New pics of Sendy

It breaks my heart to see her just sitting in her car seat all the time. She still has a huge smile though. I guess she doesnt know any other life.

The bottom pic with tears all over her face kills me. How can you not want to love her, hold her and give her all the medical care she deserves. Ill let you all know when I do when they get a visa.

Steph

New updates

Well my and Flamandas tickets are booked! We travel back to Haiti the 28th of Dec. to reunite her with her mother. I have raised some funds for the trip but not all. I am so thrilled to be a part of her journey from beginning to end. God is truly amazing. The community is very excited about her return. To have someone travel to the U.S. and return is a very big deal there. I can wait to see her mom. I will take lots of pics.

I am still hoping to bring Sendy home with me. They are working on getting her visa now. Please pray that everything works out and I can transport her for surgery.

The kids will be staying with my mom and Tom will be home working. Pray for all of them as I am gone. I couldnt do it without them!
Steph

Who knew cats liked pizza??

C.C. decided to open the lid with her head and try to help herself to the pizza last night!

Nick's Poetry

This is Nick reading his Ode at Barnes and Noble. He did a great job. He was really nervous.
The kids had to pick a topic that they really felt strongly about or liked a lot and he picked....

Gas Stations! Yes I was surprised too but that is Nick for you.

Ode to the Gas Station

A gas station is fantastic. You can pay with cash or plastic.
A gas station is an oasis on the road.
A gas pump is a juice box for cars.
The car was thirsty when it reached the station.
The foodmart was happily feeding the people
A gas station is like a little city in town.
The cost of the gas is as expensive as gold.
Giant cars greedly guzzle gallons of gas.
Gas stations sell sodas, snacks and scrumptious snow cones.
The car glugged the gasoline and away it sped.
The cars vrooomed as they drove away.
Snacks are goodies that children cannot wait to devour.
The cash register chimed as it opened.
Gas stations keep us on the go. Even as far away as Tokyo.
by Nick Mueller

They had to include all sorts of different illiterations. It was a difficult project for Nick. Creativity is not an autistic trait! His dad was in tears as he read. Shockingly it wasnt me crying. Even his special ed teacher had a tear. He has grown so much. Just a few years ago he was comming out of the bathroom naked in preschool! I can believe he is in third grade already. He is so smart! He can remember anything he just has to see it once or hear it once and it is never gone. I wish I had half his memory power.
We love you Nick, you never cease to amaze us!

Flamanda/Sendy updates

Flamanda is cleared to go home already! The hole in her brain is draining fluid and her head has gone from down by 4 cm. The doctor feels confident that the hole will stay open. We are a little nervous about her returning so soon but the doctor has released her and we have to send her back now. Her mom will be thrilled to get her so we are happy that she will be reunited with her quickly. We are trying to work out how to get her back to Haiti and her mother. Hands That Heal is very low on money right now and does not have the entire amt available to pay for a ticket for me to take her back. I am willing to pay for half of my ticket to go but we still need more. In Chambrun where I work with NVM and where Flamanda is from is having a revival the week I would love to return to take her back (the last week of Dec.). It is the 1 year anniversary of the opening of our church. They are having many festivities and a wedding that week. The first one ever. It is not often that people get married because they simply dont have the money to do it in Haiti.
I might also be able to bring Sendy back with me then too. The surgeon in OH that put in her first shunt is willing to do surgery again. They are working on the hospital to agree as well. I would love to be able to do that for them and spend a day with her. I always felt we were supposed to adopt her but we have never been persuaded to take that step I guess. If the hospital agrees that would give them enough time to get the visa by the time I would leave.
So many things up in the air right now. I wish God would just show us the future and His plans! I might not get to go at all and I am trying to prepare myself for that too. I guess if I am supposed to go God will work it out. I hate stupid money!! So much could be accomplished with more money. We are desperate to raise 12,000 with NVM now too to be able to get our next shipment of food to feed the 320 kids we have for the next year. We are almost out of food. I would be happy with a few hundred to get Flamanda back and Sendy here right now though. Starving and suffering kids is just not something I am willing to accept. Pray for Tom and Jer and Nick as they do a great job dealing with my craziness! Though Jeremy has definately inherited my compassion:)

Pray that God would bless Hands That Heal and NVM financially so we can continue Gods work and that Sendy can get here to have her surgery. They told me she is talking more and loves to play with Barbies! She is worth saving! Pray that Flamanda can be reunited with her mother and that I dont go crazy worring how this is all going to work out! I still wonder why God has choosen me to be there intercessor and put all this in my life!
I guess I'll just keep praying but honestly I wouldnt want it any other way!
Steph

