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Keep watching, we are putting more pictures in. There are 60 total kids!
OUR family photo in October 2008 (only 52 kids). We have grown since then!
Back row left to right, Carla & Jeff Picicci and Joyce & Ron Panzero. What a beautiful family!
OUR KIDS AND THEIR STORIES
Left - Thomas Baraka (Blessing) was born on 3/24/2007. His mother was 15. She gave birth and left him abandoned at the hospital. Jeff calls him professor because he can repeat any word you say. He is extremely bright. Center - Jeremiah Nyota (Star) was six weeks old when he arrived in September 2007. He had been left along the side of the road in the city. He struggles a bit with asthma and other respitory issues, but otherwise is healthy. He loves to play with blocks and cars. Right - Paul Jamala (Good Manners) is a two year old who was tortured before being abandoned in June 2008. Although he is now very healthy physically, Paul still is slow to smile or laugh. He is starting to play with the other kids and participates more during preschool.
Left - Daniel Mshindi (Winner) joined us in December, 2007, at about 3 months of age. He had been abandoned at a market and taken to the police station. There has been no luck in tracing his parents. He is a healthy boy who smiles a lot and loves to play with the bigger boys. We have recently placed Daniel with foster parents, but will be monitoring his progress as well as his living conditions and welfare. Center - Samuel Mtoni (River), mostly known as "Sammy", was give the name Mtoni because he was found sitting on the bank of a small river where the women go to fetch water. It is believed that he was seperated from his family as they were running for safety during the violent clashes, following the disputed presidential election. The woman who found him kept him for six weeks as she tried to trace his family, but was not successful. Sammy is about three years old and has the greatest smile you've ever seen. Right - Mode Watura and his older brother Churchill were placed with us after their parents disappeared. Early in September 2008, the parents left their home and never returned. A neighbor lady took the two boys into her home while trying to trace their parents. They have never been found. The boys were placed with the Children's Office and then with us. Mode is a good little two year old who likes to push the babies around in their walkers and spend time with his big brother.
Left - Benny Taibu (Be Happy) was found in a market in December, 2006. He was recognized as being from a certain neighborhood, but his mother was never traced. After staying three months at a crisis rescue center, he was placed with us. He is about 5 years old and has started nursery school. He is a timid child with a great smile and loves to dance and sing. Center - Kelvin Wambua, after being beaten severely by his aunt (who was his guardian), was rescued by neighbors and taken to the hospital where he was treated for burns, cuts and bruises. The aunt was jailed for child abuse. Kelvin is about 9 years of age and covered with scars, head to toe, from many, many beatings. He now enjoys a life without beatings and is working hard in his first year of school. He is also enjoying his first pair of shoes! Although he has had some social issues, he is now interacting very well with people and especially likes making the babies laugh! He has also found his SMILE! Right - Isaac Bahati (Good Fortune) was a few weeks old when he was abandoned not far from a camp for internally displaced people. It is very likely that he was born in the camp. After keeping him for a few weeks, his mother, in desperation, left him on the side of the road, hoping someone would rescue him. He is a strong healthy baby who especially likes being carried on the backs of the workers.
Left - Betty was 8 months old when she was dropped at our gate early one morning in September, 2008. Her mother was arrested for abandoning her child. Betty is a beautiful healthy baby girl. She enjoys her walker while watching everything going on around her. Center - Elvis Wanyonyi was brought to us after being abandoned at the hospital by his mother in July, 2007. He was about 4 months old and extremely unhealthy and malnourished. He is now a happy healthy boy. He is very social and loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on. Right - Joshua Mbeja (Neat Person) was born prematurely on March 27, 2008. He weighed less then 2 lbs! Against all odds, he survived in a hospital that doesn't even have an incubator! He was placed with us on May 8th., weighing only 4 lbs. As of December, he weighs 7 lbs! He is a happy and active baby.
