BABY JUMAIDA IN HOSPITAL WITH “SILENT” MALARIA Wednesday started off rough as we had to call upon our Hospital ER supervisor, Rachide, to check out 7‑month-old Jumaida. Jumaida with Foster Mother Estefania At 4 a.m. she refused her bottle and was very weak and floppy when sitting up. Her weight had dropped by 300 gms, she had no fever, but something was very wrong! Rachide agreed, immediately
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR TWINS!Crecencia (girl) and Crecencio (boy) turned 2 years old on January 11! They are so very happy living with us, for they were shuffled to 3 different substitute mothers in the village before coming to live with our happy family. Their picture here says it all, as they are now healthy, STRONG, and growing fast.We are so, so proud of their progress,
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: JANUARY 6, 2024 OFF TO A FAST STARTWith all the holiday fun spilling over into this first week of January, I will share 3 candid shots I managed of our ever-growing family.Left to right: Franciano, Ancha, and Suzy playing with their new toys. Suzy couldn’t wait to strap her new baby doll to her back!Juma caused a major traffic jam at his house. Here it is
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: DECEMBER 30, 2023 TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, AND ALL THROUGH THE MISSIONSAT CHILDREN WITH BIG SMILES ON THEIR FACES!FOR FRIENDS HAD BROUGHT A FANCY MEAL WITH A HUGE CAKE AS WELL!AFTER CHOWING DOWN ON SCRUMPIOUS CAKE,EVERY LITTLE HAND HELD A BIG WHITE BALLOON,MUCH TO THEIR HAPPY DELIGHT! Balloon fun!https://youtube.com/shorts/V27vRrIES5I ALL THE CHILDREN WERE SMILING AND WAVING AS OUR FRIENDS DEPARTED,FOR THEIR LITTLE BELLIES WERE FULL
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: DECEMBER 23, 2023 CHRISTMAS FEAST A YUMMY AFFAIR The entire 160 family members of widows and orphans met at our Food Center for a great feast this week. Bertino, our Children’s Pastor, led several songs followed by a prayer before the meal was served. Bertino leads the children in singing I LOVE YOU JESUS in several languages.https://youtube.com/shorts/hIKylBFQ1Wo The menu was very tasty “fancy rice” which is
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2023 STORIES THAT TOUCH THE HEART MIRACLE BABY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL On Wednesday, our “Miracle Baby Boy” (Milagre) was released from the hospital. His happy, healthy look was heartwarming after the scare he gave us a week ago when malaria hit him at 4 weeks of age! Malaria is tough on everyone, but to have it at 4 weeks of age is very dangerous.
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2023 INFANT MOZZY NETS COME TOO LATE On Wednesday (Dec. 6), I went to weigh 4‑week-old Milagre, and he had a distinct fever. I contacted our Doctor, who told us to bring him right over for a malaria test. The test was positive, and he was admitted right away to the pediatric ward at the Balama Hospital. Milagre has been in his
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2023 INFANTS KEEP COMING — BABY # 29 JOINED US THIS WEEK Sadly, the mother of 6‑week-old infant Marcelina passed away from postpartum complications 5 weeks after the little girl’s birth. The elderly Granny (mother of the deceased) tried to care for Marcelina, but at the mandatory check in at our baby weigh-in on Thursday our staff found the bottle unwashed and
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: NOVEMBER 25, 2023 ESTALESIA HOME, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN Estalesia was finally released on Wednesday this week when all her lab tests returned normal. After her 3rd transfusion, her Hemoglobin was up to a safe 10.3 from 7 (pre-transfusion). Her malaria smear at the lab was negative. Her remaining problem is her distended abdomen, which is causing pressure on her lungs. It will take time to
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2023 ESTALESIA FACING MORE CHALLENGES Due to a reaction to a vaccine, Estalesia’s left thigh became very swollen and hot, requiring hospitalization for IV antibiotic treatment. She was unable to move her painful leg for 3 days. The video shows how improved she is on her 4th day, as this is the first she has moved her leg voluntarily. Estralesia moving her