Arrived November 2008, Michelle came to us she was approximately 10 months old and cute as can be. She seemed very healthy and obviously used to being held, so it seemed strange that she was dumped off in a maize field. A farmer found her one morning sitting in the field, crying.
Arrivied September 2008, Ruth was approximately a week old when we were called to pick her up in. When we got home, one of the workers asked if she had a name and announced that her name would be Ruth (Carla calls her Baby Ruth, which no one but Jeff and her knows is funny). “My little chocolate Baby Ruth!” She was a beautiful baby! She looked to be healthy and full term. She was abandoned in one of the IDP (internally displaced people) camps during the post-election violence.
Arrived July 2006, James was brought to us, along with his sister Jessica. He was approximately 6 months old at the time and had been abandoned by his mother four months prior. The old man who found them was not able to properly care for them, giving him nothing more than a few bites of bread soaked in water each day. When James was brought to us, he was very near death. James suffers from a variety of health problems, including seizures and developmental delays, probably due to the malnutrition and dehydration that almost took his life. Despite his rough beginning, James is one of the happiest kids you will ever meet. He will be with us his whole life.
Arrived February 2008, Margaret was approximately 2 weeks old when came to us on February 16th. She was extremely malnourished and had a severe diaper rash. It is believed that she was stolen as part of a child trafficking ring. The couple she was found with have been jailed and charged with kidnapping. The search for her real mother is ongoing.
Arrived November 2008, he was 7 months old, and he was living with mother on the streets. She is mentally unstable and people were worried about her ability to take care of him. With the cooperation of their local chief, they “rescued” the child from his mother. He is a very happy boy who loves people and smiles constantly.
