Lighting up a world or two …..

The day of surgery arrived for two of our children with bilateral congenital cataracts … unfortunately scheduled whilst Charity was away fundraising in Australia. So as she moved out … I moved in!!!

While the cat's away … truly, I tell you, the mice have little time to play! The saying holds false promises !! :)

Two nights in hospital with Marvin, Beverlyn and Jane, one of our social workers, … and two beds. Snug as bugs in rugs!

And then back to GH, for post operative TLC and hourly eye drops … no rest for … :)

But I set up camp in the adoption suite … with en suite, a bed that you could fit 10 into, a fridge, a water dispenser, and a microwave… can one complain! Well, only when ya little one wakes you up several times a night ;) 

I had a brief affair with motherhood … and it was truly a sweet experience … waking, not to my usual alarm of harps playing (allegedly!), but instead to a child crying out for you (even if it was at 11pm, 12am, 1am, 3am, and the final wake up call at 5am … on a good night). 

I am amazed at how love seems to bring with it an abundance of patience and grace!!! 

Our children's journey to sight …

Marvin and Jasper, his gorgeous 'kasama' (companion)… the four of us (Beverlyn included) have spent many an 8-9hr day in OPD Ophthalmology …

… waiting for test after test

… and yet not once did they complain!!! 

Instead they entertained all present!! Hehehehe

Pre-op… the cataracts. Aren't they amazing … or is that just my opinion :)

At 5am we were awakened to prepare Marvin for theatre … at 6am Marvin and I were taken to theatre.

True story: The anesthetist had just started to inject the anesthetic, when Marvin said 'Nurse Jo, I haven't prayed' … I stopped proceedings, and whilst the whole of the theatre staff ceased what they were doing and respectfully waited, Marvin prayed! How proud I was of 'my boy' :) 

As I left Marvin and returned to the ward,
I was called down with Beverlyn…
… albeit a little premature … since we waited 4 HOURS in the pre-op room!!!! 

Entertainment…

… different positions …

…… and walking in circles using the wheelchair as a stroller …  as I pulled out all the stops to try and pacify a starving infant!!! 

And as Beverlyn went in … Marvin came out (Ummm, excuse me, do you guys not realise I am in major need of a coffee! :))

…… But then your heart bursts to see them safe and sound ……
even when you had no doubts!

Milk for Beverlyn … and coffee for me … 2pm!

Day of discharge … :)

Cracker and a toilet roll… what more could you want in life :)
Am I an awesome mother or what? Heehehe

And then home… sweet home … 

My ipad drew in the crowds :)

A tour of the bed…...

… some playtime downstairs…

And a trip to my house…

… for a cartoon … with a new view!

My baby girl for a whole week… :)

… so may I indulge...

… just 'cos … she is so gorgeous!

None of this could have happened without the support of our donators … I thank you, Gentle Hands thanks you… from the whole of our hearts. 

xxxx

From Gentle Hands to loving hands…...

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and getting to know Ronnie's forever family……

It was love at first sight … for Ronnie and for his parents, and well, for me, actually :) … I could not have hoped for more beautiful parents!

Side note: when a child is matched with a family, usually a few months before they arrive, Charity prints their pictures and places them above their bed …… and each day when they wake and each night before they fall asleep(and the time in between), the caregivers show them who their forever family is.

My point being….. he recognised them, he knew them… before he even met them. So amazing!

Ronnie and I arrived at Gentle Hands on the very same day… he was my first 'patient' - needing a cleft lip and palate repair … and he captured my heart from the very beginning.

I have watched him grow from a small, malnourished baby with an adorable personality … into a little man with an adorable personality!

It was hard to watch him being carried away from Gentle Hands … and gone forever… but the joy I felt from the wonderful life he had just been given way exceeded my loss…

… And I was blessed to catch a second glimpse of this … as his parents invited Judileth (his caregiver) and I to spend the day with them before flying back to their homeland. Memories I will treasure forever. THANK YOU Petteri and Leena!

Goodbye my sweet Ronnie… know you were always and will always be loved by everyone here at Gentle Hands. 

You are truly a special boy! 

xx 

Its my birthday and I'll cry if I want to…….

I sit here wondering how I can possibly convey to you how my heart is feeling right now... 

… I feel so incredibly loved and blessed …… and it is all because of relationship.  There is no greater gift! 

I was awakened at 3.30am to the harmonizing tones of the neighborhood dogs…… it is nothing too out of the ordinary… albeit longer than normal… so I let their cacophony guide me back to sleep…

… and as I opened my door at 6am, I realized what the dogs had been informing their neighbourhood about…… there were birthday balloons spread across my entire front gate!!!

At 6am my heart erupted… which is some mean feat at that time … even coffee doesn't achieve that :)

I do believe Cher and the Gentle Hands boys have just given me THE most unique and exquisite birthday surprise I think I have ever experienced… and I am simply lost for words…

… And, as I walk into Gentle Hands, the Birthday blessings continue … no one forgets!!!!! … it is important to everyone … not merely the birthday girl!!! :)

… and then it was on to Malabon… our heart…

An amazing guy…. Dave…. does all!!!

How can that be anything but a birthday blessing!!!

And then home… for a quick shower ... and a little love on the neighborhood children!!!

…….  as they sang 'Happy Birthday Nurse Jo'!! Priceless :)

 I did, however, keep a few of my treasures!!

…… and then 'twas off to the movies with Jordan and Rachel… two amazing missionary girls … burgers, coke, and candy … 'tis my birthday after all! 

I am truly honored … blessed …… and forever humbled … to live this life and to have you all in my life!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

More than you will ever know……

xx