Reaneas

This is Reaneas. He was 10mos old. We had several families and a medical organization advocating for medical intervention on his behalf here in the states. He was healthy with the exception of needing a shunt. Time ran out once again for another little child in Liberia. Due to contracting malaria which is very common in Liberia, Reaneas could not overcome it this time. He had all he could do to stay stable from having hydrocephalus. This beautiful boy passed away Saturday morning.

His mother has had a triple tragedy in her life. Her husband passed away suddenly 6 months ago, then her house burned down, and now her only child has died. How truly sad….

I am at a loss for words.. so many children are losing their lives from lack of medical care. Something we take for granted and have a right to here.

What if you were that someone?

ACCESS TO THE FUTURE

“America is The Land of Opportunity” they say. This statement is true for all Americans regardless of age, color, background, or physical abilities. If you are handicapped and have a dream to succeed in America, the resources are plentiful for you to achieve great heights. Well, these resources we take for granted, are not afforded to our brothers and sisters elsewhere.

What if you were handicapped in a third world country where there is little to no help or resources? There are no modified vehicles, no handicapped parking, and barely any pavement for your wheelchair to ride on. What if you had a sharp mind and a vision of better things but your legs didn’t work? What if you were not able to attend college because you get around in a wheel chair and there are no wheel chair ramps to access college buildings? What would your future be?

But what if,
Someone had an idea to change all that?
What if,
They networked with some people who could make things happen?
What if,
They got a plan together and all they needed to make it happen was a little money?
What if
Someone opened there heart and said- “I will be the one. I will be the change.”

What if you were that someone?

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing third world countries and account for 15- 20 % of the worlds poorest. “It is important to bear in mind that accurate facts are very hard to obtain, as so many disabled people are hidden and anonymous with regard to official statistics.”

Disabled people of working age in developed and developing countries are 3 times more likely to be unemployed and live in real poverty.

Cuttington University, one of the oldest universities in Africa, is one such university in Liberia. While Cuttington has been dedicated to helping talented, motivated students develop their skills, define their goals, and follow their dreams, they lack some much needed wheel chair ramps so that handicap students can access the buildings and attend college.

Global Orphan Outreach along with Cuttington University is inviting you to help open the world of education to students with handicaps by helping us to raise the funds necessary to build several wheel chair ramps through out the Cuttington campus. Cuttington has made the commitment to provide the labor to build the ramps and all that is needed is the funds for the materials.

Will you help today? Will you help these students access their college thus having access to a bright future for themselves. Contact Global Orphan Outreach and ask how you can help. All donations are tax deductible. Call us at #715-415-4401 or email us at www.globalorphanoutreach.org

SUMMARY OF BUDGET
NO. DESCRIPTION TOTAL AMOUNT
1 Gardner Dormitory 422.00
2 Cafeteria Building 804.56
3 Library Building 7.64
4 Rally Hall Dormitory 446.71
5 Back of Business/Humanities Building 424.33
6 Front of Business/Humanities Building 314.17
7 From Peace Institute to Bus. College 1,360.85
8 Nursing, Museum, & Education Buildings 834.97
9 Natural Science Building 1,112.85
10 Registrar's Office 1,277.69
11 Harris Hall Dormitory 528.42
TOTAL 7,534.19
12 Truck Fare from Monrovia to Gbarnga 500.00
GRAND TOTAL 8,034.19

FMN Vehicle for Liberia

After much fund raising and blessings by so many, FMN program now has a vehicle for Liberia. It is packed and on its way to port. Toyota 4Runner. This vehicle will bless many children and our program director in Liberia! No more worries about trying to 'find' a taxi or any other kind of transportation! This has been such a huge hurdle for the FMN program! Now off to raise funds for a truck for the ag project and for building of schools and the so many other uses this truck will be used for...

Jesus called them home

I have tried so many times to find the right words to write this post, but I am coming up empty. I will stick with the simple facts and hope you know that my heart is aching to have to write this.

Two of our precious FMN children have passed away. They were completely separate circumstances, yet called home on the same day.

Sweet Kenneth (age 2 with Cerebral Palsy), and beautiful Martina (age 1.5, with Hydrocephalus), passed away in the early morning hours last friday, just hours apart.

Kenneth had contracted Malaria, which is VERY common. The problem with CP kids, is they cannot fight an illness like an average child...they can't cough to remove the junk that can build up, and they are much weaker and so fragile...therefore, alot of the time, malaria becomes complicated with pneumonia. These are the times that it gets REALLY hard for these little ones. Yes, we do take precautions to try to keep malaria 'at bay', such as using mosquito nets, giving our kids daily vitamins, good nutrition, and getting medical care once they start having any kind of symptoms of being sick. But, you must also understand the lack of 'sufficient' medical care for 'special needs' kids. Sadly, Kenneth could not fight the Malaria with the typical 'treatment' (antibiotics). His malaria became aggressive and entered his brain. Kenneth died from Cerebral Malaria.

Martina had Hydrocephalus. Her foster parents said she had died quietly in her sleep. Her beautiful little body just had had enough. We believe she had been suffering from headaches from her hydrocephalus for awhile, and could only combat that pain with simple tylenol. I'm sure there were other unknown symptoms that she suffered everyday from her Hydrocephalus. Global Orphan Outreach had been working toward a medical visa to get her the needed surgery to help her. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to find a dr. to care enough, do a medical examine, get a PROPER diagnosis, and finally get the proper medical paperwork to move forward. We have been working on this for 8 months! Just to get a simple letter! Again, the impression of the FMN team from the Dr.'s perspective, was that she 'was not worthy', why bother? It's heartbreaking!!! When we were there in April, we had taken Martina to the hospital to be admitted for an allergic reaction, as well as suffering from some illness, (we never did get an answer for this). They wanted to release her two days later, even though she could barely breath and was in distress! I had to beg for two more days and her to be put on IV!! It was insane! But, again, this is what we are up against! This is normal practice. Thank goodness she got better and had been flourishing with her new foster mom since! We truly thought she had more time, as well as Kenneth.

