Georgy is here...

Georgy is sleeping now. WOW... That is all I can say. I see how we have WAY TOO MUCH through his eyes. He walked in the back door and there were little shoes scattered on the floor. He looked at me with his big eyes, and you could totally read his thoughts: "You have that many kids???" He has ONE pair of shoes... He came with one very small duffel bag. WE HAVE SO MUCH COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!!!

Georgey

Hands That Heal has a new patient comming tomorrow night from Haiti. His name is Georgey. He is 11 years old and we have been told he is a very pleasant child. He will be seeing a urologist in Indy and having genetic counseling done. His care will be life altering for him and will require a very dedicated family with a lot of sensitivity to his emotional needs as we are not yet sure what all will be required to fix his specific needs until he arrives and testing can be done.
Rebekah and her family will be keeping Georgey for a few weeks until we can find a longer term family for him. More information will be available as he arrives.
If you are within 2 hours of the Indy area and are interested in hosting him or know someone that might be, or would like more information on him please contact either Rebekah or Stephanie.
Rebekah is also in need of clothing for Georgey. We are guessing size 8-10 slim boy, girl or neutral clothes are good, we are trying to build up supply of clothes for future kids too all sizes. Shoes and underwear are also a need. If you are in or near Ft.Wayne and can help with this please contact Rebekah.
Prayer for Rebekah's family and for Georgey's transition would be very appreciated. His case will be very delicate and we do not have a lot of details yet.
Thank you,
HTH

HTH in the news...

HTH got some PR today... Hopefully this will cause some more awareness of the need to help within our community. God always provides in mysterious ways!!!

Here is the video... (Hands That Heal interview)

Linda Jackson did a great job editing our 45 minute conversation. HTH was prominent and that was my hope! This ministry has nothing to do with me, but all to do with the people of Haiti needing help, and how God provides in the most miraculous ways!!!

Halloween...

Jean Widler had his first experience with Halloween. His host family could not have picked a better outfit for him. He is obviously seeing better, since he could see where the candy was 'hidden'. :-)
-------------------------------------------------
Here is a little note from his host mom, Nancy.

Cutest little bumble bee of this year!

Notice, it didn't take long for him to figure out where the loot
is...he kept trying to climb the stairs for different angles to that
wonderful bowl of goodies that he was just a bit too short to reach!
-------------------------------------------------




Jean had another eye appointment this past Friday and the doctor is having the Stanley's patch his good eye for one hour a day to start strengthening and retraining the muscle in his right eye. He does not want to do corrective surgery before he sees if the brain will retrain the muscle by itself, now that he is able to see with his glasses. By patching the good eye, his brain will be forced to work with the right eye muscle and learn to use it properly. He will go back to the eye doctor in 6 weeks to see if there was any progress made. At that time, more definite things will be decided for Jean's eye surgery. First Steps has also evaluated him and he is behind in all areas except cognition. We have always known that he was one smart cookie. He will start receiving services as soon as the therapy plan is written up.

Thank you for remembering to pray for HTH, our patients, and our AMAZING host families!

We could not do this without your support!!!

Flamanda's Doctor Appointment

Flamanda's Appointment
Flamanda had her first doctor appointment today. The doctor says from the CT done in Haiti he does not think she has much of a temporal lobe. They are going to be getting an MRI on the 5th. She had her pre-op lab work done and is doing great with her family. She is eating well and loves rocking with Papa Terry in the rocking chair. I think she is getting spoiled! They are doing a great job and their kids are loving having her with them. They say she seems very aware of what is going on around her.The doctor is going to do the procedure where a hole is drilled in the brain first to drain fluid. If in 2 days that isnt working he will place a shunt. If it seems to be working and draining fluid they will send her home to be watched for a while to make sure it continues to work. This also is dependent on what the MRI shows but that is the current plan for her.What a blessing for her to be able to receive this care.God is good!Stephanie

Photos of Flamanda

First picture of Flamanda and her mom after we got the visa, second of Flamanda in her carseat on her way to Michigan and the third is her new host mom and one of her new brothers who is also from Haiti.

Praise God Flamanda is here

Well we made it home without any problems at all. Flamanda was a great traveler and I was so blessed to have a great team with me to help carry her. Her head is very very heavy and my arms are killing me. She only cried a little on each plane. She is missing her mom and breastfeeding very much. She does take a bottle and we have found out loves baby food! Yesterday I was so tired. I drove her 4 hours up to Michigan and she decided that our saftey laws and car seats really stink. She literally cried and screamed the entire way. It was a very long drive but we made it and met up with her host family. They are very experienced and have had several children like her before. I felt so comfortable leaving her with them. They have many older children that can help too. She has her doctor appointment next wedneday for all her pre op stuff and hopefully her MRI also that day. Please continue to pray for her to adjust and her mom to adjust in Haiti to not having her there. It was very obvious how much she loves her and was emotional and hard but happy to take her from her at the airport.We are very happy to have the Swarthout family taking care of her. They will be updating us often. She called me this morning and said Flamanda slept in her crib all night and is chowing down on baby food and drinking a little better from her bottle. What a praise and blessing.

Pray for Flamanda

Please join us in praying for Flamanda. We are in need of a family in or very near Detroit. We have a doctor and hospital but need the host family. She is getting worse and her head is extremely large now. Her CT scans show that she has had or still possibly does have an infectious process in her brain. She may require a lot of care initially. I am leaving for Haiti next Tuesday and returning the 20th. We are praying for me to bring her home that day with me. If we dont find the host family soon we will be unable to get the paperwork done in time for her to get the visa.
Please pray and if anyone that reads this know of an appropriate family in or very near Detroit that might be willing to take this task on please let us know.
Thanks,
Stephanie

AFRICA...

Are you wondering why on earth I would entitle a post "AFRICA"???? Well, God has called Hands That Heal to broaden our ministry to Africa. Not something that we were looking for, quite frankly, it was a bit overwhelming at first!!! But, it was God directed, and we will follow wherever He wants our ministry to go! Our primary focus has always been Haiti, because well, I know Haiti and our Nurse Coordinator goes to Haiti every 6 months on medical mission's trips. Haiti is comfortable, familiar, close, etc...

God has spoken in a VERY CLEAR WAY, and we are just going with the flow!!! Our primary focus will still be Haiti, and probably 95% of our patients will still come from Haiti, but our advisory board has agreed to consider any patient from any country and we will go where we feel God leading. Obviously, there are sick people all over the world that need medical intervention. One small organization like us is a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things. We just feel extremely blessed to be able to be such a small part of God's plan!!!!!! This is my passion, and I know that I am in the center of God's will for my life when I am doing His work for "the least of these"!

So, do you want to meet our first patient from Africa???

Meet: Kwaku Danquah


Kwaku has a congenital condition called Crouzon Syndrome. He is not missing his arm, it is just behind his back. (Here is the brief explanation that my son's Ophthalmologist gave on Kwaku.) It is a condition where the sagittal cranial suture of the skull that is not usually fused in an infant to allow for rapid growth of the skull becomes prematurely fused. The remaining sutures are not closed so the skull continues to grow and this results in the odd shape of the head. The risk it that there could be increased pressure on the brain as well. Also, this condition is sometimes part of a hereditary syndrome called Crouzon syndrome that also includes facial abnormalities like protruding eyes (exophthalmous) and/or strabismus and jaw abnormalities.

