Since we started Africa Parkinsons Disease Foundation (APDF), we have received lots of feedback and queries from people from all walks of life. We are truly excited about this, we are indeed reaching out and encouraging many more audiences to contact us.
So among those who contacted us is a Kenyan priest, an American by nationality. His name is Father Thomas Kevin Kraft O.P a 59-year-old American Catholic priest and member of the Dominican Order.
He has spent most of his ministerial life (nearly 30 years) in missionary work: first, 20 years in Peru, and then, since 2006/2007, in Kenya. Father Thomas shared with us his experiences as a patient with Parkinson’s disease. We were excited and humbled to have him contact us after finding our site on Google. This is his story…
“As many of you are aware, I was diagnosed a little over a year ago (Nov 2012) with the early stage of Parkinson’s Disease. It’s a formidable disease, especially in its later stages, but I’m taking medicines daily now, and am doing quite well.
Nevertheless, my sudden acquaintance with the disease has given me a new interest in connecting up with other people who are ‘in the same boat’, whether newer or (more likely) older patients than myself.
In many other countries, there are Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups in each major city, but up to now, there is none at all in Kenya, according to my investigations, despite there being a fairly large number of people diagnosed with the disease here in Nairobi. “
APDF in conjunction with Fr. Thomas has been holding support group meetings for patients at Consolata, Westlands in Nairobi county – Kenya, every month. We welcome all of you to join us.
Let us offer lasting support to our brothers and sisters with Parkinson’s disease in Kenya and Africa as a whole.