Sendy

Sendy had her shunt taken out a few weeks ago due to infection. She remains at His Home for Children orphanage. They went to the clinic that the doctors from Miami come to do every few months in PAP and Sendy had the ETV procedure done where an artificial hole is put in instead of a shunt. The hole did not stay open long. She is in desperate need of a new shunt. Her inscision site is leaking spinal fluid now. Her fontanel is closed so the fluid will cause extreme pressure and head pain and further brain damage to her if she does not get a new shunt put in. The team from Miami took her last CT scan with them so the orphanage does not have one now to send us to even get to a doctor in the states to see if we can get her here. She had her first shunt put in at a hospital in OH. She has her passport and is a good candatiate for getting here on a visa. She has weakness on her lt side but does sit up, feed herself, sing her ABC's and could have a good quality of life. Sendy was the first child I fell in love with my first day ever in Haiti. I hate the thought of her suffering and it is so unfair that she cannot have proper treatment. At this point I dont know how to help her. I am hoping the orphanage can get her scans from the doctors in Miami or a new scan so we can try to find a doctor very quickly to help her here.

Please pray for this situation.

Steph

Update on Jeri

Here are some new photos of Jerica. Due to her hydrocephaly Children of the Promise felt that if her parents werent willing to have her adopted out they should take her back at this point. They do not feel she is a good candidate for a medical visa. Pastor Pierre flew her back to Chambrun to her parents. I have not heard how she is doing with them. They could not bear the thought of not having her no matter what the outcome. I pray she is eating well and not suffering at all.

Christmas Kitty

Ever since we put up our tree C.C. our cat has taken up residence under it! The kids just love to put up the tree and look at it.

With snow on the ground here in Westfield this morning it sure was looking like Christmas is comming.

Family Pics

We had our family pics taken after 2 years of not doing it and they turned out great! I could have posted a lot more they were all so good. I cant wait to see how my Christmas card turns out, I am picking it up tonight.

Our good friend is an awesome photographer! Check out J. Sherrick Photography she does awesome work.

Thanks Jen!

Flamanda/Jerica/Jean

Flamanda continues to improve. Her host mother reports she is eating as well as she did before surgery now. She still has the feeding tube in for extra nutrition. She has an appointment next week with the surgeon. We are anxious to see what he thinks at that time.

Jerica continues to decline. Pastor Pierre talked with the father yesterday and he could not bear the thought of her with another family. They do not wish to give her up for adoption and the facility where she is at does not feel she is a candidate for a medical visa unless she could stay in the U.S. and be adopted. Pastor is flying to Cap Haitien to get her and bring her back to the family. I would think she will not make it long there since she is not taking any food by mouth. It is so sad to think if we could have been there when she was born or had a clinic running in Chambrun that her life could have turned out totally differently. NVM needs $2,500.00/month to operate a clinic there. The building is almost completed we just need the monthly funding to get it running.

Jean has started his seizure medications this week. He had a really bad seizure right before starting the medicine. He is very hopeful as are we that we can get him seizure free with medications. What a blessing to him to have this opportunity to get the medicine he so desperately needs.

Blessings,
Steph

Flamanda

Flamanda was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. She is doing well. She is eating babyfood well but they left the feeding tube in with formula going in for extra nutrition. She has a doctor appointment with the surgeon in 2 weeks. They will decide then if she still needs the feeding tube in depending on how well she is getting fluids in. The surgeon was happy with how her head was looking. It should continue to slowly drain fluid. She can close her eyes all the way now which she couldnt do before as her eyes are not bulging out as much. The surgeon was impressed at how she tracked objects and how alert she was.
Continue to pray for healing and that the drainage hole stays open.
Thanks,
Steph

Flamanda/Jerica

Flamanda had her surgery yesterday and everything went great. Her head is draining well. It is starting to shrink down and she was able to close her eyes all the way when she was sleeping. She is not eating well most likely due to sore throat. They will keep her until Fri or Saturday. The host mom and one of her older children have a hospital apartment across the street from the hospital to stay at until she goes home. They are sad to be away from their family at Thanksgiving but doing great. She said the nurses are spoiling Flamanda.
Our biggest prayer request is that the drainage hole stays open. If it closes they will have to put in a shunt and it will make it much more difficult to maintain that in Haiti for her mother.

