Stephen Joseph

I want to introduce you to a beautiful little man I met in October. This fella is on my heart and mind with a ferocity I rarely feel. His past is mostly unknown, but we hope his future will be bright.

Stephen Joseph is a small boy whom we are estimating to be around 18 - 24 months old. We have to guess at this as we don't know when he was born or to whom. Vanessa, Karen and I found this small guy at in the abandoned children's ward at the city hospital in Port au Prince. We were touring a number of hospitals that day and I asked Karen about visiting this sad place. When we arrived it was quite loud and raucous. Most of the children in this ward are older, disabled in some manner and have lived there for quite a while. Others are extremely sick and not long for this world.

This little man was the exception to that rule. We believe all children deserve loving homes where they will be loved and cared for and this ward is certainly no substitute for that. The nurses are warm and caring, but their circumstances are limited. Many of this children will live their entire, short lives in this ward, others will be moved on to government orphanages. Stephen seemed out of place to me and I asked about his condition. We were told that he had been there for almost a year and was a good baby. Noticing us hanging around his crib, Stephen quickly warmed to our attention and smiled while I played with him. He quickly had us ohing and aahing at him, tickling his toes, talking silly baby talk to him and asking the docs with us to check him out thoroughly. It was obvious that Stephen was suffering from some degree of hydrocephaly. It doesn't appear to have yet affected his development which was actually quite good considering his lack of stimulation. He tracked us as we moved around, vocalized to call us back to him and fussed loudly when we shared food with a few of the older children in nearby beds. The doctors said his examination was good and besides needing a scan so we can determine the cause of his condition, Stephen is in good health.

(Photo above is of the outside play area for children in this ward.)

We told the nurses in the ward that we would be back for him and they just shrugged, telling us many people had promised to help him in the past and no one ever kept that promise. I was determined that we would not fall into the category. God always has a way of reminding me when I make such a promise and Stephen has been firmly enscounced in my heart ever since. Thankfully, with our new program to help children with hydrocephaly, Stephen will now have an opportunity to have a future.

Vanessa returned to Haiti in December and went to work getting him moved from the abandoned ward to a wonderful house that cares for children with disabilities. Although technically Stephen does not appear to have any long-term disability at this time, we were simply looking for someone to care for him until we can get him to the US. When she left for Haiti, I pleaded with her to get him out of that hospital and promised to find the necessary funding for him. The next step is to get his scan and paperwork completed so that we can get him his medical visa. The long term goal is to find a family that wants to make this beautiful boy part of their forever family!!

Please keep Stephen Joseph and all the other children in our program in your prayers as we start the New Year.

Philly Folks...Here's your chance to help an Angel!

(Me with host daughter, Anna Noah; Jan 2006)

We have settled on a surgery schedule for our many children with hydrocephaly. Thanks to the generosity of two hospitals and an incredible surgeon, we hope to have over 20 children (under the age of 2 years) receive care in the next 12 months. With both hospitals being in the Philadelphia area, we will need quite a few host families from that area. The children will be in the US for 3 - 4 months and then will return to their anxious families in Haiti. Host families provide all daily care for the babies and take care of these little ones as though they were their own. I won't mislead you all... it is alot of work at times. These little ones are sick, but the good news is they are here to get the care they need to get better! They are the fortunate few. The hospital and doctors provide all care free of charge and the host family needs to provide all the love and care while the baby is struggling through trauma of surgery. Your blessing comes when this sweet baby finally looks at you and knows that you are the one she can trust to care for her while she is here. When you see her smile and reach for you, you know she feels safe and loved. That is what we hope for her during her stay here in the US.

What an incredible opportunity to show God's love to a small angel and an anxious mother so far from her child. Throughout the child's stay, we ask the host family to provide us with updates and photos so that we can share them with the family in Haiti. You will be able to send some photos or momentos back with the child to her family in Haiti. We know from past experience, that the families are unable to find the words to express the gratitude they feel for the family who took such wonderful care of their baby.

Okay, I didn't mean to sound all sappy. But truly, it is an incredibly rewarding experience. I didn't say easy...I said rewarding. We look at our host families as missionaries. Not everyone can go overseas or to disaster zones. Not everyone is able to run over to help at a soup kitchen or a food bank. It is important to find a way to serve God that matches your talents and your interests. This is another opportunity that may be right for some families. One perk I always found when we host is that it is a mission for my entire family. We talk about it and discuss the pros and cons each time before deciding. Even my little guys see this as a way they are helping someone who has less than they have. We talk alot about our family being "blessed to be a blessing." While they miss their friends when they return to Haiti, each little one has left us with memories that remind us of why God asks us to reach out and help others.

