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LATEST NEWS! July. Eve's Eyes Campaign

Dear Supporters,

From blackened shells to bright, vibrant rooms; from empty silence to the sweet giggles of children... so much has happened so quickly, I hardly know where to begin. Every child has their story and each day brings fresh challenges and joys.

Since we opened the Butterfly Home on April 8th, we have cared for 14 children in the 6 open cots. Children who were very sick and at risk of dying are now blossoming. Little Eve is alert, babbling and trying to crawl. We have offers of surgery for her in Canada and Hong Kong and have started a fundraiser to get her there ASAP: USD 15000/ GBP 10000/ AUD 16800. See other news items for full information about Eve's Eyes. Angel continues to thrive after her surgery and is now waiting for adoption.


This month we have rejoiced over Brittany's discharge to a foster home with International China Concern (ICC) www.chinaconcern.org who we partner with. We have felt nervous and excited over Little Swallow as she heads off to hospital for her upcoming surgery and sadly we have also mourned the loss of tiny Peter and sweet Michelle, precious little ones we were thankful to know. Such emotional highs and lows - but in every circumstance each child is treasured.

BRITTANY'S STORY
At around 4 years old it probably became obvious to her parents that Brittany wasn't like other children ready to go off to nursery school. Her development was very delayed and she didn't interact well and so was abandoned. One month later, we welcomed her into the Butterfly Home as the welfare centre staff said she was losing weight and not eating. I was determined to feed her - without using a tube - and gradually, with lots of loving encouragement, she was soon eating and drinking well. The most likely reason for her initial reluctance to eat is 'heartbreak' due to being abandoned.

There are many, many children like this who eventually waste away because resources are poor and time cannot be spent on making a child feel loved enough to want to eat - to want to live. Brittany is now well settled and being enabled to reach her full potential but many more children are waiting for this kind of loving care.
Please read her full story on our website.

Although this is primarily a palliative care unit, our criteria for admission includes 'any child with a life expectancy of less than 6 months' so the reality is that we will also receive children who would die without the additional care we can give them.

RUTH - OUR FIRST COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE CHILD
One of our primary aims is to support families and prevent parents having to abandon their dying child. A couple of weeks ago we were contacted by the mother of Ruth a 4 year old girl dying from kidney failure. Her family have spent 3 years travelling to major cities in China seeking help for her (at great expense). They are now out of options for transplant and dialysis and know she is dying. They found out about ChinaKidz on the internet from an article written in Chinese about me and our work for World Nurses Day and called us. We are privileged to be involved with this lovely, caring family. This case illustrates the dearth of help available for families as she is from a city in another province about 4 hours by train from here.

PATIENCE - OUR LATEST BABY!
This little girl was already one month old when we were asked to take her as she wasn't gaining weight in the welfare centre medical unit; she weighed 1.7kgs and was scrawny. She was obviously a very low birth weight baby and needed some very special care even at this rather late stage. She has been in the Butterfly Home for 1 month, is now 9 weeks old and weighs 2.8kgs.

Patience smiles, grasps things in her hands, had good eye contact and follows movements and certainly lets us know when she is hungry or wanting a cuddle! We are very grateful for the donations of special formula and bottles for premature babies. If you would like to sponsor some of Patience's care, please contact us directly info@chinakidz.org. It looks as if she will do very well and we will be urging her paperwork to be started for adoption.


As you read this, we will be opening another 3 cots to increase our capacity and be able to care for 9 very sick babies and children by the end of July. The nannies are recruited and trained and all is in place.

Our plan is to increase to 12 open cots in October, 15 by January and 18 by April 2011.

A UK FUNDRAISING EVENT will take place this autumn!
Charity Jazz night at the Southgate Hotel, Exeter.

Come and listen to Steve Tucker and his jazz band and enjoy a light supper all in aid of ChinaKidz. There will also be an auction held during the evening.

Date to be confirmed shortly. Tickets £25 per head. All proceeds to ChinaKidz. Please contact Liz Cosford for details or to purchase tickets:
Tel UK: 07890 595879
liz.cosford@btinternet.com

RENOVATIONS
We are excited that the second phase of our renovations has been funded by some very generous donations and can start at the end of August with an MMM team of volunteers www.mmmhk.org; this will enable us to increase capacity to be able to take up to 18 children.

NEEDS LIST - CAN YOU HELP?
Vitamin drops (not tablets) - with or without iron
Lactulose
Sterilising tables (eg Milton)
Conforming cotton bandages
Milk powder for premature babies
Lubricating jelly
Gel caps
Bumbo seats

GRATEFUL THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS

Catherine - an English Paediatric nurse who stepped right out of her comfort zone and whose wonderful support has saved my sanity and given us time for a much-needed break to rest and refresh.

Katie - another Brit and childcare specialist who came and loved the kids, and provided brilliant lectures for our staff as well as those in the welfare centre and ICC about infant nurture and the effects of not bonding.

Plus, thanks to the donor who covered the rest of Angel's surgical expenses and all of you who have so wonderfully supplied us with much needed equipment.

POINTS FOR PRAYER
*Pray for Little Swallow - in a local hospital having surgery for spina bifida.

*Pray for Eve that her surgery and adoption will happen super fast!

*Pray for a permanent home for Lily (see her story on our website)

*Pray for medical and nursing volunteers; See our website for more detail of specific need, or email Lyn@chinakidz.org

Thank you for taking the time to pray.

With love,
Lyn
Director of Care

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40