Dr. McCabe diagnosed Kwaku from his photo and I started doing research on this particular syndrome. There was a sight that had a lot of information on it, and they had before and after photos of the kids that they treated, and they were amazing. They do not even look like the same kids!!! So, there was a contact button and I e-mailed them, not knowing "who" they were, and the next day got an e-mail stating that he was being submitted to charity care immediately.

Little did I know that I had contacted the World Craniofacial Foundation and Dr. Genecov had forwarded my e-mail on. Kwaku was being submitted to Dallas City Medical, where the conjoined Egyptian twins had been separated, and Dr. Genecov was one of the main surgeons on their case. Dr. Salyer was the leading surgeon and he has now retired. Dr. Genecov studied under him for 12 years.

I was stunned!!! I had 'accidentally' contacted the best place in the world for cranial facial reconstruction, and the best place for Kwaku to have a shot at a much more normal life.

In the last couple of years, they brought a boy here from Uganda with this same condition. I will put some links below for you to go and watch his story on You Tube. It is truly amazing!!!!!!

So, where are we at in his case??? Ghana is getting his passport. We are just waiting for Dallas City Medical to accept his case and we will get all of the letters together for his Medical Visa. God is so cool and I can't believe that we get to be a part of this!!! Please keep Kwaku in your prayers and that we would here something on Monday about his case.

Here are before and after photos of another boy from Africa that they helped. (Blogger will not let me rotate the first set of pre-op pics. It is not this way in its original form.)




AMAZING TRANSFORMATION, RIGHT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDY20BwDisU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoTMdRInf4Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGLTm2Jz8FM

Here is a link to The World Craniofacial Foundation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Alk2QIL5DY

Please take the time to watch all of these. These doctors are transforming lives and spirits!!!

Hands That Heal wants to say a special Thank You to Dr. Genecov for pursuing Kwaku and for the amazing work of WCF!!!

Rebekah Hubley
Founder and Director

Flamanda

Hello everyone, this is Flamanda. She is a HTH patient that we have been unable to find care for as of yet. The top picture is of her in April and the bottom is now. Her Hydrocephalus is getting worse and worse. I had hoped that she might have surgery in Indy but they cannot take on any more patients until January. Since I found this out a few weeks ago I have been trying with not much success to find a place for her to be treated. It is so sad and unfair, if she would have been born here she would be a totally normal girl. She is living with her family still and they are praying for us to find somewhere to help their little girl.

I am praying for a miracle for her as she is getting worse every day. Please pray we can find somewhere for her to be treated very soon.

Thanks

Stephanie

Wow... What a Crazy 2 Weeks...

My last post was about Jean coming... Well, as the post said, he made it and our host family coordinator and his host family was going to be going to MI to get him the next day. Well, they got him and he was not feeling too good. He had a fever and cough in Haiti, and has a history of asthma. Well, the next day he was getting worse and his fever was high. By this time, he had been running a fever for over a week. We had an appointment with the pediatrician that Thursday and could not get him in on Wednesday because they were all booked with well checks since school was starting. Luckily I live close to my parents and my dad just happens to be a doctor. So, Nancy and I loaded him up and took him to my parents house for a "house call". He was so sick that he let a strange white man exam him on my parents kitchen table. My dad heard wheezing in his lungs and could not see good in his ears because of wax build-up. Nancy suspected an ear infection because he kept pulling on his ears. So, my dad ordered him antibiotics which he threw up that night... :-(

The next day I thought he might be admitted. We have such great pediatricians that see our HTH kiddos and they check him out thoroughly! He had blood work, a chest x-ray, and a complete exam. The findings after all of the tests were back: pneumonia in his right lung, a double ear infections, dehydration, and giardia. Poor baby!!! He had an IV hep-locked in his arm for 3 days while he went in to get daily rocephin infusions. By Saturday if he was not improving, Dr. Landrigan was going to have to admit him. Praise God he was doing better and his fever broke. He got his IV out last Saturday and has improved daily. He is eating like a champ and his personality is emerging. I will get over to the Stanley's this week to do a photo shoot with Jean Widler. I can't wait!!!
I will leave you with a photo journal of his trek thus far.

(Jean on his way to the airport)

(Kristin V. with Jean on the plane)

(Carla, HTH host family coordinator)

(Nancy, Host mom)

(You can't see his face, but this is Bob, Host Dad)

(I think this is Ali, Jean's host sister)

(The Stanley family, Kristin, Isaac, and Abby Vanderwell)

(Not feeling good, but being loved!)

(Snuggling with Liza)

(Too pooped to care...)

(Not a good pic, but that is me... :-)

(Playing the drums with Bob, even with an IV in...)

(Feeling much better 2 days after antibiotics)

(Feeling even better and dressed in some cute clothes)

(This family is GREAT!!!)

Please pray that he gets strong and gains some weight!!! He was scheduled to have his surgery last Tuesday and obviously that did not happen. The ophthalmologist is out of town on a missions trip for the next week or so. So, Jean will not have his pre-op appointment until Sept. 18th. Then surgery will be rescheduled. Our plan is definitely not God's plan. He shows us that over and over with each patient that is brought over!!!

THANK YOU STANLEY'S FOR TAKING SUCH GREAT CARE OF JEAN WIDLER!!! I HOPE YOU ARE ALL GETTING MORE SLEEP NOW!!!!!!!!! :-)

Jean Widler

A team from Grand Rapids that has been at GLA for a couple weeks is bringing Jean Widler in today. Pray for Kristin Vanderwell, his transporter, as they have "Amazing Race" like connections to make it to Detroit tonight.

We are scheduled to meet them 1/2 way tomorrow in Battle Creek to pick him up. Pray that all hand offs are peaceful and without trauma for Jean.

Jean Widler has infantile esotropia, which in laymen terms is called strabismus, or crossed eyes. He will be having surgery to correct his right eye in the next couple of weeks. He has also had some fever and respiratory issues lately and hopefully at his well check this week, all will be taken care of...

Thanks for your prayers, and please keep The Stanley's in your prayers over the next 8 weeks as they invite him into their home to love him as one of their own.

God's Workmanship

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Thank you all for your prayers and support. This scripture is so appropriate for Sabrina and all of us. He created her perfectly for His purposes so that she could do good works for Him.He knew in advance what her life and death were to be and God makes no mistakes. We were blessed to have her in our lives for the time we did as was the orphanage.

She will have lasting impact on her mother, us, the Ingle family, Hands That Heal and everyone that knew of her and prayed for her. Even this week I have had opportunity to talk with my sons new teachers, our neighbors, and thoses we work with about Sabrina, what Hands That Heal does and the effect she had on our lives. Even after her death she is enabling us to share how God has allowed us to extend the love He gives us to others and be a testimony to God.

Pray that the service goes well tomorrow and facilitates closure for all involved.

Thanks Steph

OOPS!!!!

I just looked at Sabrina's obituary on the blog and realized that a lot of it got cut out. I am not sure how that happened, it is all there in the pre-post. Oh, well... Please read it again for all of the details... Sorry!!!

Sabrina's Obituary...

This was published in our Ft. Wayne paper today.

