Korpu is Thriving!

Unfortunately, seeing malnourished and suffering children is part of life in Liberia. It is our vision at Orphan Relief and Rescue to be a voice with action for orphans that no one else will help. Being that voice is not always easy, but it is necessary. Being that voice has given Korpu a new chance at life. 

I first told you about Korpu last spring. We found her when she was about one year old, living at a home that the government social workers call deplorable. She was severely malnourished and required hospitalization and an outpatient feeding program to survive. Last spring, even at three years old, she was still not walking or talking. At that time, I worked closely with a local rehab clinic to strengthen her legs and get her walking. Since then she has been getting by, but not thriving.

 

I brought her to a local doctor who was very concerned about Korpu--she weighed less than 15 lbs at almost four years old. He immediately started a medical workup to rule out everything from malaria to sickle cell anemia. She was actually given the diagnosis “failure to thrive.” It was clear she was not getting the care that she needed in her current living situation. I decided to pursue what other possibilities were out there and, after some research, found another organization, Forget Me Not Children’s Home (FMN), which specializes in foster care for special needs children in Liberia. 

I brought Korpu’s case to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and they wholeheartedly agreed that something needed to be done for her. After several weeks of assessing possible foster families and getting the necessary paperwork done Korpu was moved by the MOHSW to her new FMN foster home. 

Korpu has now been in her new home for six weeks. In that time she has come alive. The girl who was so shy and withdrawn is now laughing and interacting with her new family and community. Her eyes have a new sparkle, and her cheeks are getting fat. At her follow-up doctor’s appointment this week, Korpu weighed in at a hefty 19.8 lbs. (She gained over four pounds in six weeks!) 

Korpu is just one of the thousands of children in Liberia that no one else is helping. Please continue to pray for us as we strive to do our best and speak up for all the Korpus in this country. Pray that our voice will be heard in the government, by orphanage directors and other organizations that will partner with us in this vision. Pray that Korpu will continue to thrive.