We got a new little girl today - Aza Mohammed was abandoned in a garden last night and was found by the owners of the house, who then took her to the Police Station and then to Social Welfare this morning.

Aza is one of the happiest children we have ever picked up from Social Welfare - she laughed and giggled since the moment she arrived...even whilst having blood taken to test for malaria!

She is a tiny little thing - she weighs only 6kg and is 68cm tall - though she has a lot of teeth and is able to walk well. She could be anywhere between 1 and 2 years old - but we have given her the birthday of 20/04/2008 making her 14 months.

Apart from being tiny and obviously malnourished, she seems in good health. She has a cough, but apart from that seems well.

We hope that Aza's family will return to collect her - but if they do not then she will be available for Foster care / Adoption.

Poor Ernest had a traumatic day yesterday...(and so did one of my Volunteers, Allyson.)

Ernest has improved dramatically since we received him at Forever Angels and he has gained weight and become so much happier....but there is still something not right with him (apart from his scholosis). He has fever most days, complains of pains in his body and still has extremely swollen knees.

Yesterday we took him to have some fluid drained from his knees to test for TB.

Thank you to Rob and Peter - two Doctor friends who agreed to do this procedure - we REALLY appreciate your support.

We ended up having to do it in ICU (as it is the only sterile and equipped place in the hopsital.) This room in itself is traumatic enough for someone new to the country (sorry Allyson!) Poor Ernest got himself into such a state having local anesthetic that they ended up having to sedate him to drain the fluid.

Allyson and I helped with the procedure - holding limbs, taping IV's, wiping up blood etc etc etc - it is all normal here in Mwanza and I do not think anything of it anymore - but I think Allyson, and poor Ernest, had quite a day.

The results did not show TB so we are now at a loss as to what is wrong with Ernest. I had hoped to get a positive result as at least then we could treat him for something. We also tested him for Sickle Cell Anemia which we are still waiting for the results of.

Why would a child have very swollen, fluid filled knees?



Doctors with any sort of idea....please feel free to email.

Apart from Ernest - all the other children are doing great. They are aALL healthy (and that NEVER happens!) and the Baby Home is running smoothly. We have had no new children for quite a while and a few more due to return home soon...so it is actually quite peaceful at times!!!

One of my Ex-Volunteers - Fiona - is going to do the "2009 Adidas Women's 5K Challenge" in aid of Forever Angels. She mentioned it to a few other returned volunteers and it seems quite a few are now planning to do it! Thanks SO much guys.....

If any other volunteers - or anyone else for that matter is interested in running - it is in Hyde Park on Sunday September 6th.

http://www.womenschallenge.co.uk/home

Please contact Fiona for a plan....Thank you Fiona!

rubyslippers3110@hotmail.com

Oh - and please have a look at our 'Take a Tour' page as we have FINALLY updated it with recent photos of what the Baby Home actually looks like now!.....

On Friday - Philip Lord, the Vice Consul for the British Embassy in Tanzania, came to visit the Baby Home. He was a very genuine and caring man and I think he really enjoyed his visit. Baraka and Adamu certainly enjoyed his cuddles! Thank you Philip for your visit to Forever Angels.

On Friday - Kevin went home to live with his Aunt - Eleanorer. Kevin's Mum has got a Psychiatric illness and is unable to care for Kevin. But Eleanorer works at Forever Angels and now that Kevin is 18 months old, she feels able to take care of him.

Goodbye Kevin - we will all miss you but are so happy that you are back with your loving family.



Kevin going home with his Aunt Eleanorer

All is well at the Baby Home. The children are all happy and healthy (though I never really like writing that as whenever I do - an outbreak of something nasty seems to occur!!)

Meghan is in Zanzibar having a very well deserved break and the only upheavals we are experiencing so far are all the children going home to their families. We have gone from 50 children in May, down to 42 children today!

This is wonderful news - I am so thrilled that there are so many children going back home to their families. This is what Forever Angels is all about. Since we opened - we have had a 75% sucess rate of children returning to their families or being adopted into new families. That is 75% of our children have been 'saved' from becomming orphans. This is VERY high and a great success of Forever Angels which we are all immensely proud of.

.....however - there are a few children at Forever Angels who have got no known family and I worry that they will soon be too old for adoption. If anyone IS considering adopting a child from Tanzania - PLEASE consider adopting an older child. Some of my 3 and 4 year olds are SUCH wonderful characters....I would adopt every single one of them if I could.

Since so many children have been going home to relatives this last month - I have been having daily conversations with children like Charlie, Zawadi and Aika about when they will get a Mummy and Daddy. Obviously I can not promise anything to these children - so few adoptions happen in Mwanza....but these little guys are so desperate for a family and it breaks my heart to hear them asking, 'When will my Mummy come Amy?' My dream is that each and every one of my wonderful Forever Angels children gets a loving family. 75% is amazing....but I want 100%!



Aika, Charlie and Zawadi - such wonderful children and so in need of an adoptive family.....

Today, after living at Forever Angels Baby Home for 2 years and 3 months, Seba and Omari Fredy went home to live with their Father and older brothers and sister.

Seba and Omari came to Forever Angels when they were just 10 days old. They were tiny, ill and in need of a lot of care.



Over the last 2 years we have seen them grow from sickly babies into independent, lively, fun loving, lovable and energetic toddlers and they are both HUGE personalities at the Baby Home. Everyone who meets Seba and Omari quickly falls in love and although I am not strictly allowed to have favourites....I sort of do and Seba and Omari have always had a special place in my heart.



Although I, and everyone else at the Baby Home will miss them dreadfully - these stories are a HUGE sucess and they are what Forever Angels is all about. We have cared for these infants for 2 years, we have kept in regular contact with their father, and we have enabled them to return home as healthy toddlers.

We will miss Seba and Omari SO much at Forever Angels - but we are all very happy that they are now part of a loving family and we wish them all the best in the future.

Goodbye Seba and Omi - we love you so much and will miss you already.....





Oh - and we have finally updated our 'Staff page' on the website.....have a look to see all of our wonderful Baby Home Staff.

Wow - what a day some of our Forever Angels Supporters had in England yesterday!

It was finally D-Day for sending the Container and all hands were on deck to sort, lift and pack the many boxes of wonderful toys, books, nappies, clothes and baby items for the Baby Home.

I need to say a HUGE thank you to ALL the generous people and companies who donated items to be sent in the container - the response was overwhelming and we have got SO many wonderful goodies now on their way to Forever Angels.

I also want to thank all the people who helped yesterday - I know it was extremely hard work and we are SO greatful to you.

Here are some photos of the packing.....

Today, another one of our children went home to his family. Davey has lived at Forever Angels since he was just a few weeks old and he is now a lively, fun loving and charasmatic 2 year old.

Davey's parents have both died from AIDS, but thankfully his Aunt wanted to care for him so today he went home to start his new life with his Aunt and Cousin.







It is always SO sad to say goodbye to these children - Davey has been with us since he was a sick, tiny baby and to see these children flourish and grow into wonderful little people is such a privilege.

Goodbye Davey - we will miss you but are SO thrilled that you are now with your Forever Family.