Today was a day of extremes.

Extreme gladness.

I was so glad to see a baby girl gaining weight. This baby was brought to the orphanage a couple of weeks ago. She was born prematurely. I have never seen such a small baby. After ICCO’s help with initial medical testing and the care at the medical ward, this child is thriving.  Gladness.  The baby that I call “Shaoey” looks better.  Not only is he clean but well taken care of.  He has been put on oxygen which is making things easier for his heart.  His fingertips are significantly less blue.  Sweet gladness.  The doctors at the orphanage told me that the hospital will not perform surgery at this time. Perhaps he will be strong enough for surgery when he is six months old.   I visited my little friend who has a bad heart.  She is not a good candidate for heart surgery.  Her skin appeared to be a light lavender. This is improvement.  She has been moved to the rehabilitation department.  I know that she will not be interacted with here. There isn’t an activity area to play on.  Most ICCO volunteers spend their time loving on the babies in the baby department. So, knowing these things, I will need to spend time with her each week.  I’m so glad she appears to be doing well.

Today was a day of extremes.

Extreme sadness.

Two of my little friends are in hospice care at the medical ward.  Sadness.

I learned more about a two year old girl that arrived a week ago.  Out of all of the children I have seen, the stories I have heard, this is the saddest so far. This child has parents. These parents have cared for her.   They have brought her to a hospital in Tianjin. She received surgery for an internal problem. However, the hospital could not address her severe case of water on the brain. (I apologize, I do not have a medical background. Therefore, I can share only plain English to describe her need.) What a sweet face she has, however, it’s a bit stretched out due to her head ballooning up as big as **sigh**. (Long pause.) I can’t describe it. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  Her parents have brought her to the orphanage for genuine care which they are paying for.  They visit her.  This child’s grandparents visit her as well. They have shed tears at her cribside. I believe this is the beginning of the end for her as her problems are so severe; so complicated.  Sadness.  Such sadness. There is a time for everything. A time to cry. A time to laugh. A time to take care of an orphan.  A time to let them go.  All I could say to this two year old girl was, “I hope you can rest soon. I hope you can go home soon.”  There is a time to live and a time to die.

During my time today at the orphanage I was caught in the middle of two extremes; gladness and sadness.  Now, that I have purposefully paused to digest what my eyes have seen and what my heart has felt, I can breathe a sigh of relief that life on earth is temporary.  I am convinced to embrace living it to it’s fullest.

Until next time…..peace and love to you!

Christie