Class of 2022:
Douglas Osunkwo
Meet Mr. Douglas Osunkwo. Mr. Osunkwo was the 7th recipient of The ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship awarded in June 2022. In July 2021, Mr. Osunkwo slipped and fell hitting his head while in the shower and he was home by himself in Nigeria. “It was a miracle he survived because he was not discovered until 2 days after the accident,” his son says. As a result of falling and hitting his head, Mr. Douglas suffered a stroke due to a brain hemorrhage (which is bleeding inside the brain) and was in a coma for almost a month. While in Nigeria, his access to proper medical healthcare was very limited. When he finally moved to the US, establishing a health insurance was a challenge because of finances, and that's where the Kel Strong Foundation came in. “Receiving the Kel Strong Scholarship was the best step in the right direction for my dad to begin therapy, says his son, Chike Osunkwo.
Mr. Douglas is currently confined to a wheelchair and his right side is paralyzed from his brain injury. The immediate need was for him to regain his speech so he could communicate with his wife, children, and family again. So Mr. Douglas is using the scholarship he was awarded towards receiving speech therapy that will help him being able to speak again. Since Mr. Douglas began Speech Therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann, he has been able to make a lot of progress with his swallowing and speech. “Mr. Douglas Osunkwo and his entire family are very grateful to the Kel Strong Mabatah Foundation. We thank you so much for giving our daddy a chance to begin a speedy recovery. Thank you very much,” says Chike.
