1st August 2013

Wade, Alex and Carol Vitalis at the Confirmation ceremony for Alex

Alex William Vitalis

April 26, 1993 - July 15, 2013

Our family is remembering the life of this wonderful young man and below they have written what they would you to know of Alex.  The family had requested in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to our health care ministry in Kenya.  For those of you who have chosen to do this you can read other posts describing what we do.  I will talk with the family later to find out how in particular we can use your gifts to honor the memory of Alex.

     Thanks to the many who have poured their love on our family.  The loss of a unique and vibrant young man has almost been more than we can bear.  Here is what we would like you to know about our loving son, Alex. 

     Alex always had a smile for you a mile wide - no kidding!  Alex competed three times at State in swimming and diving.  He loved football and track and set the pole vaulting record his senior year.  He displayed amazing athleticism in every-thing he did.

     Alex loved the Lord and living on the St. Croix River.  He had an intimate knowledge and respect for the river, 

teaching classmates and friends how to canoe while also sharing with them his joy and passion for river life; God's majesty revealed to him.  After graduating from Chisago Lakes High School, Alex traveled to Norway.   He studied Norwegian 

culture and outdoor adventure at a traditional Folk School.  Among his adventures he climbed the second highest mountain in Norway.  He completed his first year at the University of St. Thomas pursuing a degree in engineering and learning 

Norwegian at Augsburg; he was a brilliant mind.  He was unassuming and never boastful.  Alex loved strong coffee, and 

his French press; music, hunting, fishing, reading and planning his next adventures - always!       Alex was his father Wade's right hand man, his 'buddy';  dedicated  and  dutiful.        

Alex inherited his passions for travel and the St. Croix River from his Dad.  Alex loved his sister Gwen; they were 

inseparable and often had what Gwen called 'twin telepathy'.  Alex was a role model for his brother Peter, sharing his 

music and spending time loving on his little brother.  And Alex adored his mother Carol with whom he shared a very 
special bond.  He loved and was loved by his family and us all.  We will miss him and never forget him.

                                                                                                  The Vitalis Family

     I am still in Minnesota and we are expecting my brother Paul and his family to arrive on 2nd August for several days.  I am slowly recovering from my fall and cracked tailbone.  The pain is less and strength is returning to my legs.  Hopefully Mom and I will be able to return to Illinois in the next week or two.  My father in Illinois is needing more nursing care and we are looking for a facility that can provide that.  It has certainly been a challenging time for our family and we are all grateful for your support, prayers, concern and love.

     Peace of the gently flowing river be upon you as we continue to pray for peace on the first of each month!  susan

24 July 2013

     I last wrote the afternoon before the wake was held.  The service began at 4pm and went until 10pm.  About 1500 people came to be with us in the First Luthern Church in Taylors Falls, MN.  I was particularly attentive to my nieces and nephews.  They had been with Alex enjoying a well deserved Monday afternoon off after a busy weekend working at the restaurants the family owns.  It was a big shock for them to deal with watching him drown.  We shared so many memories and stories.  Jordan, Alex's cousin, told us that when she was sleeping in the tent by the river during the night they hadn't found his body she was troubled and asked God to give her something.  She fell asleep and dreamed that just as Alex jumped into the water his spirit burst forth into the atmosphere and was dancing and playing among the tops of the trees with golden streams following him.  He was very happy.
     Gwen, Alex's 17 year old sister had been dreaming about death a lot this summer.  A few weeks ago when she and Alex were sitting my the river she talked to him about it.  He told her that if he had a choice of how to die he would prefer drowning.  There are many other blessings and stories that have comforted us all in our sadness.
     After the wake we drove to the cabin where I was staying with my Aunt Lynn and I was trying to help her walk up the stairs.  She misstepped and started to fall down.  We were holding hands and when we tightened our grip she pulled me over and I landed on my left sacroiliac joint.  I was able to stand up but eventually found out I fractured my sacrum.  I spent Saturday night in the hospital and Marty Roers came by to see me!  I am now staying in my mother's cabin and using a walker.  I have a lot of muscle spasms when I try to move about but I'm able to get to the bathroom and walk slowly.  Unfortunately, I missed the funeral but they made a video. Mary Oldham stopped by on Monday morning and she was a breath of fresh air...as always.   My brother Paul and his family are coming on Aug 2nd so we can all watch the funeral together then.
     This is an unexpected turn of events once again but I'm sure we will see the blessing in it too.  For now Mom and I are just enjoying being together and supporting the family as best we can.  Carol came down for supper last night and we had a good heart to heart talk.  Once again, I and all of our family are very grateful for you concern, support, love and prayers.  We send out love too...susan

Safe arrival

19 July 13
Greetings to all,
     I arrived well in Minneaopolis last night and Mary Oldham was at the gate to welcome me.  I am so grateful to Judy Walter, Sr. Pauline and all my friends at the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa and in Kenya who made this sudden trip possible.  Golden Rule Travel company was just fantastic.   I had my ticket 14 hours after I called them.
     My aunt and namesake, Lynn, and her daughter Lori, arrived at the airport 2 afters after me and my brother Steve drove us all to Franconia on the St. Crois river near Taylors Falls.  It was 8pm and the sun was slowly setting as all my family came out to meet us.  It was so quiet in the valley and a few birds were gently chirping and singing.  I was so grateful for all of them.  The valley is filled with the spirit and love of God because of Alex.
     Steve told me more about cold shock syndrome.  It was a very hot day and Alex hadn't yet been in the water.  When he jumped in, the water was quite a bit colder and apparently there are receptors on the trunk and buttocks that can be triggered by the sudden temperature change.  That caused him to gasp and he could have inhaled as much as a liter of water all at once.  It is a rare condition but there was nothing that anyone could have done to save him.
     I am pretty much wiped out but surrounded by so much love.  This entire community has enfolded all of us in their love and we don't even need to ask to receive.  The wake will be tonight from 5-8pm and the funeral will be tomorrow, Saturday at 4pm in the Lutheran church.  There will be something afterwards at Wildwood.  I will keep in touch this way as it is easier for me.  Already I have received many messages of condolences and I am very grateful to each one of you for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I send our love to you too...susan