Left - Abendego, abandoned at birth, was premature weighing less then two pounds. He was born March 16th, 2008, but didn't leave the hospital until June 9th. Even then, he only weighed 3 pounds. With the help of nutritious baby formula and later Plumpy Nut Paste, he is now thriving! He is truly a miracle when you think how he survived without an incubator or anyone to take care of him. Center - Peris Msafi (Clean) was found on the evening of February 26, 2008, on the steps of a Catholic church. She was only hours old. Being born during the political crisis and abandoned not far from where many displaced people were staying, it is possible that she was born to a mother who had lost everything and had no place to go. She is a beautiful healthy baby. Right - Philip Oaraja (Bride) was found on a farm at Moi's Bridge Town and taken to the police station. He was placed with us on Sepember 2, 2008 and began walking the very next day! He is an active, talkative toddler who loves to play with the other boys his age!
Left - Ronald Muhalia was abandoned at the hospital in early October at about six weeks of age. A few days later, we got a call from the Children's Office to bring him in for a meeting. When we arrived, we saw an old woman who was obviously in very poor health. She was Ronnie's grandmother who had heard from a neighbor that Ronnie was at the hospital. Her daughter had abandoned her baby. Due to her poor health and short life expectancy, the grandmother could not care for him, but spoke blessings over him and us and said she could now "sleep" knowing he was in good hands. Center - Teddy Othiambo came to our home in May, 2008 after his mother abandoned him in a locked house for more than a week! He was in terrible condition, very malnourished and weak. With close monitoring and a special diet, we nursed him back to health. We were devastated when a judge ordered that he would be given back to his mother who had left him for dead. We prayed for God to intervene and He did! After only a few weeks, Teddy's mom contacted the Children's Office admitting that she could not care for him and requesting that he be returned to us! He is again doing very well, getting stronger by the day. Right - Abraham Jasiri (Brave) is one of many babies who have been abandoned at camps for internally displaced people around the country. He was abandoned in July at the age of six weeks. Although small, Abraham was healthy from the beginning. He is now six months old and is starting to interact with the other babies.
Left - Naiomi Shangwe (Rejoicing) came to us as a newborn only 2 days old, on February 28, 2008. Her cord had been tied with a dirty piece of string and was infected. The woman who brought her to the Children's Department was a vegetable vendor who had been working at a road side stand. The young girl asked her to hold the baby for a minute while she ran home to get the baby some clothes. She never came back. She is a healthy baby who loves music! Center - Eliza Wambui was 3 or 4 years old when she came to us in March, 2008. She had lived on the streets with a mentally unstable mother her entire life. She has had some adjustments to make. She didn't like sleeping in a bed or eating at a table. She is now very well adjusted and is doing well in preschool. Eliza lights up the room with her smile and is very tender hearted. Right - Joseph Mwiti (Forest) was born on a cold, rainy day and abandoned at birth in the forest. When we were called to pick him up, he was only hours old. His lips were blue and his body temperature was very low. We took him home and made him a bed on a camp shower filled with warm water (our make shift incubator). His temperature returned to normal. He is a fragile baby who has tested positive for the HIV antibodies, but our hope is that his status will change since his mom never breast fed him.
Left - Joyce Taraji (Hope) was abandoned at about 2 weeks old on October 28th, 2008. She was found on someone's farm, not too far from a camp for people who were driven from their homes during tribal clashes earlier in the year. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl who is very alert and content. Center - Hope Elizabeth's mother gave birth to her May 1, 2007 at the district hospital. When she was released to go home, she left Hope under the bushes outside the hospital and went on her way. Hope's grandmother has tried to get custody of her but has been ordered by the courts to produce her daughter to face charges of abandonment. So far, she has refused to do so. Hope is a bright, happy girl who makes everyone smile! She loves to dance! Right - Rehema (Mercy) Grace was the first baby that God brought to us on July 14th, 2006. She was saved by God's Mercy and Grace, thus her name. Rehema's mother gave birth to her in a corn field and just walked away, leaving the newborn baby behind. She survived two days in that field, being protected from the rain and the sun by the big leaves of the corn stalks. She was found by kids taking a short cut to school. She had dog scratches on her belly and was dehydrated. She spent three days in the hospital and then was turned over to us. Rehema is a healthy toddler who likes to help take care of the tiny babies.
