Ruthe went into surgery this morning around 9:30. What was supposed to be a 3 -4 hour surgery stretched into a 6 hour + surgery. They found more damage to the heart than originally suspected. I was going to try to explain what Dr. Ric told me on the phone here, but I'd probably butcher all the info and all you medical professionals would be cringing and shrieking in horror, so, I'll just say that they repaired some of the leaflets in the mitral valve and one could not be repaired. Time will tell what this will mean for Ruthe. It could be no problem to possible future surgery for a mitral valve replacement. For now, the surgery was successful and she is in recovery. She will be in PICU for a couple of days and then inpatient for another 5 days.
Dr. Ric said that Scott and his brother came up and prayed with Sauveur and that was areal encouragement and support to him. I also spoke with Sauveur. He said his BP went up and he was stressed there for a while when the surgery went so much longer than expected, but he is okay now that he has seen Ruthe.
I've tried to contact Madame Marius, but have not been able to get her. Phone service in their area can be spotty!
Ruthe will turn 12 years old on the 21st. Scott and his brother are planning a birthday party for her, assuming the recovery goes as expected! They are inviting the youth group from their church to celebrate Ruthe's big day! How fun!
Sauveur will be able to be in the PICU with Ruthe tonight so I know he will rest better than if he were in some other room!
Please continue to keep Ruthe and all her family in prayer!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Preparing for School
School is set to open on October 4, and there is much to do to get ready. Of course everyone knows school will not really begin on the 4th. It will more likely begin around the 11th.
At Le Phare we are trying to figure out how we will hold classes and still have the children in the orphanage sleeping inside rather than back in tents. The children currently sleep in the almost finished classrooms. If we cannot make a temporary structure under which the classes will meet, then the children will have to take all their belongings, bedding, etc out of the classrooms each morning for school and then replace everything each evening. This would be a big task!
We want to build a temporary, simple structure of wood frame, tin roof and some plywood sides. All the materials would be reused in future projects. We had hoped to have completed a land purchase deal by now. The property we want to buy has an existing house on it which we had hoped to make some repairs to and move the children into by the time school started. However, we are at an impasse in the purchase and it will be quite a while until we have some other options for housing for the children.
The woman who cooks the meals for the children has also been displaced and is currently cooking in the sun, wind and rain. We would like to cover an area to shield her from the elements while she works also.
Funds would be a blessing!
At Le Phare we are trying to figure out how we will hold classes and still have the children in the orphanage sleeping inside rather than back in tents. The children currently sleep in the almost finished classrooms. If we cannot make a temporary structure under which the classes will meet, then the children will have to take all their belongings, bedding, etc out of the classrooms each morning for school and then replace everything each evening. This would be a big task!
We want to build a temporary, simple structure of wood frame, tin roof and some plywood sides. All the materials would be reused in future projects. We had hoped to have completed a land purchase deal by now. The property we want to buy has an existing house on it which we had hoped to make some repairs to and move the children into by the time school started. However, we are at an impasse in the purchase and it will be quite a while until we have some other options for housing for the children.
The woman who cooks the meals for the children has also been displaced and is currently cooking in the sun, wind and rain. We would like to cover an area to shield her from the elements while she works also.
Funds would be a blessing!
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| Bench materials - ready to make benches This is where the temporary school structure would be situated |
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| Madame Polynice is cooking out in the elements. The temporary structure would add a space for her to be shielded from the sun and rain |
The New Kids
About two weeks ago we went to Forest des Pins and picked up the five children of a young mother who dies about 15days after giving birth to her second set of twins. We brought back twin newborn girls (Angeline died a few days later), twin two and a half year olds, and a 4 year old.
Angena is doing well now after having been hospitalized along with Angeline for 4 days.
All four surviving children are doing well.
Angena is doing well now after having been hospitalized along with Angeline for 4 days.
