Ninos

This is baby Elder. He is a 2 month old baby boy that was born approx. 4 weeks early via cesarean section. His mom says that the midwife was "manipulating my organs and made me bleed". So she had an emergency c/s. He was born with a congenital disorder that causes his body not to make thyroid hormones. If caught early, the prognosis is not too bad, lifelong maintenance doses of thyroid hormones. If not detected, this is the result. Elder is only 4 pounds. His head is very small and his brain hasnt been developing. He has large open fontanels (soft spots)and a large tongue. He also suffers lethargy and, what brought him to the hospital, constipation. When he showed up this kiddo was "full of it!" Unfortunately, we have not been successful in getting "it" out. Tonight he took a turn for the worse and developed a small arrhythmia and had an increase need for supplemental oxygen. We are praying hard for this little one. We are asking for another miracle. We just watched one with Miguel! Why cant we have another? We were able to get a name of a pediatric endocrinologist (thanks Greg!) so the pediatrician down here can consult and hopefully find the best way to care for this little guy. So, we will keep you all updated. Elders mom is a 16 year old girl that has been here by herself for the most part. Tonight she cried so hard it would have broke your heart. Pray for her too.

Well, now on to the fat and juicy baby! Miguel is doing so well. We are so happy to see his progress. Today he cried and got mad when his food didn't come fast enough or if he was uncomfortable, just like a healthy normal 20 day old baby! These pictures say 1000 words. We will remove his arterial line (the one in his head) tomorrow and give him a bath. I cant wait to fix his mohawk and take pictures! Oh how we love this baby. When we raise funds for this mission trip we do it with the knowledge that God has a plan for the money and we see where the need is greatest. Well, after making sure the hospital was reimbersed for his oxygen consumption (6 big tanks at 100 limperas (about 55 bucks) a piece, we turned our attention to his hospital bill. Hospital Loma de Luz is the only private hospital that doesn't charge patients prior to admission. Miguel would have simply died if that was how they cared for the community. His family is so poor that besides the clothes on their back and maybe one extra set, the only thing they own is a small dog (which fends for herself) and two chickens. The hospital does charge its patients for care but does it with the knowledge that some bills will be paid in other ways than with cash. They can do work around the hospital grounds to pay back a bill. Some provide some of their harvest to the hospital kitchen to feed other patients. It is a good system that allows the local people to be responsible for their care, yet allows them the kind of care they would never be able to afford otherwise. Miguels bill up to today, without oxygen charges, is $471.74. An amount they could never pay. Miguels family lives 6 hours away (all by foot) and could not work this bill off. Nor do we want him to sell his chickens to pay his bill. They will provide eggs for the family (food for Miguel). God did not spare his life to have him starve or be malnourished. So, thanks to all our great financial support, his bill will be paid in full. Thanks to all our great prayer support his life has been saved! What a blessing you all are. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. I wish you ALL could be down here to experience this time. We all miss our families and are looking forward to seeing them, but wouldn't trade this time for anything.

The Team