Left - Mercy Neema (Mercy) was born March 9, 2008, in a small clinic not far from a camp for people who had been displaced due to the violence which took over Kenya following the December, 2007 presidential elections. The nurse who runs the clinic said that she knows all the local people. This woman was a stranger. We assume she came from the camp. The woman gave birth in the evening. During the night when the nurse was asleep, she disappeared. The nurse cared for the baby for three days, hoping the mother would return for her. Mercy is a very beautiful and healthy girl. Center - Brian Kamari came to us, along with his three siblings, in September of 2006, at the age of six. His mother died of AIDS in 2004 and because his father was unable to care for them, they were forced to beg neighbors for food. In mid 2008, their father also passed away, leaving them orphaned. Brian was very unhealthy when he arrived at the home, due to malnutrition and IEV. He is now on regular treatment and receives a healthy diet so is a fairly healthy, active boy. He is in class one (1st grade) and especially enjoys playing soccer. Right - Brian ( Bafo) Sogoro came from our neighborhood in Kesogon and began hanging out at the place in 2005. He came to stay with us full time in June, 2006 after his father agreed that he was not able to take care of him properly. His dad continued to visit him every now and then for a few months, but hasn't been seen since the first part of 2007. Bafo is about 8 years old and has struggled with ADD, which has caused him a lot of trouble in school. We now have a private teacher and it has helped him tremendously. Bafo is a loving kid who likes to help out with chores around the house and is good with the little ones.
Left - Churchill -Early in the month of September, his parents left their home and never returned. A neighbor lady took Churchill (5) and his brother Mode into her home. The parents were never found and after about a month, the lady reported the case to the Children's Office and the boys were placed with In Step. He loves to run and play with the other boys and takes good care of his little brother. Center - Shirlyn - arrived, along with her three siblings, in September, 2006. She was nine years old but very small and weak for her age, due to malnutrition and HIV. Their mother died of AIDS in 2004 and because her father was not able to care for his kids, they were forced to beg for food from neighbors. Her father also passed away earlier in 2008. Now that Shirlyn receives regular medical treatment and a nuritious diet, she is a healthy, active eleven year old girl. She is very bright and holds the number two position in her third grade class. She also enjoys helping around the house and taking care of the babies. Right - Jessica Wamboi came to us in July of 2006, along with her brother James, after being abandoned by their mother for 4 months. The old man, whom the kids were left with, would tie Jessica's leg to the bed post every morning when he left the house and then return in the evening with a few bites of bread which he would soak in water. Because she wasn't getting enough to eat, she would pick at the mud/manure floor and eat that. This caused a very serious case of intestinal worms, which would have eventually taken her life. She is now 4 years old and healthy, but does seem slightly delayed developmentally. She is now really trying to talk and she loves to help take care of the babies. She is a real people person. Everyone who knows her, loves her!
Left - Fred Wanyama - Fred has a very sad story! His mother died giving birth to him and his twin brother in September, 2006, so the babies were left with the grandmother. Unfortunately, she was not able to properly care for them. They became extremely malnourished. Fred's brother eventually succumbed to his poor health and died of malnutrition. A Catholic ministry stepped in and started providing food for Fred, but the other family members would take the food for themselves. The grandmother eventually agreed to release Fred to us so that he could receive proper nutrition and health care. At the age of two, Fred weighs eleven pounds and wears a size 9 month old clothes.Center - Jenny - Jenny is a very bright three year old who can tell you exactly what happened to her. She and her aunt were walking down a long rural road when the aunt told her they were going to play a game. She told Jenny to walk straight ahead as fast as she could without stopping and without turning around to look back. Nobody knows how long or how far Jenny walked before and old man found her and took her into his home. She knows the first names of her parents, but she doesn't know where she is from. So, efforts to trace them have been unsuccessful. Jenny has adapted very quickly and likes to play with the other girls her age. She also enjoys telling stories. Right - Jackson - Jackson, brother to Rebecca,was barely alive when he was placed with us. At about a year and a half, he weighed only eleven pounds. He and his older sister were rescued when their father was arrested for neglecting them. He would leave them alone for days at a time. The sister, knowing how to walk and open the door, would go outside and to the neighbors. Knowing she was alone, they would feed her and care for her. Unfortunately, nobody realized there was another baby in the house. Jackson almost starved to death before anybody even knew he was there! He is obviously in very poor health, but is willing to eat food and drink milk. So, we expect him to improve quickly.
