Updates–2006

Link to the 2006 Hospital Gallery here

October 2006 - I just saw Malvina, the little girl mentioned in the 2004 updates. After 3 months of intensive dedication to Malvina, Helina ended up saving her life. She's in a foster family, a beautiful sturdy little girl.

November 2006 - A day in our lives. Today I was in visiting our babies at the hospital and amazed to see Levente up in a baby seat rocking it with one leg. This is the baby with hydrocephalous who the nurses only want to have lay in bed all the time, but he enjoys being up, and today he was actually rocking himself, pushing with his leg, and looking so happy! His large head is supported in the baby seat and he was having a lovely time.
We have a new baby girl Andra who came from the premature section. She's 2 months old but the size of a newborn, has a hole in her heart and a degree of blindness. She cries a lot, but stops when she is picked up, so it's good she's with our women.
On the premature section there is an abandoned baby girl, Bianca, whose fingers were bitten by a rat. She was brought in near death from blood poisoning and spent time in intensive care. She is doing well now. She's getting good care and love from Vera. I saw a rat run over by a car on the way to the hospital today. That's not uncommon, they live in our apartment building basements. That's why I'm glad we're on the 5th floor! They're up here more rarely.
It's been a difficult month for Soledad. (Soledad lives in a state group home, and where we have hired Rodica to go out to). She's been in the hospital a couple of times. I talked to someone "in the know" about her recurring fevers and coughing. Apparently the coughing and pneumonia are most likely due to being too much on her back. She is only up when Rodica is there, and so never on the weekend. Often Rodica leaves her well on Friday afternoons and finds her either sick, or admitted to the hospital on Mondays. The fevers can be caused by aspirating from her bottle. She should not be given a bottle because of this reason, she should be fed with a spoon. Rodica is the only one who feeds her with a spoon, a bottle is quicker and easier, and that's what the others give her. It's very sad. But Rodica being the light of Soledad's life, is with her practically the whole day when she's in hospital, and helping out with other abandoned children. Today there were 2 children in the bed beside Soledad's. We received some musical instrument type toys and Rodica was making the children in Soledad's room, and the other abandoned children wandering in and out, very happy.
Codi and Andrea are doing well at kindergarten, learning new songs, colouring in the lines, having fun with their friends and learning to make numbers. Codi announces every day what number she has learned to make! And they are so proud showing me their colouring and work up on the wall.

November 2006 - Viorel and Sabina were taken to a British foundation home for abandoned handicapped children and Viorel is actually walking! He had surgery in England and it was successful. He wears braces and will probably until the time he is a teenager, but he's walking. Sabina is fine, she wears a hearing aid. They are well cared for there. Thanks to you who supported our hospital work giving these two little ones hope and a good start.

December 2006 - The website has been taken over by my brother. I thank Lauren for creating the website in the first place and her work in keeping it up. God bless you Lauren as you begin another project, being a new mom very soon!

December 2006 - The following letter was published in the St. Olave's Church Bulletin this autumn:

Dear Members of St Olave’s and Supporters of the ministry of Kathy Langston:
In early September I had the privilege of visiting Kathy in her home in Oradea, Romania. Like many of you, I have watched with interest as Kathy has journeyed these last six years with abandoned children. While the pictures and stories tell us much of what is happening, I wanted to see and experience it first hand.
Firstly, I was so impressed with the sacrifice Kathy has made for these children. Life in Romania is hard compared to our life here. The country is poor and depressed; there is not a lot of beauty. She has made a real effort to learn the language and speaks Romanian comfortably.
Kathy took me to visit the Baby hospital. By our standards, they have very little only very basic resources – old cribs; toys, blankets and cloths, some that have been donated by Canadians and other foreigners. It is here that Kathy is able to pay local women to care for babies who would otherwise receive no stimulation or proper feeding. It is easy to see that this attention is really helping these children. Kathy’s initiative also benefits these women who would have difficulty finding employment. The women are so grateful for the support they receive from Canadians. Several gave me big hugs and had tears in their eyes as they thanked me for this.
Kathy took me to visit a family who live in the country on a very poor farm. Their living situation would be unimaginable to most Canadians. With donations she has received, she has helped this family with food and other essentials. They also were so grateful.
Then there is Codi and Andrea, the little girls who call Kathy “mommy” and whom she intends to adopt. I can see how they have won her heart. They are both a delight, beautiful and bright. They speak perfect Romanian and English. As “Gypsy” children, they get disparaging comments on the street. However, they are being given an opportunity they would not have had otherwise.
It feels good to know that the money I send to support these children is having a ripple effect that spreads out to support and assist many that don’t have what we Canadians consider basic and take for granted.
Thank you on Kathy’s behalf for your support as well.
Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Anne Simmonds