Baby Steps of Progress for Valentine

Let me introduce you to Valentine or Valik for short. He came to the hospital about 3 months ago and captured the hearts of the team. He was so tiny and small that we couldn’t believe that he was really 4 months old because he weighed only 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds). He cried a pitiful soft cry and would wiggle all the time except when he was sleeping which wasn’t often. We suspected that he was very hungry and couldn’t settle down because he was fed very little with a long time between feedings. Whenever we held him he would become agitated unless we were rocking or swinging him. I gave him a new nickname “Squiggly Worm”. Yet he captured our hearts and became a special little guy to several of the team members.

Recently I started to bring some Johnson’s pink baby cream to the hospital to put on the babies who had dry skin. The children enjoy a massage and this cream helps them smell nice. I tried it on Valik and he loved it! He smiles and coos when I am rubbing lotion on his feet or arms. He especially loves it when I rub his face and head, cooing and smiling even more. As soon as I lay him on the changing table and take off his jammies he gets excited because he knows what is coming. Human touch! Comfort! Gentleness! The transformation that takes place during these 20 minutes is amazing. God is teaching me the power of gentleness in the lives of these children who are starving for love. Pray that Valik would continue to grow and get healthier each day.

Marina's new smile

This is it! This is Marina's beautiful new smile!

She is learning to eat solid foods now, and has almost mastered the use of a spoon, despite only having four fingers on her right hand.

She is crawling around like a little speed buggy, and will get her new prosthetic feet in a few weeks! We are going to have to get some new jogging shoes to keep up with this little girl. It is hard to believe that this is the same little girl who could not sit up or even hold her own bottle 9 months ago.

We are happy to announce that Marina is turning four years old the last week of March! Congratulations, Marina! After fighting for your life for three years, you deserve the happiest birthday in the world!

We love you, Marina!

The Mother's Care team

News from Marina

Dear Marina fans,
We are pleased to announce that Marina had her cleft lip and palate surgery on Tuesday at St Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida and she is doing great!
I am attaching a picture so that all of you can see how she is doing. She has some swelling and some stitches that will have to stay in for a while, but she is recovering great, eating, playing and adjusting to her new mouth.
Breathing was a real challenge that first night, with the swelling and the new roof to her mouth, but she came through beautifully and is doing great. We even get a little smile now and then.
She is on blood thinners because of her blood clotting disorder and will need to be in the hospital to be monitored for a few days, and she is really wanting to go home, so pray that she will be at peace until she is released from the hospital.
Thank you so much to all of you who have called and written to let us know you are praying and thinking of us.
We appreciate you so much!
After the stitches and tubes come out, I will send a new picture.
Blessings,
Rebecca and Marina