Thursday, October 15, 2009

Why Bill and Lynsay have a soft spot in my heart

The blog shower is humming along. Thank you so much to all who have donated. If you haven't, and you're considering it, I want to share with you one of the many reasons this couple is so dear to my heart.

We met when we were adopting Jordan in 2006. I was working for Love Without Boundaries as a foster care coordinator, and I needed to pay a visit to 'my kids.' Bill and Lynsay were living there and Lynsay was the one who sent me information on the kids each month so that I could type up reports to sponsors. Shortly before we had come to China, one little baby was brought in that was in such bad shape, Lynsay became almost her full time nurse (in addition to the nannies assigned to the baby). The baby had suffered horrible neglect to the point that her bedsores were life threatening. I have photos--but they are too graphic to put on the blog. The sores on her head were so deep that one large area exposed her skull. She had sores on her back and under one arm as well. To further complicate things, she had a severe heart condition which caused her to be blue, and was suffering from third stage malnutrition. It wasn't long before she also had pneumonia. Lynsay did not think she would live due the bed sores alone--they were that bad. Lynsay devoted herself to this little one, spending sleepless nights and tending to her many special needs.

Intake Photo

From LWB archives...all bandaged and on the mend


I saw this precious baby when we visited as she had only been there about a month and was in the new LWB intensive care unit at Hope. If only I had known she would someday be my precious Kate, I would have lingered a bit longer that day. But God knew that I probably would have never been able to tear myself away from her--nor would I have been able to wait for over two more years to bring her home.

This is the photo I took of Kate that day.

Yes. It was our Kate. She would not be alive if not for the combined efforts of Lynsay, Hope staff, and LWB staff. She still bears the scars of those awful first days--with large bald spots on her head from the bedsores--but she also bears the LOVE that she was shown. She is a child full of joy and although we have laughed about her being a 'princess' we are so very thankful that she has had so much nurturing that she would EXPECT to be treated that way.

I know that many of you prayed so much for our little Kate when she had her surgery earlier this year. Please consider the other little 'Kate's' who are in Bill and Lynsay's care--now and in the future--and consider a donation to help them outfit the new baby home. Just go to their site and click on the donate button. If you prefer to send a check, you can mail it to:
The Cause
365 NE Greenwood Avenue Suite 1
Bend, Oregon 97701
USA
Designate in the memo section that it is for Morning Star Foundation.

No amount is too small! Even $5 helps. Your help could turn a little's one's fate from certain death, to this: