Cradle of Love Baby Home » Journal Entries

The Doctor is In

Davona — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:04:21 +0000

Last week we had a special visit from an ENT doctor. We have five children who although have been on antibiotics, have chronic discharge from their ears. This doctor brought all his equipment, including a suction machine, so that we wouldn’t have to spend a whole day transporting these babies to his office!

The toddlers were fascinated by the goings on and stood at the doorway, watching with rapt attention!

Maintaining the “flow”

Davona — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:51:58 +0000

Yesterday Mama Musa went to find the family of Clinton, to tell them that Clinton needed to rejoin the family. So this morning, Grandpa (Babu), Aunt and 8 year old brother Deo came to get Clinton. Clinton went without a tear, looking forward to the ride in the garre (car) that he was promised. I have asked them to come back in January for a visit.

Soon after Clinton left, we received two baby girls. One from KCMC through the Happy Watoto Children’s Home. Wema is only 9 days old and her mother died of post-partum hemorrhage. This happens far too often, even in the hospitals.

Isn’t she a little doll?!

We have been waiting on Neema for a few weeks. She was born on July 27th, prematurely and needed to get her weight up before discharge.

Neema has the typical flat sided head, of a premature baby. She is doing very well and we are glad to welcome her to our Cradle family!

Monday, Monday!

Davona — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:00:30 +0000

Not even 11 am and I have had worship with the volunteers, helped feed breakfast, talk to a TZ man who wants to help orphans, talked to 3 ladies who are going to start training in as new caregivers, greet the ENT Doctor who has come to see some of our babies with chronic ear infections and talk to the builder about ordering materials for the roof on the administration house! Whew.

An update on Pendo. On Saturday Batilda our nurse, inserted a feeding tube. She was not swallowing anything, so we need to get her strength, and interest in food up, before trying oral feeding again. She is tolerating 5 ounces of formula at a feed, so that is good.

This morning there are three day volunteers working with 7 toddlers in the playroom–coloring and cutting. It takes 3 adults to corral those active little ones!

Pendo means Love

Davona — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:25:48 +0000

Yesterday I received a call from an American Pediatrician who works a Selian Luthern Hospital here in Arusha. He told me about a patient he had in his office–two year old girl, who is HIV positive and severely malnourished. He asked if we could take her short term to build her up. She weighs about 12 pounds. She has just recently begun her anti-retroviral treatment, so that, along with the proper nutrition we can provide, we pray that she will improve and be able to return to her mother.

My concern is that since she IS HIV+, her mother may not be able to maintain the nutrition level to keep Pendo healthy. She has an older sister, Monika who looks very good.

Please pray for this little girl!

I’m Back!

Davona — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:36:50 +0000

After a wonderful 11 weeks in the States I am now back at CoL. Today is the second day and I am feeling the effects of jet-lag-not so much the sleepiness, but my emotions are fragile! Culture shock all over again–never ceases. Trying to get my passion back for this mission and feeling very inadequate.

Shae, Renate and Tanja–thank you so much for allowing me to have this holiday and keeping things going so well at Cradle! Of course my Tanzanian staff , as well!

Here are a couple photos of the babies with the new blankets made by a children’s church group in Tennessee.

I will write more when my brain catches up with my body!!