Tzu Chi's Love for Kenzi

Journalist : Metta Wulandari, Photographer : Metta Wulandari

North He Qi 2 community of Tzu Chi volunteers visit Kenzi. The volunteer and Ima, his mother, gave Kenzi massages to relax the nerves in his legs.

Thursday morning, November 4, 2021, Tzu Chi volunteers from the North He Qi 2 community visited one of the narrow alleys in the Bandengan area, West Jakarta. There, Mulyadi and Ima Silasakti,the parents of Mohammad Dwipradipta Mario Kenzi lived in a rented house. On that day, volunteers brought 4 cans of KetoCal milk for the 19-month-old baby. The milk is the assistance that Tzu Chi has given to Kenzi since April 2021.

Kenzi, the baby's nickname, has suffered from Intractable Epilepsy since the age of 6 months. His body often spasms, even within a day can be more than 40 seizures. One seizure can last 1-3 minutes. Ima, very worried about the condition of her second child.

As Ima said, Kenzi's unstable condition started from birth. Kenzi is said to have had a bleeding head. Kenzi's head had experienced an enlargement and spasm at the age of 3 days. As a result of the bleeding, Kenzi was diagnosed with Intractable Epilepsy and microcephaly, a rare condition in which a baby's head is smaller than a normal baby's head.

Assuring Adequate Nutrition

Tzu Chi volunteers, Anna Tukimin and Ayen chat with Ima. They also play around and interact with Kenzi in order to check his response.

There wasn't much Ima and her husband could do apart from doing what was best for Kenzi. Ima, after giving birth immediately stopped working and took care of the baby. Meanwhile, she depends on her husband for a living, who works as a Public Facilities and Infrastructure Officer (PPSU) or better known as the Orange Troops, whose salary is equivalent to the DKI Jakarta UMP.

"Frankly, it (salary) is not enough (to pay for treatment), especially according to his doctor and nutritionist, Kenzi must drink special milk to minimize seizures, which is not cheap," said Ima.

Currently, Kenzi needs about 12 cans of KetoCal milk, one can of 300 grams is valued at around 350 thousand. In online stores, these prices can go up at any time depending on the existing stock from sellers and distributors.

Kenzi was diagnosed with Intractable Epilepsy and microcephaly, a rare condition in which a baby's head is smaller than a normal baby's head.

“Sometimes (the price of milk) can be up to 600 thousand a can if it's hard to find. I've also ordered, the money was returned because the stock ran out," said Ayen, a volunteer who accompanies Ima's family. But how else, Kenzi has not been able to accept the intake of other foods besides the milk. For this reason, volunteers are still trying to fulfill aid for Kenzi.

Improvements in Condition

Seven months after receiving help from Tzu Chi, Shinta, a Tzu Chi volunteer who also accompanied Ima's family, saw that Kenzi was now very attractive. Seizures have been much reduced to 4-5 times a day. It's different when she first conducted a survey where Shinta also really saw the limitations of this small family.

Tzu Chi provides assistance in the form of 4 cans of milk which is quite expensive for Kenzi every month.

“At that time I saw that Kenzi's condition looked healthy and cheerful, but because of his illness, his development was still very limited. His family is also limited. I was touched and wanted him to recover,” said Shinta, “what is needed is milk which is quite expensive, this family is poor so we are trying our best to help provide some of his milk because there are still many other Kenzis out there who might need help. Hopefully, it can help ease the burden on his family.”

The request for assistance, which was made in March 2021, was approved and handled in April in the form of assistance to Kenzi. Even though she has not received a dozen cans of milk for a month according to her needs, Ima admitted that it was very helpful.

Kenzi also does therapy with special shoes recommended by his doctor.

"I'm so glad Tzu Chi has helped Kenzi a lot and also taken care of Kenzi. We haven't been able to repay anything yet, we can only pray that we are healthy, improving, and can help other friends who are in the same situation as Kenzi as well. Thank you for all the volunteers, and hopefully, will always be protected by God,” said Ima.

Hearing Ima's expression of gratitude, the volunteers rejoiced and strengthened Ima. “Hopefully Ibu Ima can be patient and strong because every trial in life has a lesson. I believe in your mother's tenacity and prayers from all of us, hopefully, Kenzi can recover," said Shinta.

Translator: Olivia Tan (Tzu Chi Volunteers)

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