is still at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley receiving daily physical, occupational, and speech therapy 5 days a week. As of late he has become more alert and responsive, but also has had severe muscle spasms and pains in his body related to an increase of "tone" in his muscles. The doctors are tying to remedy this the best they can without causing a decrease in his alertness and cognitive abilities. The physical therapy team as well continues in efforts to keep him well stretched and exercised to the extent possible. He may be moved to a nursing home before the end of the year as he is now medically stable and does not need the acute medical attention provided in the unit of the hospital where he currently is. He is also being considered for several acute physical rehabilitation centers that will take him once his muscle spasms are  less of an inhibition to his physical therapy.
Yesterday the doctor wrote a recommendation for a close rellative to be brought from Senegal to accompany him during his recovery time and be trained by the rehab team in specific care routines and protocal. His medical case is currently under review and we are waiting for a decision to be made which will determine much of his eligibility for some of the care centers he is being considered for.
Through all this Abdoulaye remains in good spirits. He laughs, jokes, and converses with his visitors when he is awake, though his alertness varies depending on what has most recently happened, ie. physical therapy, a meal, taking medicine, an emotional experience, etc. He is a strong man who has chosen to remain positive throughout this process. It is a difficult path he is on right now and much patience and perseverance is required by him as well as his loved ones to appropriately support him through the duration of his healing process.
So let us continute to pray for and support this wonderful man. His marvelous persistence and positivity is a shining example of the strength of the human spirit that I hope to learn from and carry with me on a daily basis.
Much love family, stay strong and in good sprits in these tough times.

Peace,
Jesse

12/6/8
Hey everyone, Another update and reminder about class tomorrow and a few other things. First off, thank you all for making Abdoulaye's birthday a wonderful one. All the love coming his way is playing such a crucial, positive role in his recovery right now. Every visit, prayer, and action of support he gets gives him strength and encouragement to carry on. We are an awesome community and we are realizing it now through this great challenge. Thanks to all the crew from Willits that put together a fundraiser and donated ALL the proceeds to the Abdoulaye Diakite Fund!

-Jesse

12/6/08
Just a quick note to say how far Abdoulaye has come. He has been suffering from some major set backs which include memory loss and lack of mobility in his right arm and both legs. Im excited to say that he is now starting to remember some of the things he has lost and for a few days now he has been getting more and more mobility in his legs. His progress is great for such a short period of time. 

On another note, the DrumSkull/Bolokada djembe auction is now complete. Thanks to all who placed bids. This effort made for a donation of $450 to the Abdoulaye Diakite Fund. 

-Ryan

12/5/08
Hey, just wanted to let everyone know that Abdoulaye's birthday is today, Friday Dec. 5th. 

Feel free to drop by, bring a card, flowers, a recorded message, a song, a treat (he loves "lahh"), some food (soft solids only eg. finely chopped meat (no pork), soft rice, cooked veggies, saucy dishes, soups...no dry hard to chew things), and ALWAYS check with the nurse before giving ANY FOOD to him (for his own health and safety). There is a notebook in his room I've put there for people to sign and write something special for him. He's at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA) 6th floor, room 6510, bed C.

When visiting please:-be respectful of other occupants in the room (volume of voice and/or music), 
-don't overwhelm him (eg. being too close in his face when talking too him, asking many questions back to back, etc.)
-let him rest if he seems tired. 
-keep in mind that the nurses have limited information, and many other patients, so please call me personally for an update.
-do not visit past 9 p.m.

-Jesse

11/17/8
Abdoulaye has been removed from critical care for over a week now and we are happy to say that his progress has been positive and steady. Currently he is beating the odds and there is no doubt that this is a result of his strong will and spirit. That said, there is a long road ahead full of hard work and rehabilitation. Abdoulaye is training his mind and body back to good health. It is a joy to see Abdoulaye recognize visitors and respond to questions in his own short but humorous manor.
Thanks to all of you who have donated to help Abdoulaye's cause. Collections are still being taken and at this point we have a long way to go. We ask once again to all friends of Abdoulaye and DrumSkulls to please consider helping this great djembe master.

-Jesse and Ryan

11/2/8
The majority of this weekend was spent on Abdoulaye's side and we are happy to announce some major improvements to his condition! Mid day Saturday Abdoulaye woke and began responding to questions. He is extremely groggy and his reactions are slow, however it was evident that he understood questions being asked of him and he recognized people around him. He is currently in a state of exhaustion and is sleeping the majority of the time. At this point all support devices have been removed and it appears that Abdoulaye's strong will and spirit are prevailing!

We ask everyone to continue praying for Abdoulaye's full recovery.
One major concern given this situation is the financial state that this leaves Abdoulaye's family in. Many people in Senegal rely on him daily. At this time DrumSkull Drums is accepting donations to help support Abdoulaye, his family in Senegal and his family here who have literally stopped working to be there for him at all times. Please offer up anything that you can afford. Checks can be sent to us by mail or credit cards can be processed over the phone. All checks should be made out to DrumSkull Drums until a separate bank account has been established. All proceeds will be used as the family sees fit. Thank you in advance for considering helping this situation.

-Ryan

10/28/8
On Tuesday 10/28/08 our beloved teacher Abdoulaye Diakite was taken to the hospital due to carbon monoxide poisoning. He is currently in critical condition and is being treated at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, CA. He is currently in a state of unconsciousness however the current prognosis seems positive. As of Thursday his vital signs appear strong, he is breathing on his own and he has been taken off of all sedatives. These are all positive changes since yesterday. He appears strong and at peace for the moment. At this point we are all hoping and praying for Abdoulaye to wake. For us at DrumSkulls this news is devastating as Abdoulaye has been our main source of inspiration since day one. Beyond his abilities as a drummer, Abdoulaye is an inspiration that is larger than life. Djembe music and Djembe culture would not be what it is today without the influence of this man.We ask that everyone take some time in their day to focus on this incredible man and to direct some thoughts and prayers towards his recovery.