Anna Update

Anna has now been in the U.S. for almost a week and has spent all of that time in the hospital.  Part of me hates that, as I cannot wait for her to meet her brothers and sisters and see her new home.  But in reality it has been such a blessing!  She is scheduled for her first surgery tomorrow.  It was originally scheduled for last Tuesday but they found some fluid in her lung and wanted to wait.

This surgery is a good thing!  It should eliminate the cause of the hydrocephalus and get the fluid in her head flowing as it should again.  The surgeons also told us that in about a month, they should be able to perform surgery to correct the shape of her head!  We didn't know if this would be possible.  She has a large bump on the back of her head that makes lying on it uncomfortable and it is so heavy that she has never been able to sit up on her own.  I can't wait to see what God is going to do in her life!  I feel like there is no limit. 

She has an NG tube now for her feedings, which is also a blessing.  It takes all the pressure off her and us to get her to eat and drink.  Once the surgery is complete, they will begin to assess her swallowing.

Thank you again for all of the prayers!  God is answering them!

I have two prayer requests today. 

First, remember sweet Henry who I posted about a few months back?  He was adopted and passed away after complications from surgery.  Well, his family has just announced that they are returning to Eastern Europe for a sibling group of three!  I am so excited.  You can read more on their blog here.  To donate to help them bring this group home, go here.

Our agency just posted this morning that on April 18, there will be a new hearing in Bulgaria for the old director of the Pleven orphanage who wishes to be reinstated.  It is because of the conditions that she allowed that Anna went so long with untreated hydrocephalus and weighs just 24 pounds at 4 and 1/2 years old.  Please pray that the courts will deny any petition she has!  For Nora and all the children we left behind there, she must never be allowed to step foot in Pleven again.  Please also pray for the new director, as she faces much opposition in all the good reforms she is trying to implement.

I will update after surgery tomorrow!