Anyway, if you are interested, please let me know. I'm responsible for coordinating host families and I have the application in a digital format so I can just email it to you!

Sweet Brenda

I'm excited to report that the first little patient in our hydrocephaly program is going to be flying next week with Vanessa into Philadelphia. Little Brenda is a 9 month old baby girl whose parents have been trying since she was born to get her care. Her eyesight is now gone from the pressure of the fluid on her brain. The doctor at duPont Hospital for Children are optimistic that she will do well with the surgery. Brenda will be staying with a wonderful family that has an adopted child from Haiti. Both Vanessa and I have met them while in Haiti and we are thrilled that they want to host Brenda!

Please consider helping one of these little ones by hosting a child or giving a donation to get them here for their surgeries. We need to raise enough money this year to bring over 20 children here for the hydrocephaly program, in addtion to the other children who come to us with different medical conditions. Each child costs our organization around $2000 to pay for tests in Haiti, paperwork, passports, visas and airfare. If you would like to help us in some way or if your church would be interested in a presentation about our program, please give us a shout!

We'd love to come and talk to you all.

Season's Greetings from My Crew

As editor of the blog, I thought it might be okay to put a little personal note on here for you all. I wanted to share our family Christmas card with you all to wish you a Happy Holiday. This card is a bit different as it isn't on paper. Instead, we started a tradition a few years ago of putting together a DVD of our year in pictures. With many family members spread out across the country, we thought the old adage, "a picture says a thousand words" would hold true. So, I thought I would share our video with you all.

You will notice that there are many photos of Chedner in the video. After a year, he is one of the gang. Ched really enjoys the other boys and is spoiled rotten by everyone in the family. My daughters are Kelly (20 yr, 3rd year at University of Virginia), Michelle (19 yr. freshman at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, DC) and Caitlin (16 yr. at high school junior). My rambuctious sons are Gabe (13 yr. with Down Syndrome from Venezuela), Ethan (8.5 yrs from US), Pierre (6 yrs from Haiti) and Ched (20 months from Haiti). My husband Jay is an incredible man and leader of this rowdy crew. We are a beach-loving group and there are many shots from our vacation last summer at Myrtle Beach, SC. The scenes from Arlington Cemetery that you will see are from the funeral for Jay's dad this past summer. Our beloved Pa passed away only days before Michelle graduated from high school. He was an inspiration to all of us and was sadly missed at the celebration. The service we held at Arlington was the most moving I have ever been to in my life. As a West Point grad (as is Jay) and a career military man, Pa lived his life by a code that directed his life as one of graciousness, generosity, faith and service.

Well, that's all the basics so you at least know who is in the video. My family is so supportive of my work with Angel Missions and I appreciate all their love and help throughout the year. Jay and I are committed to not just making a difference in whatever small way we can, but to teaching our kids that, contrary to many messages in popular culture, it isn't all about us. God didn't put us here to collect the most toys. He put us here to help others and to make this world a better place for everyone, not just ourselves. As I watch my older girls as adults, I think I can say that we are succeeding, at least to some small degree. Anyway, we hope you enjoy all the funny photos and sweet faces. Oh, got to give credit where it is due...the awesome song is "How You Live" by Point of Grace. One of my favorites from this year.

From our family to yours, we are wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Christmas Blessings

Angel Missions' New Clinic in PAP....next door to

St. Joseph's Home for Boys.

Vanessa and I have been overwhelmed by the blessings that Angel Missions Haiti has received in the last few weeks. When we were in Haiti in October, we were once again staggered by the many needs of so many families. Sometimes it is hard to know which direction to turn, but we are learning to listen to God and not ourselves and He has pointed the way for now. One need that was obvious was a small space to call our own so that the many families that are trying to contact us would know where to go. We have been dreaming of starting a small clinic in PAP that we could use for medical missions and as a center for our operations in Haiti. As always money is an issue and we were hesitant to commit to anything to quickly. However, when we also decided that we wanted to provide Bernard and his family with a safe home, the idea really took off. To maximize our resources, we have combined the two wishes and found a place to meet thost needs! When we hesitated due to lack of funds, God quickly provided a temporary means to secure the building. Then a wonderful couple came forward and helped us to make the clinic a reality for the next two years. We have been able to sign a two-year lease and begin some basic repairs. Later that day, we were contacted by an anonymous donor who is going to provide both a generator and an inverter for the building. This will provide our clinic with a steady supply of electricity! We are in awe of our good fortune and thank everyone for their support.

