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Nima before (left) and then after (right) her epilepsy diagnosis and successful treatment in Somaliland. She is now able to attend school for the first time in her life. 

Cadwell helps impact girl’s life and education

Nima is a 14 year old girl who lives in Hargeisa, Somaliland. After her father died, Nima’s mother left her with her aunt.

Nima suffered almost daily “heart attacks,” and her aunt believed she was possessed. When a family friend witnessed one of these fits, the friend told Nima’s aunt about a group from the USA who came to town with “an x-ray to test the brain.”

Essa Kayd is the man with that “x-ray.” Kayd is the Chief Tech on Neurophysiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and he founded Hargeisa Neurology Hospital to help neuropsychiatric patients in Somaliland. Cadwell donated an Easy III EEG system to Hargeisa in Fall 2015.

When Nima was brought to the Hargeisa Neurology Hospital, a neurologist first noticed one side of Nima’s body was weaker than the other, ordered an EEG, and diagnosed Nima with epilepsy.

“We told and convinced the aunt and Nima that this machine told us that we can treat Nima, and we see patients like her all the time in the USA,” Kayd said.

The physicians gave Nima antiepileptic drugs for free, and asked her to return in one week.

“This is where it gets exciting!” Kayd said. “Not only [were] the seizures stopped, but Nima was not afraid anymore! She came back and told us how she had her fits every night and how she was scared to die.” Two months later, Nima was dressing up like other girls her age, helping her aunt, “And more importantly, going to school for the first time in her life! I feel so blessed to be part of this success!” Kayd said.

“We can never thank you enough for the donation of the Easy III system!” Kayd said. “[It] convinced lots of people with seizures that it can show abnormalities to the doctors and the doctors will treat them!”