Meet The Children

A Fantastic Update on Claudine

For you who may not be familiar with Claudine’s story here is a refresher.

Late one night my friend Dr Pietre, a volunteer Ophthalmologist from Belgium here in Muhanga for two years and working at Kabgayi Hospital, called to ask for help. He had a little girl patient 2 1/2 years of age who was blind and needed cataract surgery, but because of her health she could not survive the anesthesia. “Arlene would you be willing to take her for a few months and see if you can get her in better health for me.”

I liked Dr Pietre very much and wanted to help him so I said “of course she can come here and we will do our best."

This child was not a 2 1/2 year old. She was an infant. She was wrapped in dirty material and tied to an old woman’s back. When I took her in my arms, her body and clothes did not weigh 5 lbs. This is a 2 1/2 year old child?

With good food, much love and prayers, in 6 months Claudine’s health has improved and a specialist Anesthetist was flown in from Belgium to be sure Claudine had a chance. Before allowing the surgery to take place, John and I decided to have her examined by a doctor in Kigali. We knew she had a heart problem but did not know what caused it.

Here is the best part. All tests affirmed she could survive the eye surgery. She has a hole in her heart that is causing trouble. The doctor who did the Ultra sound informed me that there is a team of Heart specialist coming to the hospital in Kigali and he would put Claudine on the list of candidates for them to consider. He seemed to think we have a very good chance of being selected for heart repair. They will come in November. He said he will be in touch with us by the end of September. There will be a cost of $1000 USD plus about $200 for time in the hospital and I know God will provide what is needed. We are asking for prayers that this door that has been opened will remain open and good things will happen for Claudine.
God is awesome.

Claudine after surgery.

Surgery over our little girl is swathed in bandages. Cataracts were removed from both eyes.

Claudine is a good patient.

The bandages came off the second day. She did not open her eyes for another day. The pictures below are on the third day after surgery and you will see she is opening her eyes a little. The doctor is not sure how much vision she will have but we know she will have more than she had and they will work with her in with contact lenses and she will probably wear glasses. We can deal with that. I will be very happy when she has vision and can see the children who love her so much. Urukundo kids have been praying for her to see and it will happen.

Claudine

I think she is doing real well.

Claudine

The team who operated on our little Claudine. Doctor Sarah & Doctor Pete. We are so grateful for their being here.

Doctor Sarah & Doctor Pete

We are Raising Heroes

Debora

Our secondary school students were very pleased to be home with the family. Debora went all the way and won the National competition! She is now Number One in Rwanda! Her essay on Fruits and Vegetables and why they are good for children was judged the best and she was given an award by the minister of Agriculture.
The award is 200,000 Rwf. This amount equals $400 USD. This award is now in an account for her education.

Debora Wins an Essay Contest

Debora is our hero. In her school of over 900 kids, she is a winner.
An essay contest was held in all the Primary schools in Rwanda. The essay was on Fruits and Vegetables and how good they are for our health. Debora took first place in her school. She then moved on to the District level and won there and now is going to the nationals. A congratulations are in order for our girl.

She was given a T-shirt, chocolates, vegetable seeds that we will plant, and a small sum of money from Papa John for being the winner.

Debora

A New Child is Rescued

Mama Arlene with Sarah Mama Arlene with Sarah

While walking to work early in the morning on May 20th, a man heard a strange sound coming from a falling down mud house in a deserted area. He listened and heard it again. It was a very weak cry from a hurt animal, or so he thought. He walked to the door of the dilapidated mud house and peered in. There on the floor lay a tiny naked baby. He picked up the child, wrapped it in his shirt, and went to the nearest cell leader. The cell leader then took the baby to Alyce, Vise Mayor of Gender & Family for the District.

Alyce called us. In this district, we alone will accept these throw away babies. Thank God we are here. The baby is beautiful and may be about 5 days old.

Yes we have a baby girl. Claudine, David, Johnny and Lake now share the nursery with this little gift from God. She has quite a family: 40 in all plus the mamas. She will share the love and space.

We have named her name Sarah. The nursery needs to expand. We need to expand so that these children are not lost. What can you do to help?

News from the Girls

Annah and Belise Annah and Belise

Our kids are growing up. Annah and Belise decided they want to go to school with the rest of Urukundo kids. That would mean cutting their hair off and a different uniform, carrying a back pack and having sport shoes. Here they are ready to be one of the “BIG KIDS”. They were both really excited. It's so wonderful to see them excited about the next stage of their lives.

An Update on Claudine

Our little girl is improving and that makes me happy. Thanks to a money gift from a partner in the U.S. we are able to purchase new born diapers (Pamper type) for her. They are still too big, but we are encouraged. Claudine is eating well and in the first three weeks has gained 4 pounds of body weight. She responds to voices, laughs out loud, looks toward the sound of my voice and smiles with a giggle. She holds her head up. She kicks her legs and lying on her stomach comes up on her knees and pushes. She moves around in her bed. This may not sound exciting for a two-year-old child but Claudine could not move at all when she came to live with us. She had no strength in her arms and legs. She is a special child.

Claudine – the first day
Claudine the first day

Claudine Now
Claudine now

Baby Boom

This week a police officer and the vice mayor of the district brought us a 3 week old baby boy found along the road in the bushes during the night. We could not say no to such a precious and tiny baby and so now we have 3 babies less than two years Claudine our 2 1/2 year old little blind girl who is so fragile and in newborn diapers.  David is 8 months, Laki is 19 months and baby John is 3 weeks. We have named him John. He will be called Johnny.
I am becoming desperate for space for the babies. I am sure these are not the last babies we will receive. Our kids and mamas are delighted with each new arrival. Instant family. We now stand at 40.
We are not an institution we are a home and if this is the door God has opened to save these throw away babies we must heed the call. Please pray for our babies and this "God In Charge" Ministry.

Vise Mayor, Officer Mark, Unnamed baby boy, now John.

Vice Mayor Alyce, Officer Mark, Unnamed baby boy, now John

Johnny, the latest addition, 3 weeks old

Johnny, the latest addition, 3 weeks old

God in Charge, Sends Us a New Challenge

A new child has come into our lives. Her name is Claudine. In my arms and in my heart I carry this little girl.





Mama Arlene and Claudine Mama Arlene and Claudine

Claudine is two years old and appears to be 4 months old in development. She may weigh 15 lbs. This precious child suffers from starvation, scabies, God only knows what else, and is blind. She has cataracts over both eyes. She is an abandoned child needing what we have to give.



Doctor Petre an ophthalmologist from Sweden working at Kabgayi Hospital, a volunteer from his country, called and asked us to help.


He will do surgery on the eyes but in her condition now she would not survive anesthesia. His question was “will you take her for at least 3 months and see if you can restore her to health. He also said, “She will have vision after the surgery”. Praise God.


We could not say no and so she is now part of the family.


She will have special needs and special foods and a mama to care for her.  Do we need help?  Yes we do.  We especially need your thoughts and prayers.


We have sent her to the general hospital with Dr. Petre for tests to be sure she has no infectious diseases that we can not treat and if tests prove we can care for her she will come home in a few days to much “LOVE” at Urukundo Home for Children. The children did not want us to take her away even for a little while. We know she will come home soon. God willing. Please pray for this 2 year old infant.