Left - Rebecca - Rebecca is about 2 1/2 years old and seems to be well adjusted and healthy. The police officer who rescued her said that her father chased her mother away some months ago and he himself goes away for days at a time. The little girl knew how to open the door, so when her father was gone, would go outside and to the neighbors. Knowing she was alone, they would feed her and take care of her. Her father has been arrested for neglecting her and her younger brother, Jackson, whom nobody knew was inside the houe and almost died of malnutrition. Center - Teresa Amani (Peace) - Teresa is the first child that came to us during the political crisis, which is why we gave her the name Amani; which means peace. Teresa was about eight months old when she was abandoned outside the gate of an elderly couple, not far from a camp for internally displaced people. She had some signs of malnutrition but has improved quickly and is now a very healthy girl. Right - Joy Tausi (Peacock) - Joy was born the April 1, 2008, at the District Hospital. Her mother immediately ran away, leaving her behind. Joy truly is a joy to have around! She loves to play in the walker and clap her hands or sing to get the attention of whoever is walking by.
Left - Michelle - Michelle came to us on November 30, 2008. She was about ten months old and as cute as can be. She seems very healthy and is obviously used to being held alot. So, it is weird that she was dumped off in someone's maize field. The farmer found her in the morning just sitting there in the field, crying. She is adjusting well, even if she does think she should be held all the time. Center - Sylvia - Sylvia also came on November 30, 2008. She was about a year old and has been well taken care of. She is healthy and clean. No evidence of neglect at all. Her neighbor brought her to the Children's Office after her parents abondened her in the house. After hearing her cry for several hours, the neighbor decided to go see if she could do anything to help. That is when she found that Sylvia was all alone. Several neighbors said they heard lots of yelling and screaming through the night. The parents were fighting. No one knows exactly what happened. Maybe the father chased the mother away and then left the baby alone the next day. It all seems quite strange. Right - Eunice Nabangala - Eunice was found bundled in a thin blanket on the side of the road on April 9, 2008 at the age of about three days old. She is a healthy, content baby who hardly ever cries! Eunice was recently fostered out to a woman who has not been able to have kids of her own. We trust that God has a special plan for her life in her new home. We will be monitoring her progress as well as her situation and environment.
Left - Dennis Jabali (Rock) - Dennis is a three year old boy who was abandoned in a market place during a very busy time of the day in December, 2006. Nobody saw who he was with and since he could not yet talk, he couldn't give any information. After staying for three months at a crisis rescue center while the authorities attempted to trace his parents, Dennis was placed with us. Dennis seems to be slightly developmentally delayed for his age, but is starting to catch up while attending our on-site preschool. He is a good boy who enjoys sitting on laps and playing with toy cars. Center - Brenda Akiru - She was abandoned in Nov. 2007 and was placed in a rescue center for street boys. After several months of trying to locate her parents, the center requested that we allow her to come stay at our home. The authorities realized that they were putting her at risk by keeping her in with the boys. Brenda is healthy and likes playing with dolls and likes pre-school. Right - Shadrach Barabara (Road) - Nine month old Shadrach was found sitting in the center of a round-a-bout on July 12, 2008. He was quite malnourished and weak. He is now an active toddler who loves to be snuggled!
