Updates–2018

Link to the 2018 Hospital Gallery here

November 2018 – It's been a wonderful month of feeding abandoned babies in the hospital. Three month old Abel who came in last month severely malnourished is now smiling, trying to talk and very happy because of the cereal and the love he gets from Dora. Radu who is 5 months old is getting healthy now being fed so well, and 8 month old Miruna is getting bananas and yogurt as well as the cereal. She was very malnourished and so we give her vitamin syrup too. She's doing so much better.
At our Day Centre, Oana has got volunteers to come weekly to spend time with the children. They have activities and the older children just like to talk. It's all working towards their socialization. One of the boys who was aggressive in all areas of his behaviour has had a breakthrough, is controlling his anger and the police aren't going to the school to deal with him anymore. Another boy has recovered his grade level and doesn't have different homework from the other children in his class anymore. Medical problems have been discovered with 2 boys who are more behind, but they are patiently being worked with. The majority of the children going to the Centre have passing marks and some are getting close to excellent. The girls that have higher marks know it is because they are getting this help with their homework and being taught what they don't understand. They love going to the Centre where we have internet for their projects, and they believe they will grow up to be what they desire!
Please see our annual newsletter online.

August 2018 – It got really hot in Oradea again this summer and our women were busy keeping our children as cool as possible. Rodica found the best place for the children was in the little blow up swimming pool. It didn't matter to them that they were 5 and 6 packed in it, they thought it was just the best!
One of the children in the state group home where Cornelia works has gone into foster care. This is rare and so wonderful because when Cornelia is not there, the children are not taken out of bed. She's been focusing on talking and walking as they are able, with Bobi, Marimar and Roberta. With Iza, Costica, Sebi and Isac she gives the attention which they crave, and activities.
In the hospital, blind Elisei now 3 months old is doing well. Dora's good care of him these past few months is showing. Six month old Zaharia is eating cereal and very happy about it! Ramiz is 1 month old and it's so important that Dora is there to hold him and love him.
The children going to the Day Centre have had a great summer of activities and learning, the meal being the highlight of their day. Some of their parents have been able to get jobs in the fields or orchards because their children were being taken care of. Right now we're paying the gas for 6 of these children's parents to be taken to work in an apple orchard. They would have no other way of getting there and no other way of earning some money for their families.
Oana and Marius who run the Day Centre are true advocates for the children. They convinced the mayor of the village to build a sidewalk down the main road because on rainy days the children would arrive at school covered in mud. The parents are so happy about this and also because Oana and Marius arranged for stores to donate backpacks and school supplies. Everyone is ready to begin the school year!

June 2018 – The first year of our Day Centre was a tremendous success because all of the children who only knew failure, passed all the subjects and their school year. Going for a hot meal, receiving encouragement, and being taught with love and acceptance made a huge change in these marginalized, impoverished children's lives. The teachers see that they have courage now.
The children will go the Centre throughout the summer for 4 hours a day to keep the momentum going. They love to go — to eat, learn and spend time in a caring atmosphere. Our teachers don't want to take vacation, being so impressed and happy with the children's progress. They see the fruit of their efforts. Also, with the children continuing to come to the Centre and be cared for during the summer, their illiterate, unemployed parents have been able to take seasonal jobs in agriculture. The staff is so happy to be able to help these families who were completely unsupported.
Difficulties are coming up in the hospital but we are carrying on with our work. We are no longer allowed to take pictures showing the babies' faces so I'll miss seeing them, but they continue to be loved. One of the babies, a little boy Elisei is now eating because Dora gave him the help, time and love to get him on his feet. He was born blind with genetic problems.
Because of Rodica going to a rehab hospital with Cornel, a 12 year old very handicapped boy who understands everything, he could have treatment. This is a problem for abandoned handicapped children, they have no one to accompany them when they go to hospital or for treatments. So it was very good for Cornel that Rodica could be his "mom".
David had some of the boys out for work experience so they could have pocket money for the summer. He has friends with projects who are willing to hire the boys for a few days, which is great for them.

