Posted on 01/03/2004 9:34:25 AM PST by Sweet_Sunflower29
They were just trying to save his hair.
But what started as a desire to preserve Koran Akindele Jenkin's dreadlocks, grown during his 13-year life, ended in tragedy and changed the Berkeley boy's world forever.
Koran had picked up head lice in his thick, black shoulder-length dreads during a backyard campout with a group of friends. The eighth grader had never in his life had a haircut. He loved his hair. His mother loved his hair. Koran, a member of a hip-hop group, needed the hair to complete his look.
But as the critters hopped around in Koran's locks, mother and son became increasingly repulsed and headed for the boy's pediatrician. The doctor was out.
They drove to Alta Bates hospital, where medical staff covered Koran's head with a surgical cap and instantly diagnosed him with head lice, his mother said.
Medical staff talked of a prescription medicine, but because there are dangers, it was not prescribed. Then the conversation turned to how gasoline and kerosene are used to clean the hair and kill head lice in some cultures where dreads are more common, his mother, Ayodele Nzinga, said.
In the end, medical staff told Koran to get a haircut so over-the-counter treatments could readily attack the lice.
"We discussed cutting his hair," said Nzinga. "He was in tears, I was in tears. We didn't want to cut his hair. So we remembered that we had some gas in the car (trunk) for emergencies. We figured we would clean (the hair) with gas and then use the medication."
That was Sept. 18. At home in Berkeley, mother and son headed to the kitchen with the gas. Bent over the sink, Nzinga covered her son's eyes and face with a towel and soaked the hair in gas. It's a compact kitchen and the sink and the gas stove are tucked in the small space.
Nzinga said nothing was on in the kitchen, but somehow the pilot light on the stove flared, sending enough of a spark to set Koran's head ablaze.
"One minute I was twisting the gasoline out of his locks and the next minute my baby was on fire," said Nzinga, a single mother who has seven children ages 12 to 26.
Nzinga said she couldn't move quick enough. "If I could have remembered what to do quicker maybe he wouldn't have been burned so bad," she said, tears streaming down her face.
Water wasn't working to douse the flames so Nzinga grabbed a towel that was on the nearby washing machine and wrapped his head in it. "I brought him to my (chest) and smothered the fire out," she said.
From that moment forward Koran's life was forever altered, family and friends said. He was burned over 23 percent of his body and spent two weeks at Doctor's Hospital in Pinole and two months at Shriner's Hospital For Children in Sacramento. He underwent eight surgeries, including many skin grafts.
His right hand, which sustained fourth-degree burns, was so badly damaged doctors had to amputate all his fingers.
Nzinga, with third-degree burns to her left hand and second-degree burns to her right hand, was also admitted to Doctor's Hospital, she said. Her hand is still badly discolored and she has some pain.
Looking back, Nzinga said her boy was amazingly strong from the minute the accident happened.
"He said, 'We are going to be OK, Mama,'" she recalled. "I think he was possibly in shock too, but there are two ways to deal with extreme trauma -- fight or flight. You can either stay coherent and fight on your own behalf or you can become hysterical."
The past three months have undoubtedly been the most difficult in Koran's short life, his mother and brother said. The home-schooled teenager went from a star on the basketball court who had interests in photography, drama, poetry and hip-hop music to a boy who sometimes needs his younger brother's help to get dressed.
"He's just angry right now because some of the stuff he could do before he can't do anymore," said brother Stanley Hunt, 12.
Adds Koran: "I was very good at basketball. ... I'm not sure I'll be able to play basketball again."
Still, Nzinga said doctors are pleased with his progress.
"They said he's doing amazingly well ... he's going to have to have a lot more surgery," she said.
His care is time consuming and has often kept Nzinga from her job as an artist-in-residence at the Prescott Joseph Center for Community Enhancement in West Oakland.
In addition to his medications and the twice-daily dressing changes, Koran must wear a plastic face mask for protection and pressure garments for healing. He is required to go to Shriners once a month and visits his own pediatrician at least twice a month.
