Can you help? Update

Several weeks ago, I wrote a post titled "Can you help?" (click here to read). I was in the States at that time and had been asked many times how people could help Casa de Amor (CDA). We had three big financial needs at the time: physical therapy, a cleft lip and palate surgery, and a heart surgery. We've had a lot happen in the few weeks since I wrote that post so I thought I'd give you an update!

If you feel led to help us out, you can make a donation through Paypal (link here) or you can mail a tax-deductible donation to GOAL (Global Orphan Assistance League), PO Box 357, Collierville, TN 38027. 

Now for the update...

*Names have been changed to protect their privacy

Brayan has had a very exciting month! He received physical therapy at CDA with his own physical therapist for just about a month before he was assigned an adoptive family! He left CDA on July 23 with the most amazing family! In the month he received physical therapy, he gained a lot of core strength and learned how to sit up on his own. He is also rolling over both ways and tries to pull himself along on the floor. He is much happier and it is obvious that he is more comfortable now that he can move around more on his own. When seeing how much progress he was making with his physical therapist, his parents decided to hire her for therapy for Brayan in their own home. We couldn't be happier for them!

Isaac was scheduled for surgery to close the right side of his cleft lip on July 24. Unfortunately, the day before his surgery, he woke up with a fever and cough which turned into a full-blown cold. His doctors were unable to do the surgery, and it will not be until October that there is an opening for another appointment for him. The good news is that the $360 necessary to do the surgery was raised! The money has been set aside for him, and now we are just waiting until a new surgery date is given to Isaac.

Our final financial need was for heart surgery for four-year old Carlos. He will be admitted to the hospital early tomorrow morning with the hope that surgery will take place on Friday morning (different tests must be run in the days leading up to surgery). CDA has raised part of the money necessary but still needs a bit more. 

Carlos knows that he is having surgery, but is still too young to fully understand what is about to happen. We are trying to prepare him and the other boys as best we can. He will be staying with Sarah and I tonight as I will be taking him to the hospital tomorrow morning. While in the hospital, we will all take shifts to be with him so he won't ever be alone. We don't know how long he will be in the hospital but are estimating it to be about a week assuming there are no complications. After that, Sarah and I are hoping to bring him home with us so he can continue his recovery for another week or so. Please pray with us that there are no complications and that he has a quick and painless recovery!