SABRINA (HOPE) SAMPEUR, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis. She was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti. She is survived by her mother, Martine Sampeur; and her long term host family, The Ingle's, of Cincinnati, Ohio and all those who helped along the way. Service is 11 a.m. Friday at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave., with calling one hour prior. The Rev. Kerry Huffman officiating. Burial in Lindenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hands That Heal in care of the Avalon Missionary Church, 1212 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne IN 46819. To visit our website, go to www.handsthatheal-mk1618b.blogspot.com. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.mccombandsons.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ANYONE is welcome to attend her viewing, memorial, and burial. We all prayed for her and now we will all put her to rest, dignified, and celebrate how much she taught us all!

In Honor of Sabrina...

In honor of Sabrina, I am changing our blog song for this week. Please read the below post...

This poem was just written by Rhyan Buettner, another 'mommy' to Sabrina when she was at GLA. Rhyan was at GLA the day Sabrina was brought there by her aunts, and she was there to witness a mother's tears as she looked at her daughter's 'broken' body.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God Chose Me

God chose me to hold you close
Sweet baby for a moment or two
God chose me to hold his angel
and I cherish the day He gave me you

I held you child for 9 whole months
The dreams I had may never be known
But I loved you baby I promise you that
I held you until you had grown

I held you while I heard them speak,
the women who loved you so
I held you while your name was given
why God chose me I may never know

I am another who held you close
while God granted us your time
I prepared your feeds and nursed your hurts
For those moments, you were mine

God also chose me to hold you dear
for a season of your days
I carried you as we left the land of your birth
and held you along the way

I held you Sabrina close to my heart
Photographs of you play through my mind
I fought so hard to bring you here
Doing the work God assigned

God called me to hold His child
A baby in need of care
All night and day I cared for you
for that time I was there

God chose me to pick you baby
to keep you as my own
I was to be your mommy here
how I wanted to give you a home

God chose each of us sweet Sabrina girl
To walk your road with you
God placed in our arms an angel of his
Until your time was through

He gave you a life, He gave us a passion
and somehow the two paths crossed
He gave you breath, He gave us vision
And through it, your story will never be lost

Author: Rhyan Buettner
August 10, 2009

Baby Sabrina...

It is with a sad heart that I write this post. Sabrina died around 2:30am August 8th. She was breathing kind of funny when I spoke with Stephanie Mueller, our nurse coordinator for Hands That Heal, Friday afternoon. It sounded like she had the hick-ups. When Steph would re-position her, she would be fine. Heart, lungs, and everything else checked out normal. This continued off and on a few times on Friday, so Steph took her to the ER Friday night. I was camping with Hannah and I never heard my phone... Once in the ER, her breathing became more shallow and within a couple hours she passed away. Her little body was unable to fight any longer. We are all SHOCKED!!! Just the day before, First Steps was evaluating her and writing up a long term plan for her therapies. She was doing "great" for Sabrina!!!

Please pray for Stephanie and her family: Sabrina died in her arms and she is taking this very hard!!! Stephanie has been taking care of Sabrina for the past few weeks. She was her temporary host mom until she was released on her post-op appointment. Her boys loved Sabrina, and Jeremy in particular, is taking Sabrina's death really hard!

PLEASE PRAY FOR HER LONG TERM HOST FAMILY: Sabrina was scheduled to go to the Ingles, in Ohio, August 20th after her post-op check. They were hosting her long term. They were adopting a child from Liberia and trying to get him out on a medical visa, and he died two weeks ago. This family is grieving and needs our prayers!!! Their children are taking all of this incredibly hard!!!

Please pray for Hands That Heal this week: God has blessed us with a Funeral company that is going to donate everything for Sabrina's memorial. I am not sure what all will be involved: we meet with the director tomorrow morning.

Pray for all of the hands that kept Sabrina alive in Haiti and loved her so much while she was there. This little girl has touched so many lives in her short time on earth. To man's eyes, she was the most unlikely vessel to share His love, grace, and compassion. To God, Sabrina was the most perfect vessel to bring people closer to Him!!!!!! She has meant so much, and has taught so many people so many lessons!!!!

Sabrina, may you run and play with all of the other children that were on this earth way too short!!!! May you fly with wings that are full of life and happiness... I can just see (imagine) Berlancia, (a little girl that died a year ago at GLA: she died of Aids) with her big eyes and ornery smile, standing at the gates of Heaven saying, "We have been waiting for you to come and play...you just needed some time down there to finish what He wanted you to accomplish..." Both Berlancia and Sabrina were loved by a "momma", Anna, who is only 20 years old and so wise beyond her years!!! Both girls were abandoned by their earthly mothers, loved by so many at GLA, and were blessed to receive Anna's love like they were her own. Both knew a "mother's" love before they were held by their Heavenly Father!

What the world looks at as "the least of these" we know to be God's jewels and are mandated to love these children as He has loved us!!!" To God, these children are His BEST AND MOST PRECIOUS VESSELS!!!!

Sabrina: Your life on this earth was way too short, but what you taught so many in your 11 weeks, no one will ever forget!!!!!!

Thank you: Hands That Heal is honored and humbled to have gotten a chance to be involved and blessed by you, in your short life!!!

Changing all the time

Here are some new photos of Sabrinas head shape. Her head circumference is down to 53cm. It was 59 at her largest. We are starting to wean the seizure meds today. Pray she tolerates it and doesnt begin to have more seizures. Her weight is down a little too but she is still losing fluid. She is near 12 lbs still. She is not taking a bottle still. She chokes at first then does attempt to get into a rhythm but doesnt suck strong enough to pull the milk out. I have tried several different nipple shapes and sizes. Her abdomen isnt healing totally and is leaking a little. She is very quiet. I did see her move her arms randomly today when we were doing her "baby exercises". Several times a day we move all her joints so she doesnt begin to get stiff.
Pray for her continued healing.
Thanks Steph

Midnight

Little Miss Sabrina was wide awake at midnight! She was so alert and I swear she smiles!

Bath Time

Sabrina does not seem to mind getting a bath. She doesnt like her head washed though. I use a heating pad under her to keep her temp up. She cannot be submerged yet until her abdominal inscision is totally healed.
She is doing well.

Just a LITTLE Photo Shoot...

I am a photographer, and I love photographing babies, especially our Hands That Heal babies. Kids are not easy to photograph, but when the images come out how I want them to, I feel very accomplished... Little Miss Sabrina cooperated wonderfully yesterday, and she looked stunning: As always!!!

So, with no further ado: SABRINA SAMPEUR...

Doesn't She Look Great!!!!!

This does not even look like the same baby that came here last Wednesday. Her head circ. is down by 3 cm, she is not vomiting feedings, she was making some noises today like cooing, and her seizures are not as frequent.

PLEASE GOD, GRANT THE MIRACLE THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN PRAYING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sabrina is doing AWESOME!