Alex

I am waiting to depart Nairobi and have found out that the body of Alex was found last night, thanks be to God.  The autopsy showed nothing of struggle or injury.  He jumped feet first into very deep water.  His body was found at 41 feet in a crevice near where he jumped in.  The coroner surmises that it was a very hot day and the water was very cold down deep.  The difference in temperature may have pushed all the air out of his lungs. 

    The arrangements for the funeral are still pending but at least now we can make our plans.  I am tired but OK.  I will be happy to finally be with my family soon.

17 July 2013

     It is with a sad and heavy heart that I share with all of you a tragic accident.  On the 15th July my 20 year old nephew, Alex Vitalis, died in a diving accident on the St. Croix river.  He was a joy for all of us with his zest for life, care and concern for those in need and his many gifts and talents that he shared with all.  The search teams are still looking for his body.
     I will fly from Mombasa at 5pm today and from Nairobi at 11:50pm to arrive in Minneapolis at 4:30pm on Thursday the 18th.  Sr. Pauline, the health coordinator of the Archdiocese, has been very supportive of my going home to be with my family and taking my leave now rather than in October when we had planned.  I will try to update this site to make communications easier for myself.  Our family is very grateful for all the prayer and support we have received from so many during this difficult time.

03 July 2013

     I left for a medical trip on 30th June and just got back home yesterday.  I see that 7 people have already looked to see if I'd written something new for this month so sorry for being a bit late!
     TheKenyan papers have had some interesting health statistics recently:
1. The number of people newly infected by the HIV virus has decreased by 40% in the last 5 years.
One third of these infections are in prostitutes, homosexuals and fishermen.  44% occur in steady partners as they trust one another and don't use condoms.  Five years ago only 36% of those infected knew they had the virus.  Now 70% know as more people are getting tested.
2. The number of new HIV infections in children has been reduced by 50%.  More pregnant HIV positive women are receiving drugs and the number of children on treatment in Kenya has doubled but still only 3 out of 10 children receive the treatment they need.
3. Multidrug resistent TB has risen from 255 people last year to 600 this year.  Mombasa has the highest number of TB cases in Kenya because of 'rasping poverty levels'.  Kenya is ranked 15 amonth the 22 countries with the highest TB cases.
     The little boy that I put on thyroid medicine at the end of May came back 19 days later and was already starting to sit up better, smile and vocalize more.  His mother sees good improvement and we are hopeful that he will make good progress quickly.  These children can have intellectual impairment so it will take time for us to see how much damage was done before we got him on treatment.
     A two year old child came to the clinic in Bangaladesh with blindness.  He had been diagnosed to have retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina) at one year of age in Kenytta National Hospital.  The mother is a high school teacher and she has already lost two of four other children.  The doctors couldn't agree on whether to remove one or both eyes.  The mother, in her fear and paralysis, did nothing for one whole year.  Finally her sister coaxed her to come see me.  We got a CT scan which showed there were masses in both eyes but they hadn't spread to the brain.  So, I contacted a  British opthalmologist who has a charitable clinic on south coast and she has a specialist visiting next week who will see the child.  They think he has Primary persistent hyperplastic vitreous (PPHV) a noncancerous growth that I've never even heard of!!!  This specialist will see him for US$3.00.
     The day before yesterday I saw two patients in the same clinic with advanced cancer.  The 47 year old man had lung cancer spread to his liver and hip.  The 57 year old woman had abdominal cancer of unknown origin which had spread to the lymph system and other sites.  Both of these people were in great pain and weren't taking any pain medication.  The usual scenario is for the doctor to say he can't do anything else.  The patients and their families then travel around from place to place looking for treatment.  The woman had just come back from a hospital in Tanzania.  There is so much work to be done on educating everyone about palliative care and good pain managment.
     President Obama bypassed Kenya on his African tour and that was probably a wise decision.  The government here still has some very serious allegations to answer for.  Today I read an article in the Daily Nation newspaper graphically describing atrocities that men have admitted to committing on Mt. Elgon in 2008.  These people fled to Kiminini where I was working at the time and I heard their stories myself.  I'm glad that finally the truth is starting to come out.  Peole have lived with some very heavy burdens and they deserve to be heard and find some restorative justice.
     While all of you in the northern hemisphere are enjoying summer it is winter here.  The temperatures get up to a high of only 80F = 27C and it's easier to sleep during the cooler nights.  The new moon will appear on the 9th or 10th of July and with it the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadhan for our Muslim neighbors.  At least their fasting will be during the cooler season this year.  Tomorrow will be the 4th of July and we from the United States are very blessed and have a lot to be grateful for.  But it would be good for us to humbly admit that we still have things we can do better.  Let us see ourselves as part of a much bigger world and committ ourselves to making life better for everyone with special attention to those most in need...with liberty and justice for all.