Left - Susan Maua (Flower) - Susan was born in the hospital: a healthy, full term baby! No one knows why her mother decided to abandon her there. Susan suffers from an occasional bout of pneumonia, but other than that is a healthy baby. She is obviously a very social baby who is already smiling and cooing at people. Center -Melisa - Melisa is a three year old girl with a crazy story! Shortly after she was born, she was kidnapped from her house in the middle of the night. After Melisa had been missing for three years, her mother noticed that a three year old neighbor girl looked just like her (the mother's) family! She reported to the police that she suspected the neighbor lady had kidnapped her baby! After being interrogated, the neighbor admitted to buying the baby from the father! All three adults were arrested! Melisa is a bright, well adjusted three year old who especially likes pre-school. Right -Grace Murugi - She is the eldest of four siblings. They all arrived in Sept of 2006. She was 13 at the time. She had a hard time after her mom died of AIDS in 2004. She had been taking care of her and the younger siblings and was not able to go to school. She has ajusted well and is now doing very good in school. She is a joy to have around. She enjoys helping in the kitchen and loves playing with the babies.
Left - Ruth Mwangaza (Light) - Ruth came to us on September 4, 2008. We were called to pick up a baby girl. She was about a week old; her cord had just recently fallen off and was not completely healed yet. When we got home, one of the workers asked if she had a name. When I told him, "No", he announced that her name would be Ruth. I call her Baby Ruth, which no one but Jeff knows is funny. My little chocolate Baby Ruth! She is a beautiful baby! She looks to be healthy and full term. She was abandoned in one of the IDP (internally displaced people) camps, which still have people who were displaced during the post-election violence. Center - Moses Mpendwa (Beloved) - Moses was found in June of 2007, at the age of one year near a borehole where lots of women collect water. He was fairly healthy and very sociable, not the typical abandoned kid. Because of this, it has been speculated that maybe something happened to his mother as she was going for water. Moses is a well adjusted, happy little boy. Right - Peter Mwauru - Peter came to us as an eleven year old in September, 2006. He and his three siblings had been forced to beg from neighbors for food after their mother died of AIDS in 2004 and their father was unable to care for them. In early 2008, Peter's father also died, leaving him a total orphan. Despite his rough past, Peter thrives in the classroom, holding the number one position in his class. Peter is a very healthy boy who loves to play soccer and watch TV.
Left - James Mwangi - James was brought to us, along with his sister Jessica, in July of 2006. He was about six months old at the time and had been abandoned by his mother four months prior. The old man whom he was left with was not able to take care of him properly, giving him nothing more than a few bites of bread soaked in water each day. When James was brought to us, he was very near death. James suffers from a variety of health problems, including seizures and developmental delays, probably due to the malnutrition and dehydration that almost took his life. Despite his rough beginning, James is one of the happiest kids you will ever meet. He loves people, music, food and is a real bright spot around our home! Center - Margaret Bahati (Good Fortune) - Margaret came to us on February 16, 2008 at about two weeks old. She was very malnourished and had a diaper rash so bad her skin would actually bleed. It is believed that she was stolen as part of a child trafficking ring. The couple whom she was found with have been jailed and charged with baby stealing. The search for her real mother is ongoing. Maggie is a bright girl who is very content and smiles at everyone who comes in the room. Right -Zacchaeus - He is a happy baby of about six months. His mother lives on the streets and is mentally unstable. Some people were worried about her ability to take care of him. With the cooperation of their local chief, they "rescued" the child from his mother. He is a very happy baby who loves people and just smiles and coos constantly.