Sabrina is doing awesome! She has not vomited since 6am yesterday morning over 24hrs!! She is only having very mild seizures when she is disturbed for feeding, holding, pooping etc. and they are no where near what they were before. Her head is shrinking. It is amazing to watch it. The skin is sagging down where it was bulging out and it is jiggly. You can actually see her bones sticking out.
Her abdomen is large where the fluid drains and her body has to reabsorb it slowly. She has not been very active. She will stretch when you change her diaper, suck on her pacifier occasionally, she only cries when she is moved.
The seizure meds are a little sedating too though. She hasent even needed any Tylenol since she was in the hospital.
Anna is a huge help here for us and Tom is learning her care too. The boys are doing awesome. God is so awesome! Thanks for all the prayers and support. They are being answered.
Steph

Sabrina is in surgery...

Just an update to let you all know that Sabrina is in surgery. Dr. Young just started about 5 minutes ago. She had a really rough night and Steph brought her to the ER. It was a blessing in disguise, because they put her on a different seizure med, and they started her on IV fluids.

Everyone is amazing here and we are just hanging out in the surgery waiting room.

Thank you all for your prayers and we are coveting all that are being sent up now!!!

Sabrina's Doctor Appointment...

We are so relieved to have Sabrina in the US, and she got to see Dr. Young this morning. He tapped 100 cc (3.3 oz) off her head today. He saw her head, and said, "WOW!!!" It is the biggest head he has ever seen on a baby. She is having surgery tomorrow @ 10am. He said she is at risk for a lot of complications, so we will appreciate any prayers that will be raised up for her!!! Thanks...

Here are some pics from the appointment...







Remember to check out Stephanie's blog for updates too...

Last Update for the Night...

They arrived safe in Indy and are headed back to Stephanie's house. No issues with Sabrina at all... Praise God!!!!!

I will update after her appointment with Dr. Young tomorrow morning...

Thanks for the ongoing prayers...

Update...

Anna and Sabrina are safely in Chicago, and should be flying out in 40 minutes for their final destination: Indianapolis. Thank you all for your prayers. Their day has been uneventful and that is just how we prayed it would be. When I spoke with Anna, she was getting ready to do Sabrina's 8pm feeding and giving her meds. Anna said that she was finally in a deep sleep. Her temp has stayed up and the day could not have gone any better.

I will update when land in Indy and get a report from Stephanie.

Sabrina Is On US Soil...

Our little angel is on US SOIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!

Pray that her flight to Chicago is uneventful, and pray that Anna has the time to get her visa extended in Miami...

Keep praying!!!

Steph Is Ready...

Stephanie Mueller, our HTH nurse coordinator will be hosting Sabrina. Here is what she shared on her blog today. You can follow Sabrina's journey on her blog or the Hands That Heal blog.
-----------------------------------------------------------

I think were as ready as we can be for Sabrina's arrival tonight. The plan is if she is looking good that we are coming home with her. If she is not breathing well or her temp is really low we are going to the E.R.
I will stay up with her tonight and sleep on the couch. Anna is going to be tired from traveling all day. If I wasn't a NICU nurse she would be going straight to the hospital.
Toms sister is spending the night so it will work out perfectly that they will be here with the boys while I go to the airport at 11:30pm to get them since Tom is working night shift. Especially if we end up at the hospital tonight.
They should be on the plane now. Pray that Sabrina travels well. They have a layover in Chicago before getting to Indy. She has been vomiting a lot.
Steph
We see Dr. Young at 9:00am tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------
Please pray that Sabrina does well tonight. I will update as soon as I hear from Anna...

Pray For Safe Travels...

Sabrina and Anna should be bording the plane in Haiti any time now. The flight to Miami is scheluled to leave today @ 12:15. For those of you who have traveled from Haiti know that they really won't leave at 12:15 :-). Pray that Sabrina stays stable through the flights today and that she does not suffer from headaches due to head pressure. She loves her paci, so that will help.

Pray that Anna has extreme discernment to Sabrina's care today, and that God would just put His Peace over everyone involved. There is a nice layover in Miami, so she will have plenty of time to go through immigration.

She then flys to Chicago and will arrive in Indianapolis tonight at 11:30pm. She will see Dr. Young tomorrow @ 9am.

Thank you for all of your comments and prayer support!!! You have all prayed Sabrina here.

Thanks,

Rebekah

Hey, Guess What????

WE GOT A VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MORE DETAILS LATER...I HAVE A 5 DAY CLUB AT MY HOUSE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES...

Please stop and PRAY!!!

I just got a message from Dixie that she called Nancy McCarthy, and she is headed down to the Embassy with Sabrina to ask for her Medical Visa.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STOP AND PRAY FOR SABRINA AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN HER CARE. PRAY THAT NANCY HAS MERCY ON HER LIFE AND ISSUES THE VISA WHILE DIXIE IS AT THE CONSULATE.

Please pray that everything comes together today so that Anna and Sabrina can fly out of Haiti tomorrow!!!!!

Thanks for your prayers, and hopefully I have an amazing update in a few hours...

Pray some more...

Dixie has not been able to get the Consulate to answer her e-mails about Sabrina since Friday. Sabrina has an appointment to see Dr. Young on Thursday, with surgery being scheduled for Friday. We have to get her out by Wednesday...PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE HAVE THE LETTERS!!!!!!!!!!

YES... We got the hospital acceptance letter just about 30 minutes ago. PRAISE THE LORD!!! Now, pray with us that everything is sufficient for the US Embassy and they grant Sabrina a visa, and a chance at life!!!!!

Dixie should get an appointment this afternoon.

I will update as soon as I know something new....

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY... AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE!!!

PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!

PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! The first letter is being faxed to me anytime!!!!!!!!! Dr. Young is faxing me his acceptance letter and he is also faxing it to Lorraine Brown at the hospital. I expect to hear from the hospital later today.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!! OUR PRAYERS ARE BEING HEARD!!!

Your Prayers are Being Heard...

Please keep praying for Sabrina. The doctor is going to be dictating his letter later today for her care in the States. Then we will just be waiting for the hospital letter.

Your prayers were all answered last night with Anna's plane ticket. I called to re-arrange her flight once again, and the last woman who helped me a month ago made her ticket an open itinerary, and I did not even know it. We didn't have to cancel or change anything. The AA representative last night told me that when we get the 'go ahead' from the hospital, just to call AA and they will create a new itinerary for us with no additional charge.

Please pray that Sabrina's head size will remain stable and that her temp will stay consistent. They are making a 'diaper' for her head to keep her heat in.

Dixie was going to be going up to the NICU today with some staff and volunteers to lay hands on her and pray for God's healing touch and for Him to bless her journey here to the States if it is granted, and for her strength during her surgery. This little angel has fought for 49 days of her life, and will you please pray with us that God grants her favor and performs a miracle in her life!!!!!!!

Pray specifically for Loraine Brown, Executive Director of Missions Affairs and the CEO of the hospital today that they will have mercy on her life and grant her a chance at surgery and a new lease on life.

Thank you for your continued prayers...more pics of her to come later today...

Rebekah
Founder & Director of Hands That Heal

Thank you all for praying....

Thank you all for your prayers!!!!!!! Keep praying for the staff at GLA that are taking care of Sabrina. This is getting very hard for them to see her like this! They are having a hard time keeping her temps up, and she is starting to spit up some of her formula.

I spoke with the hospital today, and they are going to conference with Dr. Young tomorrow and hopefully make a decision. I feel as though they will say,
"Yes", but keep praying steadfastly!!!!!!!