Bernard and Suzie are very excited to have a new home and Berny is excited to have a room of his own to sleep in. Speaking of Berny, he was so thrilled to be back with his mom & dad. He started doing a little happy dance as soon as he saw his mom at the airport, showing off all of his newly learned skills. What an amazing sight for these parents who didn't know if he would survive the Guillan-Barre when he left Haiti with Vanessa last summer. Now to have him back, running, jumping and standing on one foot to show his superman skills! They want us to say thank you again to all who helped their little man get back on his feet.

Of course, when you have a clinic, you need some basic medical items to supply it. We are being shown that when you are on the right path, God will show you the way and give you what you need. Two very generous hospitals here in Virginia have donated a large shipment of durable medical equipment, including exam tables, chairs, desks, filing cabinets, exam lights, a wheelchair, baby scales, freezers & a refridgerator, x-ray light boxes, and many other items. In addition, we have been given not one, but two ultrasound machines! It is just incredible. With our cup overflowing, we will share many of these items with other organizations in Haiti that are in need of these supplies.

Merry Christmas from Ched!

Quick update on my man, Ched!

He is doing really well right now. We have watched him really make progress since his colostomy in July. Ched is now gaining weight and developing well. He has actually caught up in all areas, except speech which is slowly coming along. While we are currently treating a bacterial infection in his gastro system, Chedner is actually eating, drinking and sleeping better than he has since coming to live with us a year ago. It is so hard for us to believe that he has been with us an entire year already! Wow, time with him has just flown by. Chedner is no longer a little baby, but now a full-fledged toddler. He is a joy to watch as he explores, plays and basically enjoys life to its fullest.

Although we'd like to just rest on our laurels, that is not Ched's path. In January, Chedner and I will travel to Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, MD for his next surgery. It will be a 6 - 8 week stay in Baltimore, but we feel it is the best decision for his future. Since summer, I have mentioned to many people that I did not have a sense of peace about Chedner's next surgery. It is so huge and there are many future issues riding on it's success. Because I was so uncomfortable with our tentative plan, I decided to ask the exstrophy clinic at JH for a second opinion. I like and trust the doctor's at UVa and they have helped us so much this last six months; however, there were a few questions that we needed clarification on before moving forward. Our appointment there in October went really well and after leaving, Jay and I decided that we wanted the doctor at this clinic to do the surgery. So in January, Chedner will have the surgery to have his bladder placed deep inside his abdomen and will have his abdominal wall reinforced. He will continue to leak out of two urethras for quite a while still as he will need more reconstruction by the time he is four or five to help with continence. At this point, we do not know if he will be able to be continent, but there are some hopeful signs. A test they will run prior to January's surgery should also give us more answers to this question.

The other half of the surgery is to reshape his pelvis. They will break it in four places and pull it together in the front to reinforce the abdomen and bladder repair. This will also pull his hips & legs forward so that they will no longer be externally rotated. To keep the bones in place until the heal, Ched will have a halo traction devise on him for at least 6 weeks to give the bones time to fuse. I have to admit that it is hard to watch him happily running, climbing and wrestling and to know that soon he will be immobilized for all those weeks. Ched has worked really hard to figure out how to run and play with his pelvis as it is, but he will be more stable after the fix. The docs said once we are released, it will take another 2 months or so for him to figure out how to do all those fun, physical activities again. We think with his brothers' help he will be moving sooner than that!

Our plan is to enjoy the holidays and to give our worries to God. It is hard to think of him having to undergo yet another surgery, but we know he must. We feel blessed to be the family to care for Chedner and are beginning to see where his future may be heading. God surely loves this little boy and His plan is always perfect. We'll keep the blog updated on Chedner's progress. Thanks for all of your prayers and support for this special guy!

The Best Christmas Present

I heard from Vanessa today that we have been given an incredible gift. A doctor named from Philadelphia has been talking with us about providing surgery for a number of Haitian children with Hydrocephalus (excess water on the brain). He is an accomplished neurosurgeon who has actually worked in various parts of the world and has pioneered a shunt-less technique to provide relief for children in developing countries. This doctor is interested in working with AMH and now has two hospitals, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, that have agreed to provide free care for these children. With this assistance, we hope to be able to provide much needed medical care for up to 20 Haitian children suffering from hydrocephaly! This is just awesome and we have prayed for such a hero. We are so excited to be working with him!