 
Left- Amos Baraka (Blessing) - Amos was born at the district hospital, but his mother ran away leaving him behind the same day he was born. He stayed in the hospital for two and one half months as they tried to trace his mother. During that time, he did not receive proper nutrition, so was very malnourished. Also, because he was never taken outdoors in the sunlight, he developed a serious case of rickets. After coming to the home, he began receiving treatnent for the rickets and proper nutrition through baby formula. He now seems to be a very healthy boy! Center - Cynthia Faith - Cynthia Faith was left on a public transportation bus in November, 2007, at the age of two weeks. Her mother has been traced and charged with child abandonment. As the case drags on in the courts, we enjoy a very healthy, happy, baby girl. Right - Musa - Musa came to us on February 13, 2009. An old lady, claiming she had found Musa two years ago and had been taking care of him ever since, brought him into the Children's Office asking for government assistance. The children's officer, suspecting she was the grandmother, tried to call her bluff by telling her that the government would assist her by placing him in an orphanage. She did not want that, even pulling on Eliud's arm, trying to take the child back as we were getting into the vehicle. It was sad. I think Musa is close to three years old.
Left - Job - is a cute two month old and healthy. His brother came with him. Center George - Both boys are new to the Children's Home. They came in January, 2009, while Carla was in the US. The oldest boy is George he is about two years old and has some health issues We think he may have spina bifida. They were abandoned, we assume because of the health issue. Right- Edith - Edith came on March 4, 2009. She already had her name. She is a tiny, beautiful, seemingly healthy three week old baby girl. Her little bottom had such a bad diaper rash. It was literally bleeding. She had been abandoned at the hospital a week before and with no one to take care of her, was fast declining. She just depended on mamas of other kids in the ward to share some milk here and there. Even then, without a bottle, I am sure they didn't get much down her. She took to the bottle immediately and has a strog cry to let you know when she is hungry. I think she will be ok.
Left - Francis - Two brothers; the oldest one is named Francis and his younger brother is Isaiah. Center - Isaiah - (I call him Isaiah 58 because he was child number 58 and Love Mercy's motto is Isaiah 58. Love Mercy is the ministry who drilled the borehole.) Francis is about three, definitely old enough to talk, but for the first day, he didn't say a word. When we tried to talk to him, he just looked at us like we were speaking some foreign language. Well, it turns out, that is what we were doing. One of the workers, when she heard where the boys had been abandoned, spoke to him in the language of that area and he just lit up and started talking his head off! So, it is a challenge to have a child who doesn't speak Kiswahili. I am sure he will start picking it up quickly. His little brother, Isaiah, is just over a year old so will learn Kiswahili as his first language. The two of them were abandoned in the Mt Elgon area where there is lots of violence and poverty and about every other problem you can think of. It is not left over violence from the post election saga. That area has bee in turmoil for years. I don't really understand it at all, except that it is fighting over land. We will probably never know their story, but I am sure they have seen more than a one year old and three yearl old should ever lay eyes on. Right - David Maziwa- David came to us on March 4, 2009. His story is sadly a typical one. Trouble between the parents...the father chases the mother away and the child is left with the father who doesn't take care of him. Eventually, the child is abandoned on the street. Now the mother has been arrested for abandonment while the father continues with his comfortable life as a school teacher. (I know, it doesn't make sense. I told you this is typical!) David is about a year and a half. He was in such bad shape when Jeff picked him up from the police station that he decided to take him straight to the hospital for an examination. He was immediately admitted for malnutrition and dehydration. He also has a very advanced case of TB (surprise, surprise), extreme anemia, and high malaria. He was given fluids, treated with quinine for the malaria, fed nutritious food (he grabbed at it. I think it had been a while since he had eaten), started on TB meds, etc. The reason we named him Maziwa (which is the Swahili word for milk), is because every time he sees a milk carton, he goes crazy. If there is milk around, that is all he wants. The chai, poridge, bread, rice, ugali, etc., everything else can wait. He even tried to breastfeed on the nurse. So, it just made sense to name him Maziwa!
