The "Joyce & Patrick" Benefit
The Benefit will be a night devoted to fundraising for Joyce Abalo & Patrick Kommakech (a caretaker since injury). The benefit will start at 7 pm on September 30th, and end shortly after 10 pm. We have scheduled performances and multimedia & verbal presentations for you to enjoy. You will have the opportunity to purchase drinks from the bar (suggested 2 drink minimum) and satisfy your taste buds with complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
About Joyce
Joyce is a 3 1/2-year-old Ugandan girl who I heard about just as I began to take pride in my response and input in the lives of nieces and nephews as well as children-based initiatives I had signed up for. So, when I heard Joyce's story, it really wasn't an option to not help. She had the most severe, brutal, overall tragic circumstances and group of afflictions I had heard of in one so young.
About two years ago, Joyce was traveling with one and a half dozen people in a vehicle when the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) ambushed them in a roadside attack; a common thing in the region of Gulu. Everyone was killed... except Joyce. Joyce crawled away but was seen and dragged back—thrown into the car's inferno. She crawled out again and was wrapped in a burning carpet but was saved when Ugandan army forces engaged the LRA and chased them away. The carpet left Joyce with burns all over her body and webbing in her scalp. In addition to this, she was found to be stricken with Tuberculosis and HIV once taken to the hospital.
Jimmie Briggs, author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War, was traveling Gulu with actor Ryan Gosling who will be shooting a film based on his book and his director of photography, Adam Kimmel, when Joyce was bought to their attention. The trio was there for a different purpose but Joyce's situation touched their hearts so they began arranging additional care for her and launched fundraising efforts. Her HIV and TB medications and initial operations were taken care of, and Jimmie administers funds donated for her care still.
Ryan, Patrick, Joyce, Jimmie, Adam
About Patrick
The 26 year old ex-combatant, Patrick, was Joyce's primary caretaker in Uganda since the beginning. This young man is a miracle in many ways. Escapees are often murdered, but Patrick took the chance to get out after ten years of exploitation and abuse in the rebel army.
Day in, day out Patrick remained by Joyce's side, keeping in contact with Jimmie (who administers funds as needed and coordinates additional operations when needed). He has recently signed up for a program for ex-combatants that will grant him the chance to obtain his GED, while remaining linked to Joyce and her care.
Above photos courtesy of Jimmie Briggs