From our trips to Haiti this year, we have already identified a number of children who need this surgery. In fact, we saw no less than six children just in October with various stages of this condition. The worst case we saw was a little girl with a head circumference of almost 38 inches. The amazing thing was that this little one was alert and very interested in her surroundings. She tracked our movements and listened as we talked with her mother. She ever turned her own body & head over to get her mother's attention at one point.

There are many children in Haiti and a number of medical missions have been trying to help. We pray that we are able to raise the funds to bring these children to the US this year for this life-saving surgery. We know that it is in God's hands and it is through his providence that we have the opportunity to partner with so many incredible medical professionals and institutions. Please consider helping our mission in some way. Host families will be needed in Philadelphia and Wilmington. We will need to raise quite a bit of money to pay for the necessary expenses involved in getting each child a visa and for all the travel expenses as well.

Achemine (Mia) had her surgery last Spring in Roanoke, Virginia. She is doing wonderfully now. Mia is happy, alert and developing in all areas. Her father and mother are so thankful to have her back home.Time is ticking by quickly for some of these children and they don't have the luxury of waiting long. duPont Hospital for Children and the doctors are ready to get moving and so are we! As always, prayers are needed and much appreciated!

Happy Holidays,

Fran

Home for Christmas

We are so happy to let everyone know that two of our little ones will be going home in time to spend Christmas with their families! Anna Noah and Berny will both be traveling with Vanessa on Sunday to Haiti. You may remember that Berny has been here since the summertime when he mysteriously came down with Guillan-Barre Syndrome. We were so worried that we wouldn't get him another visa to return to the US before the virus stopped his breathing. Fortunately, Vanessa and some quick working doctors arranged for his care in Roanoke, Virginia and he traveled back with Vanessa within a few days. He immediately went into the PICU and stayed there for some time. As they had never seen this virus stike someone so young, they weren't sure the prognosis for Berny. Thankfully, the progression of the disease stopped short of compromising his breathing, but little Berny did have to learn to use his arms and his legs all over again. He has worked hard this fall and now considers himself Superman (see his pose below)! So do we, Berny!! He has some further rehabiliation to go, but all concerned, including the docs, consider him a medical miracle. A big thanks to everyone who has helped get this little man back on his feet and on his way home to his Papa Bernard and Mama Suzie!

Anna Noah has been here in the US several times now and this was a short trip to get her mouth piece repaired. She has had both her cleft lip and palette repaired, but unfortunately, the doctors have not been able to close the hole in the roof of her mouth completely. A wonderful doctor who Anna calls Dr. Olivia in SC made a small, removable guard that covers the hole making it easier for Anna Noah to talk and safer for her to eat & drink. With new mouth guard in hand, Anna is now ready to return to Haiti and meet her brand new little brother who was born while she has here! Her family will be so happy to have her back in time for the holiday.

Please keep Vanessa and the children in mind while they are traveling to Haiti next week. We have other exciting news to share soon about our mission to start at least one, possibly two medical clinics for our children and their families in Haiti. When we get all the details together, I'll be sure to share more!

Blessings,

Fran

Puppies for Christmas!

Well, Vanessa and her sister have a whole bunch of beautiful, sweet puppies that they are selling once again to raise money for Angel Missions. These little ones are just adorable and they are all purebred Maltese. They are ready to go or Vanessa is willing to hold on to any puppy (that has been paid for) until Christmas if that is what you need. Please take a look at these sweet faces and consider giving someone you love a wonderful companion & friend for Christmas!

Meet the Little Girls!

Angel; born 9/16/07

Bell has a new home!

Faith; born 8/9/07

Noel; born 9/16/07

Hope; born 8/9/07

Snow has a new home!

Grace has a new home!
Meet the Little Boys!

St. Nick; 8/9/07

Snowball; born 9/16/07

The cost for the females is $1,000 and males $800 with all profits going to fund medical care for the children in our mission. All puppies come with a health guarantee and are kennel & paper trained. They have their first shots, are vet checked and have papers. Mother 7 to 8 pounds. Father -5- 6 pounds. All are purebred maltese. She will keep any puppy till Christmas that is paid in full. Puppies reside in Ohio and Virginia. Delivery can be arranged.

their Journey begins....

When Vanessa, and team members Ben and Theresa flew back on October 13th, they had some adorable company. Three little Haitians joined them on the trip and are here now to get their much needed medical care. The oldest is Anna Noah.