Nzinga, a community activist, artist and poet, has been working toward a doctorate degree in transformative education and change to better her life. She said she is doing her best to make ends meet, but sometimes it's tough.
Thanks to contacts with Camp Winnarainbow, Wavy Gravy's Berkeley-based performance arts camp, friends will hold a benefit Sunday night to raise money for the family. Koran has attended the camp since he was 7.
The benefit begins at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. Organizers are asking for a $10 to $20 donation to see many performers. On stage will be Wavy Gravy, the Original Action Pack improv comedy troupe; Rashidi Omari of Company of Prophets; Silver; Rudi Mwongozi: the Sounds of New Afrika; B.U.D. Hi Beats; M.A.C. with Commander Rude Dog; Wadi God; JT the Bigga Figga; Human Earthquake Marvin X; Citizen Payne; Congo Square 2 Drum Circle; Paradise; Gabriella; Mechell La Chaux; the Blue Jazz Diva, Wordslanger; Kemrex on the turntables and others.
"I've never done something like this before," said organizer Zappo Dickinson, who stayed at Koran's bedside when Nzinga couldn't be there. "I'm just hoping for it to be successful and a fun-filled night."
Nzinga is nearly speechless when she counts the people who have come to her aid.
"When as many people come to your rescue as came to mine, you know someone is listening," she said.
But she said she is also grateful for the lessons that she and Koran have learned through the tragedy.
"We learned not to use (gasoline) in a closed space," she said. "And we truly know the essence of an accident. It's something you didn't think out because if you did, you wouldn't have done it."
Maybe most importantly, she and Koran have learned acceptance, she said.
"We have learned the ability to accept what the universe gives you and to fight really hard for that to be enough."
There were days though ... :)
Our nearest liberty town was Olongapo, right outside the main gate at Subic. That was a town that gave true meaning to the phrase "Anything Goes"...
Between the "Mystery Meat" sold on the street and the bar fines, I can attest to that.
And is done outside not inside the house. For one thing it would stink up the house terribly. For another, well, there is the "boom!" factor.
People who have lived around open flames, like kerosene heaters and lanterns, candles, open cooking fires and so forth tend be aware of the flammable properties of these fluids which means she is very likely from the USA where everything is electric.
Bottom line (admittedly, pure speculation on my part) - she's on public assistance and the taxpayers are funding all the medical care she and Koran required, due to their monumental display of stupidity and her unwillingness to find a real job.
Of course not.
How's he gonna hold a pair of scissors without any fingers?
{Foghorn Leghorn Voice}..
I say, that Nzinga is about as sharp as a bowling ball... {/Foghorn Leghorn Voice}
"We discussed cutting his hair," said Nzinga. "He was in tears, I was in tears.
I'd bet the burns have brought about far more tears than the thought of losing his bug infested locks.
Then the conversation turned to how gasoline and kerosene are used to clean the hair and kill head lice in some cultures where dreads are more common, his mother, Ayodele Nzinga, said.
In the end, medical staff told Koran to get a haircut so over-the-counter treatments could readily attack the lice.
So, in other words, 3rd world practices won out over prudent medical advice. Sad thing is, I'm sure Nzinga will somehow start drawing sort of tax payer supported aid for her son who is disfigured due to her utter and total f'ing stupidity.
I know that *I* would continue to homeschool my children if I became a single parent. I would do what I had to to make it happen.
And yes, HSLDA is a great organization. I agree!
Yeah, my first thought. This can't be for real.
Especially the part about, "somehow the pilot light on the stove flared, sending enough of a spark to set Koran's head ablaze." Sure.
I guess all of us do stupid things occasionally, but the total lack of basic knowledge (considering this is someone who is supposedly involved in studying and learning - why not do a bit of research and questioning before acting with regard to something that could potentially do this much harm?!!), not to mention common sense, in this story is totally sad. Poor kid.
Plus, of course, a Morons Abound Day.
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