Mar 10, 2009

Sadness... and worry

One of my fellow adoptive parents had their baby girl die two days ago. She is in the same orphanage as our two girls. She died from a complication of chicken pox. One of the other adoptive families was just out in Ethiopia picking up their baby two weeks ago, and saw her, and she was fine.

The difference between medical care in the US and medical care in third world countries is night and day. What is available here is impossible there... cost wise, and just general availability. This is true for the HIV epidemic. We have medications that can drastically change the lives of those who carry the virus, but costs and red tape (things with the pharmaceutical companies, etc) make it difficult to distribute and make these drugs available.

Having children in this country has opened my eyes in so many ways. It's not that I didn't know before, that people died from simple things like chicken pox and diahhrea and tuberculosis and measles in third-world-countries. I knew it. I just was removed from it. Now I'm not. These are my kids you're talking about.

Please say a prayer for Woinshet and Meaza. And also, please keep this little baby girl in mind when you think about whether you have the means to donate to charities or think of what you can do to help the world. This little 1-year-old girl was healthy two weeks ago, and now she is dead, from an ailment that is not very serious here in the United states.

Some places you can go to find out how you can help:

Doctors Without Borders

International Medical Relief

Unicef

12 comments:

Janell said...

That is such sad news. It's strange what a difference there is between "random child in commercial" and "a friend's friend's child." Just having that distant link makes it more personal, somehow.

Doug & Liz said...

So sad to hear. I'm sorry.

michele said...

This is really sad news. I'm really glad you shared it with us! I will keep your girls in my thoughts and prayers.

Putz said...

i'll start praying for your girls and also all of you here in provo utar, and your mom and dad in northern california, and your brothers on missions, if they still are, and all my grands and kids and my just deceased mother in law even though i am a dumb shit to her. and even my gay brother in laww in seattle who sent such nice flowers to us and janet his ex wife who is my sister, and my neighbor neil who is 89 and in a hospital...i had a dream about him running the new yoprk marathon at age 89...

Putz said...

i'll start praying for your girls and also all of you here in provo utar, and your mom and dad in northern california, and your brothers on missions, if they still are, and all my grands and kids and my just deceased mother in law even though i am a dumb shit to her. and even my gay brother in laww in seattle who sent such nice flowers to us and janet his ex wife who is my sister, and my neighbor neil who is 89 and in a hospital...i had a dream about him running the new yoprk marathon at age 89...

merrilykaroly said...

That's so sad. I'm so glad your two girls will have a new home.

Putz said...

big O on stem cell research and abortion policies...he better start listening

Putz said...

oh your question...i was 17 and my wife 16 when we got engaged waiting till 18 to marry

Papa D said...

What more can I say? We take so much for granted.

God bless you and all who adopt these children.

Lucy Stern said...

This is so sad! I hope your girls weren't exposed to the virus.... Many times money and drugs are available but the communist governments don't let it in. Look what is going on in Dunfar and other countries with hateful dictatorships. I am grateful for the doctors, missionaries and volunteers who are able to get in to help.

My heart is sad for that family who will not get that sweet little girl now...Their hearts must be breaking. I am keeping my fingers crossed that your girls as well as the other children will be OK.

Cami said...

That is too sad.... We will keep them in our prayers-and you guys too. That is very exciting that they will be yours soon! I hope everything goes smoothly with your adoption.

Fred said...

How right you are. We sometimes complain about the quality of our medical care, but it's the best in the world.