A Thank You from Gift and his Family

Translation:
I asked the lady in the video what her name was.  She said she is Gladness Nyanwa- the grandmother to Gift. Asked as to how Gift was feeling after being discharged from the University Teaching Hospital(UTH).The grandmother said Gift was feeling much, much better such that he was able to play with friends and run around. Asked what she could tell the sponsor concerning Gift’s treatment.
The grandmother said she was thankful for the support she got for Gift’s treatment and that she herself was also well looked after in Lusaka. She wished the sponsors more of God’s blessings and asked the sponsor to continue sponsoring the boy when even need arises. She went on to say that had it not been for the sponsors, Gift’s treatment would have been impossible. She also thanked CHILDHOPE for the support they rendered while Gift was in the hospital.

Gift is not only feeling great, he is cancer-free!!!  yay!!!  Thank you sponsors!!

Update on Gift's Health

Gift was rushed to Lusaka this morning after a hospital visit in Mazabuka found he was extremely ill.  $350 was raised to cover some of the costs of the transport, medicines, food, and accommodations.  We will soon have an update on his diagnosis and what the total cost will be to make him better.  I am extremely grateful to the donors who provided Gift with his chance to live!  His family would only have been able to keep him comfortable and wait for him to die, since they do not have the funds to get him to Lusaka and treatment.  As you may imagine, Gift's grandmother is in awe of the love that you all have poured out on Gift and his family. 

I will keep you posted as I have more information. The staff of CHZ in Zambia have been going back and forth to get the family settled at the hospital and get the funds logged in.  It has been hectic for them, but it is all for a good cause =) 

Contract Signing

Here is a photo of the contract signing that took place at the Holiday Inn in Lusaka.  The European Union has partnered with CHILDHOPE to bring much needed supplies to the people in the southern province.  Included in this are the areas of Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, and Kalomo. 

Part of this contract includes a company called Sight Savers.  You can find them on the web here:   http://zm.sightsavers.org/  That link will lead you directly to the Zambia specific program.  We have many children and family members suffering with eye problems.  These supplies will help save their eye sight before it's too late.  Yay!!!

2011 Sixth Distribution Post 11: Medical

Pin pricks, blood pressure tracking, and things of that sort are what is shown in these photos.  There are more photos posted in the yahoo group photo album.  I didn't put them all here because the rest are blurry, but you still may enjoy them. 

Also, John is setting up a way for me to upload the medical exam reports into the child's account, so this will make it easier for sponsors to refer back to, especially as the years go by and several exams have been done for the child. 

2011 Sixth Distribution Post 10: Medical- Tracking History

The medical team asked the parents and guardians questions regarding the child's medical history including any hospitalizations, medications they are taking, medical conditions that they have already been diagnosed with and any serious conditions that the child's parents.  This is invaluable information that will help us in the child's treatment or any future ailments that may come up. 

2011 Sixth Distribution Post 9: Medical- Measuring Growth

At the recent Medical Exam Assembly, we had 93 children get check ups.  One of the important aspects of these exams is that they track a pattern- For example, the weight and height tracks the child's pattern of growth.  This allows us to know if something is amiss.  Annual exams are our best weapon against disease.  Thank you for providing this amazing gift to the children and their families!!

One of Our Children was Rushed to the Hospital

For those of you who do not follow us on the yahoo group, I am sending you the message here.  At last distribution, a child was brought to Chim's attention.  He appeared to be very ill, and Chim returned to Lusaka with a video, photo and information about the boy.  The boy's name is Clever.  He just got a sponsor a few days ago actually. 

Yesterday (Saturday), his belly was swelling.  Thanks to his new sponsor, the family was given funds to get him treated.  At first they were headed to the clinic, but it was soon clear that they would need access to the equiptment and medicines that would be easier provided by a hospital.  They rushed him on to the hospital. 

Now, we must sit and wait for word from Chim.  He is already headed to Mazabuka, and he will send us updates once he is there.  He does not have a car, so relying on public transportation will make some things difficult, but as soon as I know something, I will let you all know.  I know everyone is worried about him.  Please continue to keep him and his mother in your thoughts and prayers! 

Astridah shows off her ear!