Okay, God is sooooo good!!! I just got off the phone with AA to change Anna's ticket for transporting Sabrina. Well, when we changed it last month, they did it for only an $8 charge that would be processed at the ticket counter in PAP. Well, instead of the agent booking another ticket, she just held an itinerary. So, I did not have to cancel anything, or receive any fees for changing the current ticket... We will just let AA know when all of the letters come together, and then make our new itinerary. God is sooooooo good and is in all of the little details!!!

Why do we ever doubt or worry???

Another kiddo coming soon...

Jean Wilder will be coming soon (hopefully in the next few weeks) to Fort Wayne for eye surgery. He suffers from Congenital Strabismus. The doctor will perform surgery to either lengthen or shorten one of the muscles in his right eye. We have a great host family lined up for him and we are just waiting on a confirmation from the doctor.

Once Jean Wilder is recovered, he will head back to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage and hopefully he will find an adoptive family soon...

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!!!

Please keep Sabrina in your prayers. Time is not on our side! God is our GREAT physician, and He can perform this miracle!!!
---------------------------------------
Here is an update from Dixie at GLA today:

I hope she will stay stable until we can get her out
-more seizures
-head bigger
-59 cm today
-I did 80 cc tap today
-not holding her temperature but warms up under the heat lights
-losing a lot of heat from her head!
-------------------------------------------
None of that is good!!!

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!!!!!!

Pray The Date... JULY 8th...

July 8th is when Anna, our transporter from GLA, is scheduled to return to the US with Sabrina. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE spread the word to pray that all of Sabrina's paperwork is done and that her visa is issued to come for her surgery. We had a doc in Sacramento and then when he saw her CT scans, he said, "no." We had a doc in Indy that was willing to shunt her and then the hospital said, "no" because they did not know what her outcome would be.

So, as of yesterday, we have a new doctor. Dr. Young, my son's neurosurgeon said, "yes" to taking her on without hesitation. Today I got the anesthesiologist to commit that Dr. Young wanted to have working with him on her case. So, tomorrow I contact the hosptial, St. Vincent's in Indy, to see if they will approve her. I will be speaking with Loraine Brown, if you want specifics to pray for. Please pray that all of the paperwork will be expedited and that we can get her out next Wednesday!!!

She does not have much time to spare. The orphanage has been tapping her head and withdrawing 50cc's of fluid every other day, and Dixie feels now that is not enough. I am consulting with the neuro doc tomorrow to see what to do. They can not keep up with the fluid collecting around her brain. Pray that her Cerebral Spinal Fluid would slow down in production.

This little angel was spared death at birth, and we are all praying that God once again chooses to spare her life once more!!!

Thank you in advance for your prayers, and I will keep you updated... Here are some recent pics of this angel...

Sabrina

We are still working on Sabrina's case. It is very complicated due to the very serious nature of her disease. We have found out some more information about her medical status that we didnt have initially. The doctor in California is not going to be doing her case now. We are in contact with a peds neuro surgeon at Riley Hospital in Indy. He will possibly be doing her case. We are deciding hopefully today if surgery is the best option for her. She needs much prayer as do the people at Gods Littlest Angels orphanage that are caring for her now. We are praying that God helps us make the best decision for her care.

Witlene

Well it has been a while since we have updated everyone on our patients. We are soooo happy to let everyone know that Witlene is back in Haiti already!

Just to recap her case she came here with a baseball size tumor on her pituitary gland. We expected her to have to have surgery but the neurosurgeon decided to try medications first. We were thrilled to try this and see what happened. Within a few months time her symptoms started to disappear. We were very hopeful that meant her tumor was shrinking.

A few weeks ago we were all praising Jesus for a complete healing. Her tumor was gone! She was so happy and thanking Jesus. Without this treatment she would most likely have gone blind, never been able to have children and eventually died.

Hands That Heal is so thankful for all the "hands" involved in her case. Doctors, hospitals, host families and many others. It is so awesome for us to see the hands of Jesus working together for this outcome that glorifies His name.

Witlene will continue on her medications in Haiti but they are unable to get them there. We are working with the distributor to get it and mail it to her.

It is so amazing how God can work and we give Him all the glory for her healing.

Hands That Heal Auction--TOMORROW--

Come support a great cause! Benefit Auction for Hands that Heal Sat June 13, 8:30 - 12:00 located at 1212 Lower Huntington Rd. in Waynedale. Hands That Heal is a non-profit organization under Avalon Missionary Church. Our mission is to bring Haitian children and adults to the U.S. for life saving surgeries. We find doctors and hospitals that donate their services and host families to keep the children while they are in the U.S. Funds are needed for airline tickets, X rays, meds and various other expenses while they are here.
Over 100 items will be auctioned off both silent and live. Sweetcakes comedy will have face painting and balloon art from 10 - 11 a.m. There will also be a car wash during the auction. A Concession stand will have all kinds of goodies!!!

Here is a sample of just a few of the things we have gotten!!

1-person Hot Air Balloon Ride
2 person plane ride around FW area (1-2 hours)
Signed Nascar and Indy Car items by Danica Patrick, Jimmy Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch and a green start flag signed by 19 well known Indy drivers from 2009 including the winner (Helio Castroneves)
Vera Bradley bags, beautiful handmade Quilts, Gemstone Rings
Manicures, haircuts, Mary Kay, Arbonne, and Avon products
DeBrand Chocolate tour
FW Civic Theater, Embassy Theatre, Rave, and Tin Caps Tickets
Handyman for a Day
4 Desserts, Dinner for 8, Pies for a year (one per month)
Overnight stay at the Hilton and Residence Inn
Landscaping services
Handmade Haitian goods
Knock-out rose bushes
3 month YMCA family membership
Estate Planning
HUGE lot of precious moments collector figurines in original boxes

Pray for Sabrina...

We have a host family: Thanks Kagstrom's!!!

We have a doctor: Thanks MAT!!!

We have CT scans being photographed and e-mailed to the doc today: Thanks Dixie!!!

We have 2 people--one being a nurse--ready to transport her: Thanks Steph and Anna!!!

We have people praying: Thanks to you!!!!!!!!

Now what needs to happen???

**Hospital approving her ASAP!!!

**Haiti expediting all of her paperwork, and that there would be no issues with documents!!!

**Flying to get her and bringing her to the most amazing host family ever!!!

Sabrina...

Please be praying for little Sabrina. She is at God's Littlest Angels Orphanage. Her mom brought her to GLA last week, at 3 days old, to see if they could help. Her head circ is 54.5 cm. Weight 12 pounds. (A normal head circ of a newborn is between 33-38 cm.) Probably 4-5 lbs of her birth weight is water on her brain. Without immediate surgery, this little girl will die.

We are working on finding her a doctor/hospital as I type. Right now, with the help of the Medical Advocacy Team, we might have the answer to our prayers. Please pray that this will work out and she will be able to live.

PLEASE BE PRAYING FOR SABRINA, HER MOM, AND EVERYONE WORKING ON GETTING THIS PRECIOUS ANGEL ALL THAT SHE DESERVES!!!!!

Update on our friend Shnaider

Wow what a difference a year makes. It was a year ago now that Shnaider arrived for his first surgery. He looks like such a little guy and now he is all grown up! Shnaider proved himself to be a very resilient child. He went through 3 surgeries before all was said and done. He spent time with a couple different families and did amazing through all of it. He is such a happy go lucky kiddo.

