Please pray for Shnaider...

Shnaider has had a lot of changes over the last week. Last sunday at Luca's birthday party, I noticed that Shaider looked swollen between his eyes. I asked Carla, his host mom, what she thought, and she had noticed the same thing. My dad examined him. He is a doctor, and he said that there was definitely fluid building up. Shnaider was not in any pain, no fever, and was acting perfectly normal.

Carla called Dr. Young monday morning, and he wanted to see him the next day. In the mean time, Barbara Walker, the missionary who brought him over, called from Miami telling Lori that she could come and bring him back to Haiti that day. Needless to say, that was not going to happen! If all went well, she would return for him August 16th. With all of the unknowns of how long Shnaider would need to stay, the Truesdale's felt it would be good to find another host family to take over care of Shnaider. THANK YOU BEN AND CARLA FOR SACRIFICING YOUR "NORMAL" FAMILY LIFE FOR OVER 4 MONTHS TO CARE FOR AND LOVE SHNAIDER! This was not an easy descision for the Truesdale's to make! Shnaider had become a part of their family and they all loved him very much!!!!

God was not surprised by any of this, and had backup in the wings. I have been corisponding with Stephanie Mueller for over a month now, and she has been very interested in hosting future children. She and her family were willing and able to take Shnaider as soon as the Truesdale's needed to transition him. She is a nurse with St. Vincent's Women's hospital. Shnaider had his surgery at St. Vincent's children's hospital. She lives VERY close to the hospital.

Lori took Shnaider to see Dr. Young on Tuesday, and he was baffled by the swelling. He is consulting with another neurosurgeon as to what the next step will be. More than likely he will need another surgery to figure out what is going on. Because of the need for surgery, Dr. Young felt that the sooner Shnaider could get adjusted to his new host family, the better. So, sooner than anyone could have predicted, Shnaider transitioned to his new host family Tuesday afternoon. He is doing great, and has transitioned exceptionally well! THANK YOU TO THE MUELLER'S FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE HIM ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE!!!!!!!!!

Please be in prayer for the Truesdale's! All of this transpired while they were on a short family vacation. No matter how much a host family can be prepared: These children come into their lives and hearts, and saying goodbye is NEVER easy! Fortunately Stephanie, Shaider's new host mom, is from Fort Wayne where Carla lives, and the Truesdale's get to babysit this Saturday for the whole day. They will stay in contact with each other throughout Shaider's stay here in the U.S.

In my last post on Shnaider, I asked that everyone pray for Shnaider and his birth mom. Well, I can share specifically now. Shnaider's birth mom can not be located. Barbara is assuming that she has abandoned him. She was supposed to come to the village in June, and did not show up. No one can locate her. So, what does this mean for Shnaider? Once he is deamed "legally abandoned" he will be eligible for adoption. If you or anyone that you know would be interested in possibly adopting Shnaider, please let Lori Shepler, or myself (Rebekah Hubley) know. PLEASE PRAY THAT A FAMILY IS FOUND SOON!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a picture progression of Shaider's "bump"(This is what Carson and Chase, Shaider's host brothers, called his encephalocele):

(Shnaider before surgery)

(3 weeks post surgery)


(Sunday: July 20th at Luca's party)

(Taken just a couple days ago)



Stephanie will be calling Dr. Young tomorrow: I will post as soon as I know something!