Update on Fana Soro
Dear Friends:
Fana is doing great! It is now 6 months post-op and a few weeks ago he
started to teach in several elementary schools again! His fast
recovery is due to a few things, one of which is that he was in good
physical condition prior to the surgery in December so this has
allowed him a shorter recovery time post-op in terms of fitness. He is
working very hard (very Fana-esque) on his fitness and physiotherapy.
If you happen to live in New West, I am sure you may see him on a
daily basis walking or jogging around the Mercer oval - yes jogging!
He still has some issues with weakness/slowness on the right side of
his body and he still has “electricity” running up and down the left
side of his body, but the feeling has returned from his ears down and
the numbness from his appendages is gone as well. Hard to believe that
the words “walking quadraplegic” were used prior to surgery! Fana is
planning to be back teaching evening classes in drumming in the fall
and will start to perform with Masabo then too. His dance career…hmmmm
he says that is over, but…we’ll see!
The
other reason, and I feel that it is the biggest reason for his speedy
recovery, is the overwhelming community support that was shown to Fana
and the entire Soro family. Till today there are still no words to
convey all of our deepest heart-felt feelings. There are so many good
feelings! We love “our people” so much and because of your support we
were able to keep life somewhat normal for our kids and to keep food
on the table and get the rent paid - it reduced a monumental amount of
stress for us as a family of 6. I cannot express how your donations of
money, time, food, guidance and love helped us. Thank you!
There were two benefits held for us - one at the Roundhouse Community
Centre in January and one at the East Vancouver Cultural Centre in
March. Both were phenomenal days of world music and dance and
community spirit. There were the best concerts I have ever been too!
Fana (me too!) was moved to tears on both occasions.
From the Roundhouse Benefit we would like to thank:
The
Roundhouse Staff, Valerie Dare, Chief Clement Apaak, Jean Pierre
Makosso, Dico Sylla, Kesseke Yeo, Munkie Ncapayi, Kurai Mbaiwa and the
youth group Tambai Marimba, N’Nato Camara, Darcy Booth and their
amazing group from Victoria, the youth groups Miyanda and Miyanda
Parents and Kunaka and Kunaka Parents, Dave Anderson, Kim Myall, Suzy
Williamson, Brent Gilbey, Brenda Devine and Deborah Carfrae - thank
you!
From The Cultch Benefit we would like to thank:
Francois Houle, Catriona Strang, Sal Ferraras, Kurai Mbaiwa, Alpha
Yaya Diallo, Lucie Lareau, Ellie O’Day, Celso Machado, Kongo Mambo,
Jack Duncan, I Wayan Sudirana and the UBC Gamelan Ensemble, Andre
Thibault, Qiu Xia Hu and of course Pepe Danza! The front of house
staff at the Cultch - thank you!
If
I am missing anyone - my apologies!
And
thank you to all the audience members who made a donation to our cause
and enjoyed two tremendous afternoons of world music from the world’s
best artists and humans!
On
behalf of Fana and the Soro Family, please know that if you are ever
in need in ANY way, we will be there for you! We are all about karma -
what goes around, comes around! Thank you again.
Lisa Soro
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