My dear friend, Peninah Mugure, suffered a pulmonary embolism on January 21, 2020. Peninah and her husband (Peter) and three children (Tony, Frank and Lilian) were refugees from the Kenyan ethnic clashes of 2008. After years of hardship, poverty, and family separation, they were granted asylum in the US just a few years ago, and were thriving in their new life in Rancho Cordova, California, near Sacramento. 

Peninah had just visited Kenya for the first time since the genocide had forced them to leave family, home and livelihood ten years ago. Just as she and her daughter Lilian stepped off the plane, Peninah collapsed, unresponsive. Lilian called 911; paramedics arrived in a few minutes and transported Peninah to a nearby hospital, but she suffered several cardiac arrests and a stroke before she was admitted to the ICU.

That she survived at all is a miracle. Now almost four months later, she is finally home from the hospital, and gradually regaining the ability to see, speak, walk, and care for herself. Signs are strong that she'll continue to heal, but as you can imagine, the financial toll on the family has been devastating. 

Peninah's husband Peter is a custodian in a hospital, and has taken the full three months allowed (unpaid) under the Family Leave act. Peninah (before her embolism) was a home health caregiver. Their three children, ranging in age from 19-22, are staying home to care for Peninah so their dad can work; Lilian is in college at Sacramento State. Tony and Frank are pitching in financially as much as they can, but the COVID crisis has now shuttered jobs and the family is now in urgent need of support to keep them housed and safe, and able to care for Peninah as she recovers.

I know many of you are cash-strapped right now. But if you're in a position to help, would you consider contributing to support this dear family? 

Many of you were personally involved with helping this family reach safety in the past. You helped with household items when Peninah first brought Tony to Sacramento for specialized medical care. You helped with funds to move Frank and Lilian to safe residential school in Kenya until the family could be reunified. You celebrated with all the Mbuthia's new friends when the family was finally together again, and granted asylum. And you helped with many, many expressions of love and support (like job leads and free clinic care and graduation cards during their long road to building a new life. 

It's time to dig deep again. Please share what you can to provide for the basic needs of the Mbuthia family.