April 2018 – We have 3 babies now from 3 months old to 6 months old who are eating cereal and doing great because of it. Dora just said again how well the babies sleep, how well they put on weight and how content they are with the cereal. We also have a tiny 6 week old girl, Miruna, who is safe and loved now.
Rodica took some of "her" children to the nearby monastery for Easter. They are mentally handicapped but feel the beauty and peace there, and the nuns make them feel special.
David took some of the boys to the Good Friday service. He is seeing them mature so much these days, when he gives them things to do like helping in the garden, house repairs and personal hygiene, he can trust them to do it. With the better weather, he's taking them out again to play soccer and field tennis.
Iza the very energetic 5 year old with hydrocephalus who nobody likes because she requires more attention knows a lot of poems and songs which Cornelia has taught her. She is eager to learn, as is Maria who is talking much better. Maria has also become more sociable. Isac with his deformed hands and legs needs only to reach out and touch Cornelia who loves him, and he is happy. Cornelia is teaching the very young and very handicapped children to sit and is trying to stimulate language. These tiny ones react with joy when they see her and hear her voice.
During the spring school vacations, the children still went to the Day Centre. They caught up on work, did activities and received their meals. The meals are so important to them. They were very happy to drop by Oana's and Marius' home at Easter and receive a red painted egg. The children have very trusting relationships with the staff now, who have started individual counseling with them. These children have poverty and marginalization issues and it affects their behaviour. There have been many positive changes but there are fear and other issues that the children need help in resolving.

February 2018 – Sebastian now 6 months old has recovered completely from being dropped off at the hospital malnourished and sick. You can see how happy he is from the cereal and the love, in the Photo Gallery. Milan who is 3 1/2 months old also has become healthy and beautiful, getting over his malnourished state. We are giving 3 month old Daniel cereal to get him up to a normal weight. One month old Sandor was very sick with pneumonia but is recovering well. Three month old Nicolae is now in his new home with parents who intend to adopt him. That is such a joy for us!
Cornel is a 12  year old boy who came a few months ago to the state group home where Dorina and Zorita work. They love working with him because he is bright though his limbs are spastic and he can't walk. They are teaching him to speak Romanian because he only knew Hungarian, and they greatly decrease the pain in his legs with massage. These daily massages are what's keeping him from crying with pain. Evelin and Roxana are able to play more as the months go by, and the other children are being daily stimulated to play and interact. They are happy!
Rodica just finished another round staying with a child in the hospital. Bianca is a sweet, tiny 6 year old girl with disabilities and would have really suffered being ignored and alone for 5 days while she got treatment for pneumonia.
Cornelia is teaching her children songs to get them to interact and develop, which they love. Iza the 5 year old with hydrocephalus and the one who needs the most attention and love is becoming smarter and smarter with loving interaction, and knows the most songs. Marimar the little girl the size of a doll is becoming more beautiful, content being loved. Very disabled Bobi is learning to talk from her insistence with him. Adam is emotionally stable now and happy. Roberta the other little girl with hydrocephalus is always stretching out her hands to be walked, and Maria and Isac require a lot of attention. Our workers like others with foundations in the city, are called volunteers because they are not paid by the state. Cornelia just won the "volunteer of the year" award and went to City Hall for the ceremony. She truly is wonderful.
David picked up a dart board game and discovered that pretty well all the boys at the house can play, and they love it. He is glad to have found something else that includes the more mentally challenged boys in games. Last month he took some of the boys to a series of special church services with a meal. As usual there was more peace in the house afterwards.
At our Day Centre the work with the children is having fantastic results! All the children passed their first semester which ended in January. Not one child is failing any subject, and this is huge for them. I received pictures of the children's report cards and it is wonderful to see the marks! For the week between semesters the children went daily for tutoring. As well as educational issues, these children also need help learning manners, how to behave in life and the importance of education which will help them manage when they are on their own. It is not easy because the children don't have an example at home. Nevertheless their parents in their uneducated state (without grade 8) have put in them the desire to have a better future.
During the semester break Cosmin's mother went to the Centre and asked for a reader with pictures so that she could learn to read too! Cosmin knew only 5 letters when he first went to the Centre, is now reading, and his mother is so happy and thankful.