Little Freddie the Kenyan baby born

without arms and legs has died

Little Freddie Musena the Kenyan baby born without arms and legs died on Tuesday 28^th February in his mothers arms. Little Freddie’s funeral took place on Wednesday in which three hundred people attended to show their respect to their little hero.

 Dee said; My darling Freddie Passed away in my arms. He was the light of my life, and all that I lived and worked for I will always love him.

Freddie Astbury said we have lost a very special little boy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother and father Dee and Sammy Knot-M’tile.

Little Freddie's Story

'The Kenyan Baby Born Without Arms or Legs'

This is the story of a British woman 'Dee Knott-Mtile', who now lives in Kenya and who has adopted a little baby boy born without any limbs. the drug thalidomide, is easily available in third world countries.

Dee Knott-Mtile is a British woman, who now lives with her Kenyan husband 'Sammy' in district of Malindi of Kenya, they have seven children. Three of their children are orphans, one of them was also an ex street wise child, who had been on the street since the age of 5, today he is 15 years. Dee and Sammy have recently adopted a baby boy, born without limbs.

A children's Officer came to visit Dee on the 16th May 2004. The children's officer informed her of a baby boy which had been born in a village not too far from where she lived. The officer told Dee that the baby had been born without arms or legs and at that moment was in the District hospital for his own safety, because some of his family wanted to kill him, because of his disabilities. Dee asked the children's officer if they had been able to find a placement for this child, he answered no. She then informed the officer that the baby now had a home and that her and her husband would care for him. The officer said that he would phone them the following day (Monday 17th may).

Dee received a phone call the next day from the children's office to say that she was needed at the hospital. Before reaching the hospital she went to the children's office of Malindi where an officer accompanied her to the hospital.

Dee was taken to the small room where the baby was lying on a large bed, wrapped in a cloth. There were many people wanting to see the baby and some were paying the mother money to observe him, which I found very distressing. The mother had taken the baby to the hospital on the night of his birth as she did not want her husband to kill him.

The mother knew that she could not look after the baby, and that the family would not accept the baby into the community. The Father in particular wanted his baby dead.

Seeing the baby for the first time shocked Dee, he was so tiny, and apart from his missing limbs he had an umbilical hernia, a septic umbilical, a full body rash and foul smelling diarrhoea, infected but no treatment given at that time. From the moment that she first saw him Dee wanted to give him everything in life that he needed, but most important "love and safety".

After speaking with the doctor in charge she wrapped him in his cloth and brought him to his new home. Before leaving the hospital the matron of the unit said to Dee “Babies like this one do not live for long" she turned to her and said "This baby will live".

When Dee reached her home she started treating Freddie's infections, which soon cleared up.  With the help of pampers nappies and the firm fastening the hernia seems to have been resolved.

On examining the baby, Dee found that his left side was slightly more developed then the right side. On his left side of his buttock he has a small foot with two toes, but on right side of the buttock is a small bud which is slightly inside the buttock making it look like a dimple, then nothing.

The baby finds it hard to support his head which is still floppy, but after making him a special collar he finds it better and so much more interesting for him as he can look around.

As far as Dee can tell his sight and hearing are perfect, he smiles and gurgles the baby can now baby talk now, mama, baba, dada and even though he cannot support his head he will shake it if he does not want to eat. When lying in his pushchair he moves his head to make the toys and rattle move which are fastened above him, also he bangs his head on the cushion in his rocking chair to make it rock. When lying on his belly the baby seems to move his body like a caterpillar.

(Please Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Dee and Sammy has named the baby Freddie Musena (Musena means "friend") and they both love him very much, and like all parents want the best for him.

Freddie is now 18 months old, he has been with Dee and Sammy since being only 10 days old and from the little baby that they could hold in the palm of there hands he is growing and becoming stronger by the day.

Dee Knott-Mtile contacted Dr Martin Johnson 'director of The Thalidomide Trust' for advice, the trust could not help, so they passed her on to Freddie Astbury President Thalidomide UK for advice and support.

Freddie Astbury soon realised that Kenyan doctors did not have the experience of dealing with babies like little Freddie. He also found out that hospitals did not have the scanning equipment to see if little Freddie had internal deformities.