This is Anna's third trip here to the states and she will be getting her palate appliance repaired. She has had three surgeries for her cleft lip and palate and a hole remains in her palate. The doctor just didn't have enough structure to work with in order to close it completely. Anna now wears a guard to cover the hole, similiar to retainer that our teens wear after having braces. This device protects against her inhaling foods while eating and hopefully also helps prevent infection. It has also enabled Anna to develop understandable speech and she definitely doesn't have trouble making herself understood! Unfortunately, the appliance broke some time ago. Her stay here should be short this time and she will soon be on her way back to her family.

Emerson is almost two and will be going to Indiana for his surgery. Poor little Emerson was born with a severe case of cleft that extends all the way up into his eye socket. His parents have taken such good care of this little man and they are so excited to see his sweet face once the surgery in completed. He is a sweet boy who loves music and loves to dance. We are praying there are many bright days ahead for Emerson.

Nessa is a baby I met back in April. Her young mom had brought her to us and was asking for help with her little girl's club feet. This mom had diligently taken Nessa to a doctor in PAP since she was born for her to have casts put on her feet every few weeks. At seven months, it was clear the casts had not helped her. I contacted Tami Shobe with Children's Medical Missions to ask for help. This wonderful woman has a number of doctors that are able to help with this condition. We had to wait till this fall to help little Nessa, but we are all so excited that she is here and is on her way to Ohio for surgery. Nessa is adorable and so personable. She just turned one year old and is babbling and smiling at everyone. Her parents are anxious to have her back with them, but are so thankful that she is getting the opportunity to have her feet corrected. In Haiti, there are few options for children and adults with orthopedic disabilities. This surgery will make an immeasurable difference in Nessa's and her families lives!

We can't say thank you enough to all who help make these childrens lives better. Without you our mission would not be a success!

Photos from our Trip

Doctor Ben helping remove a bone fragment from this young fella's arm. This kid was so brave and didn't move a bit throughout the 45 minute procedure. Most impressive!

This adorable boy is Mish. He is 11 yrs old and has brittle bone disease. He is so charming and so engaging. Mish has broken so many bones, the doctors were amazed that he is walking at all. He does need surgery to correct some of the bones that haven't healed properly.

This little girl iss quite amazing. Her head measured 38 inches around and she was still able to move around and watch us as we talked with her mother. She was alert and has good neurological responses. She desperately needs surgery to remove the fluid. At this point, she is waiting for us to find a doctor and hospital that will give her care.

We saw a good number of children during our travels and had the opportunity to see a few medical facilities that provide good care in Port au Prince. The most extraordinary was the hospital started by friends and partners, Father Rick Frechette and Conan Conaboy. This is a wonderful example of what medical care for the Haitian community could be if excellence was the goal. Our group was so thankful for being able to tour their hospital and to hear about all they are working towards to serve the poor children in Haiti's capital. The Hospital is Hopital Saint Damien and is located near the airport in Port au Prince.

As we were touring some of the other hospitals, one thought that went through my mind a few times during our travels is that parents in this country must live in fear that their children will get sick. It isn't like here in the states where if our child gets the sniffles and a fever, we can decide to run to the closest doctor or emergency care facility. First of all, in many Haitian hospitals, you must have all funds needed to pay for the doctor, the facility, the medications and the supplies that your child needs. If you cannot pay up front, then you don't get care. If you can afford to pay, then you must take your chance that you will get good care and good medicines. There is no form of Medicaid to cover care for poor children and hospitals and doctors are allowed to turn you away if they desire. Hopefully, your child won't get sick on a weekend or at night...there is little to no emergency care service. If you child is sick enough to warrent a hospital stay and you can afford to pay, you must stay and provide all the daily care your child needs, including food while the child is there. This is especially true at night as we were told by a Haitian doctor that many nurses sleep through the night. He told us many deaths occur during this time. The fortunate families are those that are able to find help from any number of volunteer medical teams that travel to Haiti or at a hospital like Hopital Saint Damien. However, the ratio of the care available to the number of sick children is staggering. Often there just isn't any help and parents are forced to sit by helpless and heartbroken as their children die. And this happens at an alarming rate in a country just 700 miles from our shore. Sometimes I have to admit that it is just overwhelming to look around and see that much despair and not have the means to effect a significant change. I am so thankful for the many individuals who fight this battle daily and have given their time, energy and faith to these families. I am thankful for anyone who is willing to step outside of their daily lives for even a short time to try and make a difference for a small child from Haiti. Without their efforts, none of the work would ever be done.

