Four years ago today my dear friend Kellie Lartigue-Ndiaye died in a tragic and untimely car accident while traveling through Mali, Africa. Her love for mothering and educating the world in health related issues unfortunately took her life. Kellie was special that she cared for each person she met, no matter if they were rich or poor, black or white. She had a place for everyone in her heart. I had the blessing of traveling with Kellie to Senegal, West Africa and getting to know who she really was. Yes, she was a mother of 3 terrific boys and a wife of one. She was humorous and she was very very serious about her passion for universal health. It's no surprise after graduating Rhodes college she joined the Peace Corps in Senegal.It was here her true passion for the international community developed. She quickly became fluent in French and the local Senegal language of Wolof and it was in Senegal she met her husband.During the Rwandan genocide Kellie then moved to Kigali, Rwanda where she managed the HIV counseling and medical center for couples. She organized the community outreach program as well as voluntary HIV testing.She joined the CDC in 1997 and served 5 years of HIV/AIDS prevention specialist.In 2002 she began work in Mali, Africa as a public health figure in the community. During her tenure there, Mali witnessed an increase in HIV testing and counseling center more than 50% helping the prevention of the disease tremendously. When Kellie passed she was working with the CDC on a Global Aids Assistance project. There are not enough praises I could give to my dear friend for the kind work she did for the world with her genuine healing heart and this is just a brief description of what she had accomplished in her short life. I hope to spread her inspirational story and make others aware of what is possible and know there are people in the world often unknown to many making a difference in so many lives.
http://www.jefjelproject.org/
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