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

As one of ICCO’s Co-Chairpeople, I have been given the gift of an open door to the Director’s office at the orphanage. Today, we had a great conversation even though I wasn’t feeling quite myself. I was struggling with a very bad headache. My head was just as foggy as the smoggy air outside. I was very thankful for the items that the Director and I were able to talk about. There was clarity and understanding.

Each week I visit the medical ward. This is the place that sick children go to. It is also the place where the freshly abandoned children go to immediately. I walk from crib to crib to visit each child. Today, I interacted with a child that I knew from previous times visiting the rehabilitation department. This beautiful girl was obviously sick, however she gave me the biggest smile. Her eyes locked onto mine. I extended my hand to touch her, hold her hand, and be close to her for a while. She was so happy during our time together. I have a mental picture of her that I will always treasure.

As I visited the rehabilitation department, I checked on a child that is currently on the Nutrition Project. I touched him. While I touched him, It was confirmed in my heart that we all need touch. It’s so important. It’s a sense that many of these children don’t get enough of. Everytime I visit this boy he is always bundled up in his blankets laying in a crib. He needs to be touched. I was honored to connect with him through the sense of touch. It was a special moment. I will continue to touch each child that is put in my path when I visit. I have a mental picture of what a compassionate touch will do.

My favorite mental picture of the day was when I saw one of ICCO’s volunteers, a French lady with a big and committed heart, sitting on the activity mat in one of the baby rooms. Her back leaned against the wall, her body in a relaxed (almost melted) position, and her eyes looking as if they were saying, “I am in my happy place.” Upon her lap there was one baby sitting up. Another baby propped herself up on one of her legs like a puppy dog resting his chin. Yet, another baby was sitting closely beside her with the volunteer’s arm around her. This volunteer looked like she was in heaven. Wow. Wow. Wow. Three little babies all peacefully receiving a loving presence. What a beautiful mental picture I have of love. Love at the orphanage. Love in Tianjin, China. I am so thankful for watching this volunteer and her three little friends finding their happy place together as they peacefully rested with each other. It is truly amazing to see love moving in this place!