Grandfather travels 8,000 miles to be present at his grandson's high school graduation, only to disappear the day after.
**Mystery Surrounds the Disappearance of 72-Year-Old Reuben Waithaka**
Reuben Waithaka, a 72-year-old man from Kenya, made a long journey of 8,200 miles to attend his grandson's high school graduation in Alabama. However, his trip was marred by an unexpected incident at Atlanta airport, where he fell and hurt his knee on an escalator.
Tragically, Waithaka disappeared the very next morning, and since then, there has been no sign of him. His wife, Elizabeth Barua, returned to Kenya on June 20, leaving behind a void that has not been filled. Seven weeks have passed, and the search for Waithaka continues.
Waithaka is described as a 5-foot-5, 160-pound man. His son, Willington Barua, wonders whether his father may have been experiencing "sundowning," a symptom affecting people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Sundowning is characterised by increased confusion during late afternoon and evening hours, which could potentially explain Waithaka's disappearance.
The family of Reuben Waithaka made public appeals on local television, asking people not to give him rides, fearing it could take him further from home. Calera detectives have been working tirelessly, searching abandoned buildings, regularly checking databases of homeless shelters, hospitals, and immigration officials for any sign of Waithaka.
The Kenyan phone of Reuben Waithaka was last active in Frankfurt, potentially indicating it was in airplane mode. Waithaka seemed restless on his trip to the United States and became incoherent and agitated on the flight to Atlanta. His grandson, Byron Barua, graduated without him present, a poignant reminder of the uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts.
On June 3, Waithaka's 73rd birthday, a party was planned for him on Father's Day. Instead, the family is left hoping and praying for his safe return. Barua's son owns a trucking company and has been posting flyers about his father's disappearance at rest areas and truck stops.
If you encounter someone wandering who may have dementia, it is important to approach calmly, try to identify them, and contact local authorities promptly to ensure their safety. Dementia-related wandering, a common symptom in people with cognitive disorders, can make individuals vulnerable to becoming lost or endangered. This is why law enforcement issued a Missing and Endangered Person Alert and the community actively supports the search.
The community's support has been vital in keeping hope alive for the family of Reuben Waithaka. Every time Barua's phone rings, he picks up with anticipation and fear, hoping it will bring answers about his father's whereabouts. The search for Waithaka continues, and the community's vigilance remains crucial in the quest to find him.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, the family of Reuben Waithaka is concerned about the possibility of his dementia, specifically 'sundowning' symptoms, which may have contributed to his disappearance.
- As the search for Reuben Waithaka continues in the general-news, it's crucial for the community to remain vigilant, particularly in regards to individuals with cognitive disorders like dementia, to ensure their safety and Well-being.
