Wednesday, January 1, 2014

For Jonathan Outreach Day 1- Sydney


Sydney has been apart of the outreach program for 3 years. Sydney's father brought her to the NWHCM medical clinic when she about 7 months old. She was super sick and malnourished. Courtney happened to be walking through the clinic and notice that Sydney may also have had special needs and brought Sydney & her father to the Miriam Center to further talk to her dad. We learned that Sydney's mother was at home and also super sick. Dad did not know if the mother would make it or not and did not know how he could care for his little girl “Sydney” and take care of his sick wife and other children.

It was decided that Sydney could stay at the Miriam Center for a little while so we could help boost her health and so dad could take care of his wife & other children. It was later found out that Sydney's father had taken Sydney while her mother was sleeping and when he returned without her…mother was frantic. As soon as Sydney's mother was well enough to make the journey to the mission (an hours walk down a BIG mountain) they brought Sydney's mother to the clinic. As soon as they arrived at the mission, Sydney's mother ran to Sydney…she thought her child was gone and was so relieved to have her back in her arms.

 
We could see what LOVE this mother had for her daughter and wanted to do everything we could to get them back together. We made plans to have Sydney stay at the Miriam Center while we boosted her nutrtition and health. We also provided her mother with nutritious food to boost her health and nutrition as well. Sydney went back home a few months later and became part of the For Jonathan Sake Outreach Program where she came 1x a week.



 
 
Sydney was unable to walk secondary to mild bilateral foot deformities. Sydney and her mother have been faithfully coming to outreach for over 3 years.  Sydney’s mother always took what was demonstrated and taught at outreach home and worked with her daughter. Sydney would need surgery in order to walk flat footed but the surgeons were only willing to do the surgery if sydeny could bear weight through both feet. Sydeny’s mother worked hard with her and when I 2 summers ago she was able to walk on her tip toes.  In October 2012 she was able to have a surgery to release the muscle contractures in both feet that enable her to walk flat footed.  

 
She continued coming to outreach weekly for therapy & working on walking flat-footed, gaining balance, and increasing strength. She has come a long way and walks, runs, kicks a soccer ball...
 
 




 



 
Sydney as of a few months ago is no longer apart of the therapy aspect of outreach now that she is able to walk. She is still weak and small for her age but is doing well.  She is now apart of the school program. She now goes to school across the street at the mission school on a daily basis. Her mother walks her to the mission every morning where she receives breakfast before school. She then spends the morning at school and comes back to the Miriam Center for lunch before heading home.



 
 I  had the wonderful privilege of visiting her home a few months ago and getting to see where she lives. Sydney lives way up the mountain behind the mission. It takes about an hour on foot to get there. She lives with her mom, dad, grandma and siblings (at least 4). Sydney's mother was not there but her grandmother was. When I went to visit her house I did not have a translator and so was unable to ask a lot of questions but had ALOT of fun playing with Sydney. We played catch, ate a snack from my backpack and she showed me her little trinkets she had collected. This family is very poor by financial & physical measurement but they are so RICH in the LORD and in LOVE and in JOY!
 





 



 
Sydney holds an extra special place in my heart as her mother asked me back in 2011 if I would be her godmother. It has been such a JOY to be apart of this little girls life. To watch her grow, learn, and succeed. She is blessed with a wonderful family that ADORES her. I just love watching her mother interact with her, encourage her, help her learn.


Sydney’s mother when given a little boost was empowered to fight for her child in a culture that says to do the opposite. She has fought for her daughter. Sydney's mother loves coming to the Miriam Center & finds it to be a safe haven for her & her daughter. She has built a friendship circle with other mothers & finds great encouragement herself by coming to the Miriam Center.

Please keep this family in your prayers!

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