On his last check with Dr.Young he was thrilled at Shnaiders progress. The shunt that is in place to keep the fluid drained off his surgery site gets to stay in place which means no more surgery! He will go back for a recheck soon but all seems to be healing properly.

We are so thankful to God for how he has protected Shnaider and brought all the right people into his life to care for him. Many have gotten to witness Shnaider's love and have touched his life. We thank God for Dr.Young, St.Vincent Hospital, the Truesdale's, the Mueller's, and the Hall family for being a part of his life.

Georgey

Hello everyone, Hands That Heal has a new child comming soon from Haiti. His name is Georgey. He is 9 years old and will be having surgery at St.Vincent hospital in Indianapolis. The surgery is to correct his gentalia that have not developed properly. The surgery itself will only consist of a few days in the hospital but he will need to have weekly visits with a counselor due to the nature of the surgery and how it will effect him emotionally.
We are coordinating his care with Angel Missions Haiti. He is a very quiet, calm and sweet child. A very special family will be needed to help him through this emotional time. We are in need of a family that is interested in hosting him. If you think this may be something God is calling you to do and would like more information please contact us.
Blessings,
HTH Team

This Is Why We Exhist...

(A new referral: Mishna--clubbed feet)

³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25: 34-40 (NIV)

AUCTION...

That's right, Hands That Heal will be having an auction June 13, 2009. I am so excited for this!!! Four years ago I was campaign coordinator for a little boy who was having a kidney transplant. We did a benefit auction for him at our church, and we raised over $14,000.00 that day. It was the most amazing and energizing day!

If we could even come close to this amount, think of all the people that will benefit... Missionaries would not have to worry about finding the $ to get the kids here, and host families would not be required to carry the whole financial burden of adding an additional member for a time being. Also, there are a lot of little things that add up when our patients are here.

So, what can you do???? Do you make anything that you want to donate for the auction? Do you have any sports memorablelia that is collecting dust? Do you know any famous people that could autograph something??? ;-) Anything will help!!!

If you want to donate an item, or just make a monetary contribution, I will be able to get you a "In kind donation" form for tax purposes.

Also, if you live anywhere close to Fort Wayne, Indiana; mark June 13, 2009 on your calendar and come and join us for a morning of great fun and God's goodness!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR DONATIOINS!!!

Just leave me a comment if you have any questions, or would like to be involved in any way.

The "Miracle" Visa(s)...

Djemy and Joyce leaving for his medical visa appointment.

Here is a glimpse into the miracle of Djemy's visa... The below 2 paragraphs were written on a GLA Yahoo group last week. The host parents for Djemy have been in an adoption battle for the past year to get their twins home from GLA. To make a long story REALLY short, everything was going very smooth in their adoption of Sonia and Sonel. Well, as smooth as Haitian adoptions go... :-) They got through Parquet, where the Haitian Court Systems do a birth parent interview, and that went well, and so passports with were issued with Tuttle as their last name. They were legally Ralph and Beka's children now. The US added another birth parent interview on to the end of adoptions in the last year or so. So, at the last birth parent interview, the birth mom said, "That she had never intended on giving them up?????!!!! What???? She did not want them back, and had NO MEANS to care for them! She was in an abusive situation herself, and her children would be in grave danger if she were to ever get them back. She said that she wanted them to live at GLA forever??? So, the fight for Sonia and Sonel began February of 2007. Finally, almost one year later, the USCIS office in San Diego wrote a letter to the Consulate in Haiti to release the children to the Tuttle's, because they fully met the requirements of orphaned children. End of story, and visas were issued. Below are two messages written by Djemy's host mom, Rebekah Tuttle...
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Written January 9, 2009)

I can't type because I am shaking from head to toe but I just had to
announce the news! God has given me the best birthday gift of all and
that is visas for Sonia and Sonel as well as a medical visa for
Djemy....all on the same day!

My wish is for everyone of you to realize that God is faithful and He
still moves mountains! Give Him ALL the glory!!!!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised
is faithful!" Hebrews 10:23
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Written January 13, 2009)


Hi! I just have to post even though my list of to-do's continues to
grow instead of shrinking. We are leaving on Sunday to bring our
children home! Praise God! We have been singing the Doxology over and
over because it fits our feelings of praise so well! What words can't
say, songs do.

First of all, I want to make sure that I tell all of you as a group
of friends how thankful I am for your friendships and the love and
compassion you have shown. God has blessed me 'above all I could ask
or even think' and I am so thankful! Thank you for your posts,
emails, cards, phone calls and for the incredible outpouring of
congratulations you have given. I am printing them all out to put in
our "Miracle Day" file. One of these days we are going to be able to
share with our children the process that we went through to see them
come home. If I were to have imagined the last two and a half years,
I could never had done it but God knew we were in for a bunch of
heartbreak and agony. He strengthened us and we now come out on the
other side of this with greater blessings that I could ever imagine.

You all of have been used by God to help me continue on even on those
days when I literally begged God to help me breathe. Not only did He
help me breathe but He gave me such compassion for all of you. Every
day now I wake up praying for you and your children that God will
complete what He has started and will bring your children home as
quickly as He wills. I have learned to say the Lord's Prayer and mean
it. It is really not about my will but His.

I can tell you that what God has joined, man can NOT separate. We
have several stories in the Bible that spoke to us during our wait
not only for children but also in those years we have been struggling
with the infertility (make that 14 years). Job came to mind when we
had the miscarriage of our twins. My dad passed away from pancreatic
cancer, two of my sisters were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Ralph
was called up to go with the Marines to Iraq (God canceled that bump
in the road) and we were trying to get through medical school and the
120 work hour internship year. Those things happened within two years
of each other.

I believe now that God was preparing us for the biggest fight we
would encounter. We were in a Red Sea situation where we would drown
if we continued forward but the army was behind us and we had no
choice but to move forward knowing God had to provide and there was
no other option for us. I will never forget the day back in June or
July when Ralph walked up to me with tears streaming down his face.
He looked at me and said, "I was just sitting at the computer and God
assured me that He has answered our prayers!" God never goes back on
His promises!

One day I was praying and I had this clear picture in my head of
guardian angels hovering over Sonia and Sonel where they were sitting
in the orphanage. We prayed for so long that God would dump buckets
of joy over our heads and we believe that is exactly what has
happened.

I am not a 'signs and wonders' person but we were presented with
nothing less than that on our trip to Oregon. Remember, we have been
praying that God would send the rain and that He would complete the
work He had started in the heart of our daughter, Caitlin. Two hours
from home, the weather turned dark and the snow started coming down.
For three hours, we drove in SoCal with that kind of weather. We got
to central California and we had a rainbow literally follow us for
the entire day until it was evening. Again, the snow began to fall
and we had to stop for the night because the roads were impassible.
The next morning we got up, put the chains on our van and crept up
and over the mountain into Oregon praying we would get there in one
piece. The snow continued the entire two weeks we were gone. Oregon
has never had that kind of weather. I grew up there and this storm
broke all records.

