At five months old, beautiful baby Ahadi is John June’s little princess. John June is Chalice’s Asembo site nutritionist. He and his wife are raising little Ahadi, a son, and three other school-aged children at home.

In late July, Ahadi couldn’t breathe. Diagnosed with pneumonia, John June and his wife had her in and out of the hospital for over three days. They thought she was better, but a week later, her lung troubles were back. Her pneumonia was still severe. However, her health took a turn a week later when she showed breathing difficulties. The hospital staff transferred her to another facility. There, the doctors diagnosed Ahadi with malaria as well. After six days, Ahadi’s fever spiked, and she convulsed. 

The convulsions persisted despite medical interventions. The attending pediatrician recommended that a thorough set of investigations find the impact of the convulsions. They ran a battery of tests including brain MRI, ECG, and Echo to better understand the implications of the convulsions and to determine how to treat her.

All the while, John June’s colleagues at the Asembo site were helping him and his family to navigate the healthcare system and arrange for Ahadi to see specialists. But her hospitalization, medicine, and  diagnostic tests and scans were not all covered by Kenya’s national healthcare system. John June was paying out-of-pocket to save his daughter’s life.

Through our critical needs program, generous Chalice supporters swept in and paid for Ahadi’s medical expenses. John June and his wife were floored.

“I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude,” John June says, “and it is difficult to put into words just how thankful I am for the incredible support I have received from all of you. Your generosity and kindness have touched my heart deeply.”

By God’s grace, Ahadi has recovered. She is “now safe back at home, and it feels like nothing short of a miracle,” John June says.