Look closely and you will see the spot on the base of Astridah's ear where the surgeon made an incision.  This is Astridah's ear after the stitches were removed.  =)

A Word from Astridah's Grandmother

http://youtu.be/5e-QSFqeD9Q

The grandmother to Astridah says she is very grateful and happy for the treatment that has been done to the young girl. The lady says she so thankful to the sponsor who made everything possible. She told us that, had it not been for the sponsor, the grandmother would have not managed to take the girl for treatment. She said she was speaking from the hospital with excitement that Astridah got the treatment she deserved.

The grandmother went on to say since Astridah has no father and mother; she has now found a parent through this sponsor. The grandmother was touching Astridah ear to show that she was just from having surgery and all went on well. She also thanked CHILDHOPE staff and the American office for making Astridah treatment possible. The grandmother wished the sponsor, CHILDHOPE-ZAMBIA and the American office more of God’s blessings

Astridah's New Ear!!

Ok, that was a little bit of a dramatic title, I suppose.  Astridah did not get a new ear, but she did get the surgery on her ear drum that she has so desperately needed!! 

It all started with a sponsorship.  John started sponsoring Astridah back in May 2010, which was when the sponsorship program began.  Astridah and her grandmother (shown here in the photos above) appeared in a video that was posted to this blog.  The grandmother explained that Astridah had a difficult time hearing because her ear drum was broken.  Astridah is a complete orphan, and there is no way that her grandparents could afford to fix her ear.   The grandmother was especially upset at not being able to help her grand-daughter.

John, having heard the problem of Astridah's ear drum, immediately stepped in to help.  He has been paying for Astridah to get regular bi-monthly doctor's visits with the Beit Cure Hospital in Lusaka.  This requires not only payment to the hospital, but, also, transportation costs back and forth!!  When the doctors were finally able to completely treat the infection and other problems, they sent notice to Chim of a recommended surgery that could restore Astridah's hearing. 

The surgery would take a few hours, but Astridah would have to stay 3 to 5 days at the hospital.  Also, Astridah's grandparents would have to be there in Lusaka, but they would not be able to stay in the hospital over-night.  It was determined that in order to make this surgery possible, we would need payment for the hospital, transportation costs, and hotel costs and meals for the grandparents while in Lusaka.  This is something the grandparents would never, in their lifetime, be able to provide for Astridah. 

John was contacted and given the details from the hospital.  He immediately jumped in and said that he would help her get the surgery she needs.  When word got back to Astridah's grandmother, she was over-joyed!  It was a life-long dream come true! 

Earlier this week, Astridah went in for the surgery.  The top picture shows the ear that was operated on.  The picture at the bottom is Astridah and her grandmother right after the surgery.  The operation was a success!  The doctor was able to repair the ear drum that had been damaged from so many untreated ear infections.  The doctors are not confident that this surgery alone will restore her hearing 100%, but they have helped her get one step closer to it.  Later Astridah will get her stitches removed, and then, she will return to Beit Cure a few weeks later for a hearing test to see if her hearing has improved.  If her hearing is not much better, they will recommend a hearing aide.  However, the operation will still be considered a success because the surgery will stop the ongoing ear infections. 

Thank you, John, for helping Astridah- This will no doubt help her in her studies as I can not imagine how she keeps up with the class when she can only hear so little!!  You will see the videos next.  John, you are considered part of Astridah's family.  You have taken the place of her parents.  The grandmother is so grateful for this and everything else you do!  Astridah is grateful too, but her hearing loss has caused her to be extremely timid in speaking.  Maybe she will come out of her shell as she gets used to her new ear drum!

A Trip to Lusaka

One of our sponsored children took a special trip to Lusaka this week with her grandparents.  It wasn't a vacation, but it was more exciting than any trip could ever be!  This child was able to go to this treatment center above called the Beit Cure Hospital.  Their web-site is here: http://cure.org/hospitals/zambia/  The surgery did not come without a cost, but they provided invaluable treatment to our child.  Stay tuned for pictures and videos on what they did and who benefited.  Then, check out their web-site.  I think a few of our children could benefit from this hospital, and maybe we could even get them in the CureKids waiting list.  It is something to look into for sure for some of the children that are needlessly suffering due to a disability.  Remember to check back later for videos and photos of this week's surgery!