I also received a new update on Jerica. The fluid is builiding in her head which is not good. She is not eating on her own. They are trying to get ahold of her parents to see if they want her back as they do not feel there is much chance for her now. I am very sad to hear this news.
Pray for wisdom in her case and for all involved to make the right decisions for her.

Thanks,
Steph

Jerica

I received a new update on our piti piti baby. I think she looks so good in this picture!

From the orphanage,
Jeri is actually doing pretty well, considering everything she has been through. She's keeping almost all of her formula down and when I weighed her today she was 4 lbs. 1 oz (up from 3 lbs. 4.8 oz last Tuesday). She's still not interested in sucking very much at all, so almost all of it is going in her tube. But she's having regular wet and dirty diapers, so that's a blessing. Her temperature is up to within the normal range, so she doesn't need to be under a light 24/7. She's not crying yet, but is making more noises that are closer to cries. She's also moving around much more. She is on both Lasix and Acetazolamide to help with the swelling in her brain. She has definitely improved over the past week, though is still in a critical stage. I attached pictures from when I changed her tube yesterday.

Steph

Georgey

Hands That Heal has a new patient comming tomorrow night from Haiti. His name is Georgey. He is 11 years old and we have been told he is a very pleasant child. He will be seeing a urologist in Indy and having genetic counseling done. Georgey was born with ambiguous genetalia. His care will be life altering for him and will require a very dedicated family with a lot of sensitivity to his emotional needs as we are not yet sure what all will be required to fix his specific needs until he arrives and testing can be done. Rebekah and her family will be keeping Georgey for a few weeks until we can find a longer term family for him. More information will be available as he arrives. If you are in the northern Indiana or Indy area and are interested in hosting him or know someone that might be, or would like more information on him please contact either Rebekah or Stephanie. Rebekah is also in need of clothing for Georgey. We are guessing he is a size 8-10 slim. Shoes and underwear are also a need. If you are in or near Ft.Wayne and can help with this please contact Rebekah.Prayer for Rebekah's family and for Georgey's transition would be very appreciated. His case will be very delicate and we do not have a lot of details yet.
Thanks,
Steph

Birthday Boy

My baby turned 10 on Saturday! Unbelievable that my youngest child is in double digits now. We had cake and a few presents. Family party to come later. He was so excited!!
We love you Nick~

Perseverance

Nick got an award at school last week for Perseverance! Every week they give out awards to students based on the lifeskill they are working on for that week. If perseverance doesnt sum up Nick and school I dont know what does. He has had a rough couple of weeks but had been doing better than he ever has before. School will be filled with many ups and downs for Nick and us. Ive heard change of seasons is rough for autistic people and if you know Nick you know he hates clothing! Long pants and socks make him uncomfortable unfortunately.

We are so happy with his teacher and helpers this year. They do a great job helping him. We are very blessed to live where we do.

Way to go Nick!!!! We love you.

Steph

Flamanda

Flamanda is doing very well. We found out today that she is having her surgery on the 23rd at 1:30. The doctor has her MRI and says everything is a go for surgery. She is eatting a ton and generally doing very well. They expect her to be in the hospital for a few days if all goes well.
Steph

Jerica

I got a new update on Jerica. They have taken her out of the hospital and back to Children of the Promise. She is only taking small amts of formula through her NG tube, not crying, and is very cold. Her lab work is all normal and her Hgb is up to 10 from 6 when she got to the hospital. She is HIV negative. They are working with her the best they can. It is up to God now. They have not given up hope on her.
Steph

Not Good News on Jerica

I received a new update today. It sounds like as soon as she turned a good corner she has turned back the other way. She is now apparently not eating again, not crying and is very cold. They are thinking about just taking her back to Children of the Promise and continuing care there instead of the hospital and hoping for the best. They are wanting info to contact the parents if she passes. It doesnt sound good. I want to say something positive about what her life has been so far but I just dont feel it comming to me. What I really feel is that if I had been there earlier or we had care there weekly she would actually have had a chance.
I have been having some withdrawl as I usually do when I return it has just hit me later than usual this time. I think, what are we doing here in the U.S.? Watching TV, going out to eat, mundane daily life things. Going to work to have just enough money to pay the bills. Homework, videogames, cartoons, and computer fill my kids lives. Is this what God wants us to be doing? I think of so much that we could accomplish in Haiti, lives saved and improved, people being brought to Christ. Children that we could help to not suffer and die and starve to death.
I try to do as much as I can here but it is very limited. Then I think would I really be able to sacrifice my lifestyle and comfort here. Could I sacrifice it for my kids until they are 18. I am selfish and lazy here most of the time. I want so badly to be there helping, doing more. I want to be able to look at God and say I did everything in my power to save them and tell them about you. I love my family here so much. People think when I say I want to be there it is because I dont want to be with them here. It isnt that at all. I guess I just cant explain it.
All I can do is pray.
I hope that Jerica will live but maybe that isnt what God wants. I guess I am just feeling frustrated, helpless and useless here right now.
Steph

