Anita and Gifty

I just returned to Liberia a few weeks ago, anxious to see and hug all my kiddos. 

Over all,they are looking well-- healthy and happy.

There were two girls that I was especially concerned about and couldn’t wait to check in on them-- 

ANITA

Anita in August

Anita was dangerously thin and malnourished after accidentally ingesting water with lye residue in it, left over from making soap (which unfortunately is very common here in Liberia). She had lost 10 pounds, was lethargic and couldn’t eat or drink. She was wasting away. When I left Liberia in August I was very concerned for her, if she couldn’t eat, she wouldn’t survive. I took her to a local doctor, but there was nothing they could do. We just needed to pray and encourage her to eat and drink, even though it was extremely painful.

I am happy to report that when I saw Anita this week she is back to her healthy self. Dancing and playing with the other kids in her orphanage. She says she doesn’t have any more pain. Even better—she has her chubby cheeks and smile back!

Anita now.

GIFTY

Gifty

I first told you about Gifty about six months ago. She had just been diagnosed with pneumonia, malaria AND tuberculosis (TB). She was too thin, weak and sick to play with the other kids in her orphanage. She quickly recovered from the pneumonia and malaria, but bouncing back from TB is not as easy. 

The last six months have been an up and down battle for her. She will gain a few pounds and some strength just to lose them again. Managing her TB medications has been complicated and the medication is very harsh on her little body. Treating TB is long and difficult even under the best circumstances. Gifty has been a trooper, but her fight isn’t over. Please continue to pray for her body to heal, for her to get back her strength and more importantly, for her to put on some weight.