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| Jenna - always thirsty! |
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| Jelise |
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| Jelise |
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| Jenna polishing off my juice |
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| Angena and Magda |
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| Angena and her caregiver, Magda |
Rachelle's First Birthday
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| Rachelle's 1st Birthday |
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| Ready for the big party |
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| Getting ready |
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| All dolled up! |
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| The party spread |
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| Constant motion = no good photos of the birthday girl! |
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| Wiskina helping to keep the flies at bay |
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| Getting down to business |
Ruthe Update September 29
Please remember Ruthe in your prayers. Surgery is early tomorrow - open heart. The cardiac catherederization that was hoped for is not possible, so open heart is the only option.
Ruthe and Sauveur and brave and ready. They talked with Mrs. Marius today and prayed together.
Scott and Lynn Barlow are organizing some youth around Ruthe's age to come visit. Scott and Lynn will come to be with them tomorrow afternoon.
They have enjoyed chicken, pizza and french fries. I remember that when David was in Arkansas for his surgery his favorite food became McDonald's chicken McNuggets and french fries. And chocolate!
Stayed tuned and in prayer for a surgery update tomorrow!
Ruthe and Sauveur and brave and ready. They talked with Mrs. Marius today and prayed together.
Scott and Lynn Barlow are organizing some youth around Ruthe's age to come visit. Scott and Lynn will come to be with them tomorrow afternoon.
They have enjoyed chicken, pizza and french fries. I remember that when David was in Arkansas for his surgery his favorite food became McDonald's chicken McNuggets and french fries. And chocolate!
Stayed tuned and in prayer for a surgery update tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Ruthe - Update September 28
Yesterday was rest, and then shopping for new clothes, shoes and some food for Ruthe and Sauveur. I wish I could have been there to experience all these new things with them!
Today Ruthe had her pre-op labs, ECHO and EKG. Initially, the Cardiologists were hoping to be able to close her heart defect through catheterization, but after reviewing the ECHO today, it looks as if a surgical closure is the only option. The good news is that they are not going to even attempt the catheterization tomorrow. Instead, she will be admitted to the hospital at noon tomorrow with surgery scheduled for early Thursday morning. They anticipate that she will have to stay in the hospital for 5-7 days after her surgery. If all goes well, they are still hopeful that she will be able to return to Haiti in one month as scheduled.
Please pray for Ruthe and her family this week! I'm thankful for friends in Dallas who will spend time with Ruthe and Sauveur. I know the support and encouragement will build them up. Special thanks to Scott and Lynn Barlow!
Please pray for Ruthe and her family this week! I'm thankful for friends in Dallas who will spend time with Ruthe and Sauveur. I know the support and encouragement will build them up. Special thanks to Scott and Lynn Barlow!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Arrival in the US
Ruthe and her father (Sauveur) arrived in the US tonight safe and sound after just a little hassle in Fort Lauderdale with immigration officials. Johane was able to help them through - thank God she was with them!
Ruthe and Sauveur will be staying with Johane while in Texas. Johane's mother cooked rice, beans and Creole chicken for them tonight - hopefully they feel right at home! Ruthe's mom was happy to hear that they arrived safe and sound. It's been a long day for this family - hopefully everyone will sleep well tonight!
Tomorrow is a rest day - no doctors! Ric is taking them shopping in the afternoon.
Tuesday is test day - labs, x-rays, echo, etc
Wednesday - the docs are hoping they can do a cardiac catherization it close the ASD. If this is successful, Ruthe should be in the hospital only 1-2 days.
Thursday - open heart surgery if cath is not successful; in hospital 3-7 days
Obviously Wednesday's schedule looks best! But God is the ultimate decider.
And obviously I still can't figure out the blog stuff since the photo remains upside down!
Ruthe and Sauveur will be staying with Johane while in Texas. Johane's mother cooked rice, beans and Creole chicken for them tonight - hopefully they feel right at home! Ruthe's mom was happy to hear that they arrived safe and sound. It's been a long day for this family - hopefully everyone will sleep well tonight!Tomorrow is a rest day - no doctors! Ric is taking them shopping in the afternoon.