New info on Jerica

I received an update on Jerica today. She is doing much better! She is taking food by mouth now and just getting supplement by the tube. She is more alert and will be going back to Children of the Promise hopefully this weekend. It sounds like she has definately turned the corner! Praise God.

Steph

Update on Sendy

I received these pics of Sendy yesterday and an update that she is responding well to the antibiotics. She had apparently had a stroke prior to getting her shunt. She does not use her lt. arm and hand much and is very weak in her lt. leg. They think she will never walk unassisted. She is able to feed herself now. They are hoping that the team from Miami can replace her shunt in a few weeks when they come. If not there is a doctor they use that can place a shunt in Haiti now.

New info on Jerica

I was able to receive an update on our tiny baby. She started swelling a couple days ago. Her fontanelle was getting full. They took her for an ultrasound of her brain and have found the ventricles to be dialated. She will have some brain damage due to this. They have begun to give her some medications to help with the excess fluid. The pediatrician there is giving her a 50/50 shot at surviving at this point. She is a fighter and we can pray for God's will to be done and healing for her. Her life has already brought salvation and touched many. Quite an impact for a tiny being. God does not make mistakes!
Steph

Jean

Jean is one of the workers for Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Haiti. He has been with Pastor Pierre for a while now. I first learned about Jeans seizure disorder last year. It has taken a long time but I am happy to report that I have found a super nice Neurologist to help me treat him. We were able to get a CT scan when I was there last week and the doctor has recommended a medication for him. I have ordered it and will get it to Haiti as soon as I can. Jean's family is very poor and the money he makes goes to support them. Having a chance to be seizure free will be an amazing blessing for him. I am so happy God has shown me the resources to help him. He is a very quiet sweet person.
We havent gotten the results of the CT yet but are hoping it doesnt show anything major wrong and he can only be treated by medications.
Steph

Flamanda's Appointment

Flamanda had her first doctor appointment today. The doctor says from the CT done in Haiti he does not think she has much of a temporal lobe. They are going to be getting an MRI on the 5th. She had her pre-op lab work done and is doing great with her family. She is eating well and loves rocking with Papa Terry in the rocking chair. I think she is getting spoiled! They are doing a great job and their kids are loving having her with them. They say she seems very aware of what is going on around her.
The doctor is going to do the procedure where a hole is drilled in the brain first to drain fluid. If in 2 days that isnt working he will place a shunt. If it seems to be working and draining fluid they will send her home to be watched for a while to make sure it continues to work. This also is dependent on what the MRI shows but that is the current plan for her.
What a blessing for her to be able to receive this care.
God is good!
Stephanie

Sendy

A friend of mine was in Haiti recently and is adopting from His Home where Sendy is. She took this pick of her and watched her doing her therapy. Standing, feeding herself and all smiles now!
I havent gotten another update on her about her next surgery.
Just praying for her,
Steph

Update on Jerica

We got an update on our piti piti baby today. She was admitted to the hospital the day after arriving at Children of the Promise. They gave her blood and IV antibiotics and are continuing the NG tube feedings. She is perking up they say!
What a praise that her mom accepted Christ and she is doing better!
God is good,
Steph

Amazing news from Chambrun

A letter from Pastor Pierre,


In the gospel of John12:32 Jesus said something that has caught my attention from the first time I read it: 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." NIV
You may remember last week, we helped little Jerica born at 7 months and weighs 3 1/2 lbs to find a place that can save her life. As a result of our ministry to her, her mother have decided to give her life to Christ. She came to church yesterday to ask us to lead her into the prayer of salvation.
I then, started thinking why such a sudden move? It hit me later that helping her baby must have lifted Christ who in turn have drawn her to him.
Natacha is now a believer and pledge to keep coming to our church. Please pray for her growth and now for her partner who is not yet married to her to come to Christ.
Sometimes we pray and fast for love ones to come to the Lord, but may have forgotten to keep lifting Christ up who can and will draw every one to Him.
Peter said in 2 Peter 3:8-9
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Please friends would you continue to pray and help us to keep lifting Jesus up in Chambrun and in all Haiti as He faithfully draw men and women to him?