I cannot tell you in any words my despair and heartbreak! I can't help but think how wonderful these kids would have done, IF Liberia would have let them out of the country on an 'expedited' medical visa, to have sufficient medical care, or to be adopted and have the peace of mind that whatever illness or therapy is needed, they would have the the access to great medical facilities.
Kenneth had CP equal to the extent of my Liberian son. My son is doing amazing! I have the privilege to have that peace of mind, that whatever hurdle we will go through, I have help! Kenneth didn't have the opportunity to have access to great medical facilities and tons of therapies.

Martina would not have even been considered a surgical candidate in Liberia, simply because a shunt surgery is pretty rare in country, with very few shunts available! Those shunts would be 'saved' for a more viable child!

Both of these precious children were loved dearly, especially by their foster moms. They were cherished and will be greatly missed.
Global Orphan Outreach and Forget-Me-Not, are more determined than ever, to be the voices for the rights of these special children!
Christina Hoffman-Director of FMN

In Memory of Varney-part two

FMN has a Community Outreach program in Liberia, to support, encourage, and educate families and communities who choose to parent a child or children of special needs. What better way to be a witness to one's own community, that special needs children are well loved by their own parents and that the African perception of special needs children are unfounded and have as much potential as any child. Varney was one of these such children. His mother cared and loved him well and we were happy to be a part of his short life.



Perhaps you would like to help more "Varney's" of Liberia? What better way to honor his precious life then by helping another child in a similar situation.

Forget-Me-Not Children's Homes (FMN), is the first long term foster home program in Monrovia Liberia (West Africa), to specifically take in the abandoned 'special needs' child. We realize that a 'handicapped' child in Liberia is considered a burden to most of society, and we want to change that perception...one child, one foster family at a time. We place these special children, in trained and loving foster homes that have been educated in caring for these precious children. With the unemployment rate being 85% this also provides a woman with valuable employment.



FMN works closely with the government in Liberia, to meet and exceed the standard of care for these precious little ones. Each foster family is interviewed by our Liberian Director/Nurse, and then must also be approved by the government. A FMN foster family must follow our high standard of care, and be trained into the program. All of our foster families are trained and equipped (crib, stroller, wheelchair, cloth diapers, clothes, etc.), to take in one or two 'special needs' children, per foster parent. Also provided with formula/milk, cereal, rice, cooking supplies, as well as nurse visits and checks a couple times per week.



We took in our first two FMN children in May of 2009. We now have 12 beautiful and growing 'special needs' children in several foster homes. Most have been referred by the government of Liberia. You will be amazed at the transformation

a lot of our children have gone through since coming into our program and having a family and a home to call their own.



This has been a long and rewarding road we have traveled to start this program. Finding sponsors to help has been difficult at times, and sometimes continues to be a struggle to keep up with all the needs. FMN is committed to helping these special children reach their full potential. Won't you join us today? Consider being a child sponsor. Or perhaps sponsor one of the other needs we have in operating this program. To learn more about this wonderful program and how you too can be involved, go to www.globalorphanoutreach.org and click on Forget-Me-Not Children's home link on the left or go to http://forgetmenotchildrenshomes.blogspot.com/



We have the following children needing sponsors. If you have more questions, feel free to contact Christina- #651-353-5248 or Tanya- #661-487-2054. Thank you.

Eric- cerebral palsy

Angel-cerebral palsy

Godgift- down syndrome

Favour= cerebral palsy

Korpu-failure to thrive

Surprise- micro-cephalus

Karin- cerebral palsy

In Memory of Varney

We met Varney 2 years ago and have been advocating for his care. He needed medical intervention and a shunt to help save his life. 5 doctor visits and 2 years later lead us to finally finding an organization in Uganda that was going to help him. His family was recently told of this good news and were celebrating. Varney was in decent healthy and the sores on his head were healing. It was a miracle he was still alive and fighting. Tragically, little Varney passed away this morning.

Today was a day of more major disappointments.

Peter waited 4 hours for a meeting that did not take place nor did anyone seem to know anything about. He was shown Christina Tah (MOJ) schedule for the day and it showed no meeting for adoption even though earlier in the week he was assured there was a meeting scheduled for that day. Peter has been advocating for the allowance of adoptions for special needs and handicap children in Liberia even though there is a moratorium on adoptions there.


Peter showed Varney's picture to those in the MOJ today and they couldnt believe that such a child existed in their country. They of course praised Peter for helping him. Peter said it is NOT about me-these children need help. They need the resource of adoption. He is going to continue to share Varney's story with everyone he meets along with Matthew's story ( a little boy we lost last year who was 2 weeks away from traveling to the U.S. for medical help) and kids who are special needs in FMN program. These kids have NO resources available to them in Liberia. Why does Liberia deny them the basic human right their child act claims is there to protect and help them?

As hard as it is to be an advocate for these children from our side of the world, try being in Peter's shoes where he sees his own people deny children help that they need and children he has to help bury because of it. Please keep this all in prayer as we continue to advocate for all children in Liberia. The need is great and the workers few.

NEW ADDRESS!

ATTENTION! WE HAVE MOVED:

(Global Orphan Outreach has a new address)
P.O. Box 331
Delavan, Wi 53115

*Same phone number-#715-415-4401