Freddie Astbury accepts that Thalidomide UK would have to look at a way in getting little Freddie to the UK for urgent treatment.

The cause of Little Freddie deformities is currently unknown, but do resemble the thalidomide disabilities, which were caused by a drug prescribed to pregnant women for morning sickness, instead it caused severe deformities in babies.

The drug thalidomide is today used in the treatment of leprosy and AIDS in third world countries. Created on the 3rd July 2005

LITTLE FREDDIE VISIT'S  THE UK FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

Little Freddie arrived in the UK on the 7^th July at Heathrow airport was met by his adopted British mother Dee Knott-M’tile and President of Thalidomide UK Freddie Astbury. 

Little Freddie was originally refused entry in to the UK after the British Embassy refused him a visa for medical treatment. Thalidomide UK with the world’s media launched a campaign against Jack Straw (foreign secretary). The Foreign Office requested an urgent meeting with Freddie Astbury of Thalidomide UK where permission for a visa was given.

Little Freddie’s disabilities are widely suspected of being caused because of his natural mother taking the drug Thalidomide, which is widely used in African countries. When he returns to Queens Mary’s he will be having a MRI scans that will give the reasons what caused his disabilities.

Freddie Astbury also hopes to visit little Freddie in Kenya next year to meet other babies/children who have thalidomide-like disabilities.

On the 6^th September both little Freddie and his adopted British mother Dee Knott-M'tile  will return to Kenya were they will be met by his adopted Kenyan Father Sammy.

Queens Mary’s Hospital have given a present to Freddie Musena M’tile, which is to drop all medical expenses. Freddie Astbury (President of Thalidomide UK) who privately donated monies towards his medical expenses said; we our delighted that the medical team at Queens Mary’s have made this decision and the monies already collected will now be used for his next treatment next year. He added; my little friend ‘Freddie’ now has a future and will return in June 2006 when he will be fitted with Artificial Limbs and a MRI scans which will give the reasons what caused his disabilities. Freddie Astbury also hopes to visit little Freddie in Kenya next year to meet other babies/children who have thalidomide-like disabilities.

Little Freddie’s disabilities are widely suspected of being caused as a result of his natural mother taking the drug Thalidomide, which is widely used in African countries.

LITTLE FREDDIE IN THE UK

(Please Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Kenyan Baby Born Without LIMBS WENT Home

Queens Mary’s Hospital have given a present to Freddie Musena M’tile the baby born without arms and legs, which is to drop all medical expenses. Freddie Astbury (President of Thalidomide UK) who privately donated monies towards his medical expenses said; we our delighted that the medical team at Queens Mary’s have made this decision and the monies already collected will now be used for his next treatment next year. He added; my little friend ‘Freddie’ now has a future and will return in June 2006 when he will be fitted with Artificial Limbs and a MRI scans which will give the reasons what caused his disabilities. Freddie Astbury also hopes to visit little Freddie in Kenya next year to meet other babies/children who have thalidomide-like disabilities.

Little Freddie’s disabilities are widely suspected of being caused as a result of his natural mother taking the drug Thalidomide, which is widely used in African countries.

 Both little Freddie and his adopted British mother Dee Knott-M'tile  will return to Kenya today were they will be met by his adopted Kenyan Father Sammy.

 Since little Freddie’s story was highlighted in the worlds press other cases have

 come forward with thalidomide-like disabilities in Kenya.

 Freddie was originally refused entry into the UK by the British Embassy; however after Thalidomide UK launch a campaign the decision was over turned by the foreign office.

Thalidomide UK would like to thank the following people

Freddie Astbury (Thalidomide UK)

Dr Claus Newman (Thalidomide Medical Expert)

Dr Soori (Queens Mary’s Hospital)

Fiona Carnegie (Queens Mary’s Hospital)

Dr Martin Johnson (The Thalidomide Trust)

We would like to thank the Media Section

Chris Johnson (Mercury Press)

Geoff Webster (Sun Newspaper)

Geoff Spink (BBC Online)

Press Association

Girish (Channel 4 News)

Storm (ITV Forward Planning)

Jeremy Kyle (Jeremy Kyle Show)

Helen Etheridge (Reveal Magazine)