We arrived on Tuesday, logged onto the computer and found that Ralph
was accepted into a residency program that would extend our time in
California for the next few years so we could complete Caitlin's high
school and finish the adoption that God has called us to. Before I
crawled into bed, I logged onto the computer again and found the
email telling us that it appeared we would be adopting not two more
but also a third little sister who needs to be loved and have a home
with her siblings.

Talk about a God-sighting...showing us that He always shows up on
time and is NEVER late. I know, there were times when people would
tell me that "all in God's timing" and I was not wanting to hear that
but looking back, we can clearly see that God was working even when
we could not see Him. I begged Him to show me that He loved me! There
were days that I did not post anything because I hurt too badly. That
should end the speculation that I never questioned or had absolute
faith. I didn't....but I believed God and chose to trust on days when
I didn't want to.

I have been praying for months that God would bring the twins and
Djemy home all three together. I have prayed that believing God could
do it if He chose. On my birthday, we heard that the twins were going
in for their visa appointment. It came out of the blue. It was like
Peter knocking on the door saying, "I am here," and no one believing
it even though he was standing right there. I read the words and it
just would not register. I called for Ralph who had come home to take
me out for lunch. We blinked together and then called GLA! I can't
remember much about the rest of my day except that we kept looking at
each other with a comical look of disbelief and expectant
anticipation that God had answered our prayers!

Friday morning, my phone rang and it was Dixie. She was so excited to
call with the news that was all good. Not only did we have two visas
for our twins but she also was able to pick up the medical visa for
Djemy! God not only poured out His blessings. He dumped buckets of
joy on our heads!

I can tell you that JESUS NEVER FAILS! We have two beautiful children
coming home named Sonia and Sonel who are living proof of that. This
wasn't a case of working it out or finding the right person who could
argue clearly or finding a person who wanted to be nice. The visas
were printed because God performed a miracle against all odds.

This is longer than I intended but I want to give you hope. The
adoption wait is terrible but it would be impossible without the
support of this group which Kristin started and a Friend who never
fails! Thank you, my friend and Friend!

You are all forever in my heart and I am now back at the beginning of
an adoption and most of you will have your kiddos home before I have
the next batch of three. That means I will get to root for you and
send congratulations your way when the good news comes.

"I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in
the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord." Psalms 27:13-14

God has given us back more than we would ever have dreamed. I am the
mommy of 6 children! Glory to God!

In one week, I will be hugging on my children and yours!

Love all of you,
Beka
----------------------------------------
Here is a glimpse of a family that God made by His own hands, and He will complete...

Guerlens

Djemy

Dieuna

Sonel Tuttle

Sonia Tuttle

Be praying for the Tuttle's (Ralph, Beka, and Caitlin,16)! They leave for Haiti on Sunday, January 18th, and will arrive back in San Diego the following Friday. It will be like 'man on man defense'--3 on 3... ;-)

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!

PRAISE THE LORD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!!!! Djemy was issued his medical visa today! I have to run, but I will update the entire story tonight!!!!!!

God is still doing MIRACLES TODAY!!!

New Pics of Shnaider...

Shnaider is getting sooooooo big!!! He is not the little baby that I brought home from the airport! Look at how GREAT he looks! Thanks to the Hall family for taking such great care of this precious boy!

GREAT News for Djemy!!!

Djemy and Guerlens--Dec. 2008

We just found out this week that Djemy has been accepted for Surgery in San Diego, CA, at Rady Children's Hospital. Letters have been written and are in transit to Haiti, via Fed Ex today. Please pray that they arrive in Haiti on Thursday, as expected!

We are praying that everything will fall in line to get him to the States before Christmas.
Will you please pray for this with us?

Djemy will be having multiple surgeries over the next year or more, to reconstruct his nose. We need to get him here, to bulk him up before his surgeries begin.

Please be praying for his little brother, Guerlens, that he will be leaving behind at God's Littlest Angels Orphanage. They are VERY CLOSE, and will miss each other terribly!

Update on Witlene...

Sorry for the silence on Witlene. We have AMAZING NEWS!!! After her MRI and blood tests, we went up for the consult with the Neurosurgeon. He flipped through the slides, and then looked at her blood tests. He almost jumped... (you never see a neurosurgeon get excited!) and had a smile on his face, and said, "Yes, this is what I wanted to see!" What he was referring to, was her Prolactin levels. If the levels are too high or too low, medicine can not be used to shrink the tumor; surgery is the only option.

Her Prolactin levels were too high from the tests done in Haiti. They were repeated 3 or 4 times to make sure. Well, that day they were right in the range, (THANK YOU GOD!), and the doctor is able to start shrinking the tumor with medication. She will return to the doctor at the beginning of January to have her levels taken again. The doctor will know from the blood results if the tumor is responding to the medication. There are only 2 medications used to shrink this kind of tumor, so please pray with us that it is working.

She is having some side effects from the medicine, but that should subside soon. Please pray that all of the side effects (nausea, dizziness, etc.) would dissapear!!!!!

She has some family here in the US, so they are enjoying some time with them. Witlene's brother and his wife have 3 children that were born here in the States, and before this trip, Witlene and her mom had never met them in person. What an amazing opportunity for Witlene and her mom to be able to spend Christmas with family that they have only ever gotten to see photos of, and "hear" about... This will be a Christmas to remember!!! Especially since there will be snow and no Palm Trees this year! :-)

Update on Shnaider

Well if any of you caught it I said that I "had" been hosting Shnaider. We are very excited to let everyone know that he has transitioned on to his prospective adoptive family. They are a wonderful christian couple that got to know about Shnaider through their daughter. Kate Bowley that hosted little Widline recently is prospectively going to be his big sister! This family is amazing. They have adopted many children over the years and currently have 5 children living with them that have all been adopted.

Shnaider transitioned so well with them. We were very sad for him to leave us but very excited to see God bring him his forever family. The top picture is of Shnaider and his two soon to be brothers from Haiti also. The middle are his new parents to be and I cant even believe how big he looks in the last picture. He is getting so big and grown up looking.

He was recently at Dr. Youngs office and the doctor was thrilled with Shnaiders progress. He feels that he will not have to do surgery again and the bone patch that covered the defect is in place. Dr. Young was so happy with Shnaiders growth and development as well. In January they will take out the shunt that had been placed to keep the swelling down and prayerfully the site will have been completely sealed over then and he will be totally done with treatment.

His new family will be keeping him through the duration of his medical stay and are working on the process of adoption.

Keep them in your prayers.

Stephanie

Helping Hands that Heal

Hello all, my name is Stephanie Mueller. That might sound familiar to you because I was hosting Shnaider Alliome. I have gotten to be friends with Rebekah throught the process of hosting and already had a heart for Haiti before I even met Rebekah. I am a nurse and I live in Indianapolis, IN. I have been to Haiti 3 times and run a medical clinic when I am there in a rual area of Haiti called Chambrun.
Through getting to know Rebekah and what Hands that Heal is doing I am now going to be assisting her in helping in any way that I can. I am excited to see how God will use and grow this ministry and to be a part of that.
Stephanie

Witlene...

The two pics below were taken the day after Witlene, her mother Marie, and her brother Walter, had gotten to Indiana. The cute little blonde boy is my youngest son, Luca. I love seeing him snuggling on Walter's lap! He loved being with Walter.

Marie, Witlene, and Walter.