What an awesome thing to happen from us just showing compassion and love and help to a child!
Pray for even more stories like this,
Steph

Photos of Sendy

These were taken today when she got home from the hospital.

Update on Sendy

I got another email from the orphanage about Sendy. She is doing better and is going to be released from the hospital today! She needs her shunt replaced soon. That is the next prayer request as well as financial means to do it.
Steph

Sendy

Sendy was the little baby with Hydrocephaly that I met on my first day ever in Haiti Sept. 11, 2007. Her mother had brought her to His Home For Children Orphanage and has given her up for adoption. For quiet a long time I searched for care for her before I even knew what I was doing with Hands That Heal. We had been told that the neurosurgeon in Indy would do her case and Tom and I were going to keep her for 6 months. I thought it was a done deal, we would most likely fall in love with her and adopt her possibly. Well as often happens that was not Gods plan. The surgery fell through and we did not get her. Later she went to Ohio and had a shunt placed. She returned to Haiti and still does not have an adoptive family. She had been doing very well until this week. I received word that she was ill and then got an email from Hal Nunguester that runs the orphange as follows:

Hi Stephanie, Sendy was doing well, then, about 3 weeks ago she started running a fever. She responded well to rocephin, but as soon as we took her off she started the fever again. She also started leaking puss out of her belly button. One day, after several days of rocephin she just leaked yellowish spinal fluid out of her belly button and Chris immediately took her to the neuro doc. He did some xrays and deternined that the tube to her shunt was infected. On Wednesday the removed the shunt and tube. She started vomiting that night and had continued to have vomiting problems since the surgery. The doc initially thought that it was a reaction to the anesthetic (sp?) but now they are not sure. She is to remain in the hospital over the weekend and they hope to release her on Monday. She will need shunt replacement in about 3 weeks when the infection is all cleared up. We have a team coming in from Children's Medical in Miami and hopefully they will do the shunt surgery. If not, the neuro doc said he could do it for $2,000, but he does not have the shunt or tubing in country and would need to procure that also. The current charges are $500 plus we are accumulating around $15 per day for private nursing coverage, which is required. Medications and all included we are looking at around $1,000 right now and probably around $3,000 in three weeks unless the Miami team does the surgery and then we only need to pay the private nursing for about 5 days plus medications which shouldn't be over $500 total. She is a pretty sick little girl right now and really needs all of your prayers. Blessings!!!Hal Nungester Port Au Prince, Haiti

I still dont know why things happened the way they did in her case. I pray for her and think of her often, especially when we had Shnaider and Sabrina living with us. I still have a closet full of clothes for her too. I know God's plan is always right but I cant help think we missed the boat on her and what God was asking us to do. Many people were praying that we would adopt her.
Since I have been back from this trip my mind has been swimming with all the issues related to Claudine and Sendy and the countless children starving and suffering there, unable to get help they need.
If anyone feels lead to donate to Sendys care you can go to www.hishomeforchildren.com

Praying,
Steph

Please Pray

Please pray for this community, these children, and Nehemiah Vision Ministries. I pray and know God will be faithful to transform more of the children there like the little girl in the first photo, to a child like the smiling face in the second photo. Pray we are financially able to meet our needs and that God shows us how to do that.

Pray for me too, it is very difficult at times for me to be away from there. One of the workers said it perfectly to me this time. He had asked me about Tom and the boys and said he could tell I loved them very much as I showed them some photos of Jeremy and Nick they had never seen them before but had met Tom on the last trip. He said he thought I had 2 families. One here and one there. It is truly how I feel. I would love to go and serve more than twice a year but with finances and work and the kids in school it would be difficult. God knows I am willing and if He wants it to happen it will. Tom has been great and supportive. The boys did fine while I was gone. They didnt even cry when I came home. I think they are used to it now. God has truly blessed me to have everything I have in my life here and what I get to do there.

Thanks,

Steph

Pics of the beautiful children!

Photos of the clinic

Note the giant abcess on the top picture comming out of the right side of the mans chin. He was our last patient and boy was it a doosey!! They pulled 3 teeth that were totally infected, drained the mass and we started an IV and gave him antibiotics. More antibiotics and pain meds for home too. He was very ill and didnt even realize it. He thought it was a boil! He had been working there all week and never came in until the last minute. Good thing he did or he would most likely have died from overwhelming sepsis.

The clinc went great and we accomplished a lot in the name of Jesus!