Children's Home
In July of 2006, God brought the first baby to Jeff and Carla at the small house they built in Kesogon. Before the move in March of 2008, they had 34 children. Now Rehema Ministries and In Step Foundation are building a Children's Home Compound in the Cherangani Hills.The ministry owns ten acres and has just purchasedan additional ten that is attached to it. The Picicci's along with the Panzero's, are founders and full-time missionaries. While the Picicci's are in Africa running In Step Foundation, the Panzero's are in the States raising funds to build more homes. Now the work begins for 2009 for the next home, medical clinic and cafeteria. Phase 3 will be the pre-school, church, Tech Center and more. BIG PLANS, BIG GOD!
When you read about the homeless children and the number of deaths in Africa, it doesn't seem real. We have people ask us all the time what we think when we see the TV documentaries. They want to know if it is for real. I am sad to say it is. Everyone thinks that AIDS is the biggest killer in Africa, but malaria kills more children than any other disease according to statistics from The New York Times Oct. 26, 2007. Life expectancy in Africa is 45 for an adult and for children under 5, 1 in 5 survive.
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WE LOVED
Along with the joy of bringing these children into the Children's Home, also comes sadness. Many of these children, by the time they get to Jeff and Carla, are on the edge of death. And we have to prepare ourselves to be able to let go.We have lost four children. We pray that we don't have to lose anymore.
Mark Steven had been abandoned and left to die. He was four years old and weighed about twelve pounds. He was so dehydrated, even his eyelids would not close. Carla spent six weeks caring for him in the hospital so that he could be given IV's. When they allowed him to go home with them, everyone celebrated. He fought a six month battle for his life, but everything in his body had been so weakened, he just couldn't hold on. He died August 13, 2007 in Carla's arms, knowing he was loved and all the children coming in to tell him they loved him. I personally believe that the Lord gave him to them so he would know love instead of dying in an empty hut. Below are pictures of Mark Steven when he first got there and just before he died. He looked so healthy on the outside but there was just to much damage to his organs from starvation, It is so heartbreaking to know that he didn't have to die, if the parents would have just dropped him off at the hospital.
   
Emanuel, known as Manny, was four months old and weighed four and a half pounds when he came to the Children's Home. He was suffering from malnutrition and was given a blood transfusion at the hospital. Due to the fact that the hospital had run out of oxygen, Manny struggled to breathe and passed away on May 28, 2007, in Carla's arms. We now have a doctor on staff and we won't loose another one because of the lack of life giving oxygen.
Winnie died of complications from cerebral palsey. She died on September 22, 2008. Winnie always had a smile and simply fell asleep and never woke up. Like so many of our children Winnie was abandoned, most likely because of her illness.
Levis Pkiach, lovingly known by Grandma Joyce as Levy, died on December 1, 2008. He died from complicatons of malaria due to his low immune system. He was HIV positive. He had been at the Children's Home about three months. We think he was about 13 months old. He was found on the roadside in a pile of rags with only his immunization record. If the only reason he was brought to us was for him to know he was loved, then we were successful. Not only was he loved, but he will forever be in our hearts.
  
Richard joined us on 11-30-08 and went to be with Jesus on 1-23-09. They called him Little Richard! He’s named after a friend of the Picicci’s who shares his birthday. He was born to a very young girl, the birth took place at the midwife’s house. The girl’s mother and the girl left without the baby. On their way out the door they told the midwife to just put the baby outside that night, and pretend he was never born. This is not uncommon in certain situations where they believe the baby is a curse, because the baby was conceived by rape or incest and in some tribes, if a girl gives birth before she is circumcised, the baby is rejected. Most often they are left outside to die or worse yet to be eaten by wild dogs. The midwife in this case couldn’t do it, thank God! She kept the baby for a few days then took him to a rescue center so she could remain anonymous. The rescue center is for street boys, not newborn babies, so they took him to the children’s office were they picked him up.
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This logo & Rehema's logo were created by Paulette Howard as a gift for her Aunt Joyce. These shoes were worn by one of the children when they arrived at the home. The toes of the shoes had been worn out because they were too small. And these are in good shape compared to most. Sharon loved her shoes and wouldn't give them up because at least she had shoes. Jeff traded her a new pair for them and kept the old ones as a reminder, they became the LOGO.
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