Please keep Witlene and her family in your prayers tomorrow! I, along with her mother, the host parents, Dr. Binkley (the doc from Haiti who asked us to find her help) and his wife Donna, will be accompying Witlene to her MRI and appointment with the neurosurgeon tomorrow. Please pray that my Creole is "on" tomorrow too! :-) I will be the sole tranlator until Dr. Binkley and his wife get to the doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon. I think I will do fine, but there are always words that I don't know...But somehow I am always able to describe the word that I am wanting to use, in Creole! lol...

Her MRI is at noon, eastern time, and her appointment with the neurosurgeon is at 3:30. We will then know the course of action that he wants to take with this tumor. As of the last appointment, 1 week ago, the tumor was the size of a baseball.

----------------

Please also be praying for Djemy. We should be hearing any day on his case. The panel of doctors were meeting last week to decide what kids they were accepting for charity work. I should know something by tomorrow...

Slow Connection...

I am posting this from my sister's apartment in Indianapolis, and her connection is not very good. So, I will not be posting any pics, or much of an update tonight. My oldest son is having surgery tomorrow in Indianapolis, so I will try to get pics uploaded tomorrow night.

Here is who I will be updating on...

Shnaider: pics and some VERY exciting news...

Widline: Hoping to get some more pics of her with family in Haiti...

Witlene: She and her mom are having a great time with the host family. Thanks Dave and Jo for making them feel so welcomed!!! She has an eye doctor exam on Monday, and her MRI and neurosurgeon appt. on Wednesday, the 19th. She was anointed at our church on Sunday, and we are praying that the size of the tumor has shrank. She is just so ready to have some relief from her pain!!!

Djemy: We are waiting to hear from Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, to hear if he will be accepted as a charity case for Rady Children's hospital in San Diego, CA. I am hoping to get a call tomorrow from them.

Some new patients:

Joseph: He is 14 and has very large tumors on his legs. Dr. Didelot from St. Vincent Hospital, in Indianapolis, has agreed to operate on Joseph. we are getting letters together, and arrangements made for him to come over: hopefully by January.

Gregory: He is 8 and has some major urological issues. Dr. Cain from St. Vincent Hospital, has agreed to take Gregory on as a charity case. We are hoping to have him to the States shortly after the New Year.

Both of the above new patients, are being referred to us by Angel Missions Haiti.

Witlene is here...

Witlene is here in Indiana, and I had the privilege to host her, her mother, and brother last night and today. We went to her 1st doctor's appointment this morning and we found out the tumor on her pituitary gland is about the size of a baseball. Over the next couple weeks, she will be getting a lot of blood work done, complete vision screening, and a MRI. She will see the neurosurgeon on November 19th to discuss all of the results from these tests, and the best possible way to fight or remove the tumor.

I will post pictures and more information tomorrow. She and her mother are FREEZING here in Indiana, and we are having seasonally warm weather for November. (71 today) The 40's, that are coming this weekend will be a terrible shock to their systems. They sat in my living room with winter coats on, while my 2 yr. old son, Luca, ran around in jeans and no shirt. :-) It was really funny and they were laughing about it!

I am thanking God that she is here finally, and is able to get the medical attention that she so deserves!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!

I just got this e-mail from Witlene's brother:

Family in Christ,

I don't know how much to thank you for your support praying for my sister. I am excited to let you know that she just received her visa today to travel to the United States where she will undergo surgery for her tumor. Please continue to pray for the remaining of the process. Pray for the doctors, nurses and Technicians, pray for Witlene's host family, pray for Rebekah's family and her organization for God's provision, as well as anyone who will be involved in this process.

With gratitude,

Walter Thermidor

Visa appointment...

Please be praying for Witlene today. She has her visa appointment at the US Embassy today at 11am. God willing, Witline will be coming to the States ASAP to get a tumor removed from her pituitary glande. We have the doctor, hospital, and host family all lined up: Now we just wait on the US Embassy.

Please God, make the meeting go smoothly, and that Witlene would get her visa without any hassels!!!!!!!!!!

Widline back in Haiti...

I don't know much, as Vanessa is still in Haiti, but what I do know is that Widline is in Haiti, and has been reunited with her family. She flew back to Haiti with Vanessa, Angel Missions Haiti, on October 6th. These photos below were taken October 8th. The man in the photo is her grandpa. I won't even try to understand how HARD it was for the Bowley family to say goodbye to Widline!!! But seeing her reunited with her grandpa, and seeing his smile, makes me smile knowing that he entrusted her to us, PERFECT STRANGERS, and now will be able to see his grand daughter grow up to lead a more normal life. This is what Hands That Heal is all about: Helping families get life-saving medical care for their loved ones, that is not accessible in Haiti, and then reuniting them healthy and whole!

Please continue to pray for little Widline, as she acclimates herself back to Haiti, and her family. For her little mind, she would not remember anything about Haiti or her birth family! Also, please keep the Bowley's in your prayers. I have talked with Kate, Widline's host mom, multiple times since Widline left, and the void of her being gone is still very fresh and painful!!! The family loved her like one of their own, and now they are all mourning the loss of her being a part of their family!

BOWLEY'S: WE LOVE YOU AND ARE PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS!!!!! THANKS FOR BEING SUCH AN AMAZING HOST FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Stepping back for a bit -

Well, after much prayer & thought on this subject, I feel I need to step back for a bit as far as doing much 'hands on' work goes with Hands That Heal. The reason has nothing to do with having a problem with anything or anyone [not at all!], but instead, it has to do with everything going on here at the house.

`

As some of you may know, we adopted a baby girl that's 4 weeks old today. We were at the hospital when she was born & brought her home with us at 2 days old. She's doing fabulous in every way except for the fact that at night when she's sleeping, she stops breathing!! It's really bothering us & we've had her at the doctor 2 times so far for it already & she's going in for extensive testing on the 20th. Due to all that she's going through, we're like getting no sleep at all [almost literally].

`

If that's not enough, we're moving into another home in less than 3 weeks. Moving can be a trying time in & of itself for a family of 2 or 3, but we're a family of 8 & so it'll be nothing short of miraculous to get this done [when 4 of the 8 are 6 & under!].

`

I'm the type of person that if I say I'll do something, then you can count on me to throw 110% into it or I'd just as soon not do it at all. That's why I'm at this point now, I don't feel with everything that's going on here, that I can give 110%, so therefore I feel the need to step back.

`

I've talked this over with Rebekah & things between us are great, it's just that this' something that I need to do for our family at this time. I'll still help out when/where I can, but it'll be more of a 'behind the scenes' thing for now.

`

Thanks to all those that have been praying for Hands That Heal, since it began. Your prayers are so appreciated & will be what makes this organization continue from here on.

Please pray...

Please pray for the Bowley family today. This will be their last day with Widline. They should be in one of their appointments right now, and the other appointment should be around 2:30 EST. Please, please pray that if there is something more that needs to be done, that it is VERY CLEAR AND EVIDENT! We are helping Widlene through an organization called, Angel Missions Haiti. They are her POA, and will be making any and all final decisions.

Pray for peace as they leave her with Vanessa's sister today, and pray that Widlene does not cry!!!!! Kate is dreading this. This is the hardest part about being a host family: Saying goodbye to someone that you love and have cared for, for months!!!