Tuesday is test day - labs, x-rays, echo, etc
Wednesday - the docs are hoping they can do a cardiac catherization it close the ASD. If this is successful, Ruthe should be in the hospital only 1-2 days.
Thursday - open heart surgery if cath is not successful; in hospital 3-7 days
Obviously Wednesday's schedule looks best! But God is the ultimate decider.
And obviously I still can't figure out the blog stuff since the photo remains upside down!
Ruthe's Travel Day
I met Ruthe, her mother and father at the airport around 6:30 this morning. They wanted to stay the night at their home last night instead of staying at our house last night, so they got up around 3 AM and arrived at the airport about 5:30 this morning. This will be a long day for them!
We met Johane, at the airport after we got Ruthe and Sauveur checked in. Johane is a Haitian nurse who works on the cardiac unit at the hospital where Ruthe's surgery will be performed. She flew down to Haiti on Thursday and spent the weekend with her brother so that Sauveur and Ruthe would have someone accompany them who could translate and guide them through immigration and customs. Dr. Ric sent her with a ton of contact solution for me and David's INR test strips for his blood monitor. What a blessing!
I asked Ruthe if she was tired having risen so early and said she could sleep on the plane. She said she would not sleep on the plane because she wanted to see everything! It's so hard to put these kids on the planes and not be able to go with them! It was really difficult when Ruthe started crying as I was telling her good-bye. I think everything must have started becoming more real to her at that point. I wish I could go with them and be there for the surgery too, but God has others He put in place for that purpose. I am just blessed to be able to be used of Him in their lives.
This is another family of the caliber of the Senatus family - well-poised, extremely grateful for everything, not asking for anything, just trusting God in all things, humble and great examples to us all. It has been a privilege to get to know them and be part of their lives and they a part of mine.
Keep the prayers coming and I'll keep you posted as the news is passed along!
We met Johane, at the airport after we got Ruthe and Sauveur checked in. Johane is a Haitian nurse who works on the cardiac unit at the hospital where Ruthe's surgery will be performed. She flew down to Haiti on Thursday and spent the weekend with her brother so that Sauveur and Ruthe would have someone accompany them who could translate and guide them through immigration and customs. Dr. Ric sent her with a ton of contact solution for me and David's INR test strips for his blood monitor. What a blessing!
I asked Ruthe if she was tired having risen so early and said she could sleep on the plane. She said she would not sleep on the plane because she wanted to see everything! It's so hard to put these kids on the planes and not be able to go with them! It was really difficult when Ruthe started crying as I was telling her good-bye. I think everything must have started becoming more real to her at that point. I wish I could go with them and be there for the surgery too, but God has others He put in place for that purpose. I am just blessed to be able to be used of Him in their lives.
This is another family of the caliber of the Senatus family - well-poised, extremely grateful for everything, not asking for anything, just trusting God in all things, humble and great examples to us all. It has been a privilege to get to know them and be part of their lives and they a part of mine.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Trying the Blog Thing Again
So, back in July we said we were going to do better with keeping the blog updated. Obviously that did not happen. There were changes to the blogger that I couldn't figure out so I decided to start all over and see if that would help me get this right! This is my test to see if it works.
This week I got word that Ruthe's humanitarian parole request has been approved! Ruthe and her father will go to the embassy tomorrow morning to pick up their travel documents and will fly to Dallas on the 26th!
A big, huge thanks goes to Dr. Ric Bonnell of Cook Medical in Dallas. Ric has been so instrumental in all of this process - making all the arrangements with the hospital, surgeon, flight arrangements, housing for the Ruthe and her father, translators in Dallas, etc.
Please keep Ruthe and her family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
This week I got word that Ruthe's humanitarian parole request has been approved! Ruthe and her father will go to the embassy tomorrow morning to pick up their travel documents and will fly to Dallas on the 26th!
A big, huge thanks goes to Dr. Ric Bonnell of Cook Medical in Dallas. Ric has been so instrumental in all of this process - making all the arrangements with the hospital, surgeon, flight arrangements, housing for the Ruthe and her father, translators in Dallas, etc.
Please keep Ruthe and her family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
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