Adnan M. Hemedi was born a bouncing 7 1bs. 4 oz. boy in one of the urban clinics located in Center City, Nairobi, Kenya on January 8, 1986. Like any normal child, he grew up in the wealth of love afforded him by his parents and relatives, and in the splendor of fun from his friends. He reached his normal milestones as any child. He attended Visa Oshwal Nursery School (the American equivalent of Kindergarten). He grew up expressing his dreams to his teachers and parents, and confiding in most of them, especially his mother - to whom he is still profoundly close. One day he wanted to be a pilot, the next a doctor, a spiritual minister, or he simply wanted to be forever young and play with his childhood friends! Because of his wonderful personality, he became a darling of many at school and wherever he went.

In 1992, when Adnan was six years of age, while attending his grandfather's funeral he accidentally fell head first onto a concrete pavement. That is when most of his hopes and dreams came crashing down! He was taken to the emergency room, but no accurate diagnosis was done as to the full extent of his injuries. He was given painkillers and his parents were advised to watch and monitor him closely.

After four days, Adnan was said to have developed very septic tonsillitis or simply “an acute sore throat” and was given some antibiotics. His condition escalated. He had a very high fever, and he could not swallow a thing. He became severely dehydrated and soon started having convulsions. He was hospitalized at that point. After receiving some medication, he began to show signs of improvement. This improvement was short lived. Adnan soon became quadriplegic (lost all use of both his arms and his legs). All he had was just a stare. He could not move his limbs nor say a word, let alone call “Mama,” which he was so used to calling every now and then. He lost his speech as well as his swallowing reflexes completely. To date he lives without either.

In 1994, with the help of passive physiotherapy, Adnan rejoined his friends and teachers at Visa Oshwal School. This reunion was however without much fun. He couldn't play nor learn a thing. His friends and teachers tried to urge him to play games and act in all sorts of funfair that punctuated his earlier life, but to no avail. Those were surely moments of great frustration for him, his family, and colleagues. In the same year, Adnan started experiencing seizures and was removed from school altogether.

In 1999, Adnan became totally dependent. His parents started providing him with all his mobility needs. They have ever since carried him on their shoulders from point A to B, and beyond --­until he arrived in the USA and were able to afford him a used wheelchair.

In 2002, Adnan was invited to the United States from Kenya for medical evaluation and recommendations.  He left his father and brothers behind in Kenya and set off on his journey to the US with his mother.  He and his mother have been reliant on the kindness and generosity of many since he left Kenya:

• Adnan’s plane ticket was donated by British Airways
• Both Adnan and his Mother, Aida, were originally accommodated by Mr. &. Mrs. Rudolph Ali - a couple in their 70's - whose names the Hemedi’s picked up from a local phone directory
• To enable them to get Adnan’s daily medications, the Hemedi’s get help from the Ali’s as well as from other occasional religious callers and well-wishers familiar to their position of hardship.
• He has received services from AI duPont Children’s Hospital, until he turned 18, then from the Christiana Care Health Systems in Wilmington, Delaware.
• A wheelchair (fitted to meet his needs) has been donated to him through the joint efforts of his school district, Delaware Health and Social Services and Easter Seals
• Many local Speech, Physical and Occupational therapist have donated time for assessment and recommendations
• On March 27th, 2006 he was awarded a SpringBoard Plus communication device from the Prentke Romich Company as part of their “40 for 40” celebration.