The Miracle Boy

I know there are miracles in many small things each and every day. We simply have to open our eyes and look for them! However, some times you are struck by something so huge, you just have to shout, "This is a miracle!" That is what happened one evening during my recent trip to Haiti. I walked into the courtyard after dinner one night and there he sat. The little boy who I thought for sure was going to die when he stopped breathing on our plane flight from Miami to Washington, DC. There stood a sweet, smiling Angelo! As you might expect, tears were pouring as I went to hug him. He looks amazing and is once again the sweet talking, happy boy that I met that first morning in PAP before he and I left for the US. For anyone who doesn't know the story about what happened to Angelo, you can look at the posts from April for the full blog. A quick summary is that Angelo had a large brain tumor that took up over half of his brain stem. He was struggling with excessive fluid on his brain as a result of this tumor and had lost his ability to see from either eye. He had terrible headaches and was very unsteady, eventually losing his ability to walk. The plane flights for Angelo were torturous. The pressure changes caused problems with the fluid and on our second flight he was unconscious and not breathing well. We had to make an emergency landing in Charleston, SC where some wonderful doctors, nurses and church friends did everything possible to help us during our stay there. Angelo needed a vent and the docs put him in the PICU and relieved the excess pressure. Once he was stable, the transported Angelo to Toledo, OH where Children's Medical Misions had arranged for him to undergo surgery for the tumor. Angleo's first miracle was that his tumor was not malignant.
However, he struggled terribly after the surgery. He was unable to see, he was suffering from Cerebella Mutism and could not speak, developed pneumonia and was even unable at one point to swallow his own saliva. He was having so much trouble there was even a discussion as to whether the radiation he needed would make him worse not better. However, God gave Angelo a second miracle...his mother was able to travel to OH to be with him. For this sweet, momma's-boy, that made all the difference. He left the hospital with his mother and his aunt and had radiation therapy to shrink what was left of the tumor. In August, the family returned to Haiti and Angelo continued to improve. When I saw him last week, he excitedly told us that he was going to school now and was also playing soccer. His mother was so happy and thankful that he is doing so well.

I took a video of Angelo talking with my friend Karen. He has such a sweet, quiet voice that it is difficult to hear, but it is easy to see how happy and full of life our miracle boy is these days!

Should Have Paid More Attention in French Class!

I'm in Haiti trying to use blogger in French...why oh why didn't I pay more attention in my college French classes! I am bungling along a bit but I think it will work.
The trip is going well and we are busy visiting hospitals, orphanages and clinics. There are two doctors and a nurse along with us and they are most interested in the state of medical care here in Haiti. One of the doctors; however, is Haitian and knows first hand how bad things are for the Haitians who need even simply medical care. He was trained here at the University Hospital (government run) and now is in the states learning all he can to bring back here and help. I will try and post some pictures later.
On Monday we will travel to Jeremie (Dr. Fortune's home town) and to Pestel to see another hospital. In Pestel, we will meet a friend who lives here in the mountains. Neither Vanessa nor I have been to these parts of Haiti, so it should be an interesting adventure.

Well, just lost electricity so I'll have to finish later!

Prayer Request for Mission Team

We'd like to ask everyone for prayers for Vanessa and the mission team she is escorting to Haiti. They arrived yesterday afternoon and things seem to be going well thus far. They have a number of tasks to accomplish this week and we are praying for good weather and many blessings for their work.

We also have two little ones with club feet that we are hoping to get all the paperwork together and care lined up soon. Please keep these two babies and their families in your prayers.

Hope everyone's weekend is fun! Thanks for reading!

New Photos of Mia

I just received some new photos of little Mia from her family in Haiti. She looks so good! This was one sick little girl before she came here to the Roanoke Valley and the doctors gave her a shunt. Mia struggled for a while after the surgery, but is doing so great now! Her father and mother are very devoted parents and are thrilled to have their little girl home and healthy. Thank you again to everyone who helped make this possible for Mia and her family.

An Update on Ruthlande

I had promised an update on Ruthlande as soon as I got information and pictures. Happy to say that Sarah emailed us and told us that Ruthlande is doing wonderfully. She and her family visited with Sarah just last week and her mom is so happy & thankful that Ruthlande is doing so well. She looks wonderful in the pictures! Many thanks to all who helped with Ruthlande's care while she was in the states. It is awesome to see so many people coming together to help a little one.