Orphan Relief and Rescue

Solomon is about five years old. I say “about” because, as with many children in Liberia, no one bothered to keep a record of the day he was born. His mother died when he was a baby, and Solomon went to live with an elderly female relative who was unable to properly care for him. The situation took a turn for the worse when his caretaker’s vision deteriorated to the point of almost blindness.

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that our dear, sweet Michael passed away last week. Complications from his liver disease caused him to lose a lot of blood. On Wednesday afternoon, he desperately needed a blood transfusion. Even though we were able to find a donor, it was too late. After sharing some last words with loved ones at his bedside, he slipped into a coma and died early Thursday morning. 

We often get distracted by the big things that happen here- a boy who is sick, a girl who is barely getting by, the lack of food or clean water, even the joyous giving and celebrating of Christmas. We are anxious to report those needs and milestones to everyone because they seem measurable. The truth of the matter is that we are seeing miracles and reaching milestones everyday. The children in our homes are growing, going to school and playing with their friends. They are eating balanced meals and staying healthy. They are learning and coming up with new ideas.