In early April, our WGM friends, Rick & Teresa, came to begin the adoption process for a baby boy. At the orphanage where they found Michael (named by a "momma" who works at the orphanage), they found him basically dying. He was having allergic reactions to milk so they'd tried goats milk and still he was WAY underweight for his age. They guessed he was around 5-6 months at that time. He had been left in a bus after the mom asked a seatmate to watch the baby while she went to the bathroom at one of the stops. The mom never returned. There is no way to trace where Michael came from except they can guess by facial features and where the bus came from and the region of Uganda it covered. So maybe they could guess a tribe for Michael, but nothing more.
Anyway, once they got him on special formula (ridiculously expensive here in Uganda, so when Rick & Teresa came to meet Michael, they brought a lot with them), he soon began to respond. But not until they took him from the orphanage and gave him daily and unlimited care did he really start to develop and respond. At 6 months he could barely hold his head up.He certainly couldn't sit up yet (most babies can at that age), and he was super-skinny especially in the arms and legs. Over the past few months, as his new parents cared for him and worked on guardianship papers (that is the first step in their adoption), WOW did Michael develop! He became super -responsive to people, food, and outside stimuli. It was pretty exciting to watch. Literally this baby was saved from death!
Once, Teresa, Michael and I went for dinner at a local Indian restaurant where we met a nice waiter. We were discussing ideas for Michael's middle name. Rick & Teresa wanted an African middle name, and the man suggested some good ideas, including the name "Kisakye" (pronounced Chee-SAH-chay, but they're using Key-SAH-chay which is okay to do). It is a Luganda word, although they are sure Michael is not from that tribe. Essentially it means "This is one who was once dead and is now saved by grace". How cool is THAT for a middle name? So Rick & Teresa agreed to keep that as Michael's middle name.
Anyway, after a lot of trips to the lawyer's and to the courts and to the Ugandan offices for his passport and to the USA embassy for a visa and on and on... Rick, Teresa and Michael (now about 9 months old) travelled to the USA last night. From there, they will continue the adoption process, and Michael will continue to be blessed and be a blessing to others. It has been a long process but a wonderful one to watch. We have other friends here who have gone a different route in the adoption process and it has taken more than 3 years. Ugh. Oh, and the photo above is of Michael meeting Elsie Jayne Coppedge, when she and her family visited Kampala (from Arua) in June.
Before they left, Michael had not only learned to sit up, but he is now crawling and had very strong legs. He even climbed a step the other day (watch out!). What a different baby he is now- not just with time passage but with the love and attention poured out on him. It all has made an amazing difference!