As the Geisinger medical team now settles back into their lives at home (and each pushes through their ensuing jet lag), we thought it might be nice to have a quick glance back at the events of this past week at MBHOH. Eleven children received successful surgeries to correct their cleft lip or palate, and while each surgery was unique, all were a success thanks to the diligent care, long preparation, and expert skills of each person involved. Our deepest thanks go out to each member of the Geisinger team for their selfless service as well as to the staff at MBHOH who together bring such tender and loving care to these children each day.

The 11 children receiving surgeries were: Skyler, Oliver, Grace, Asher, Dylan, Lakeisha, Kristen, Ella, Brooks, Whitney, and Susie. As you can see from the surgery schedule on the whiteboard, it was an amazingly full and busy few days for not only the Geisinger team and these 11 children, but also the nannies and nurses who have worked to bring these children to this point in their care.

An additional noteworthy event that took place this week on the “Smile Floor” of MBHOH was the departure of David (featured in the photo above), who was called back to the orphanage to await the upcoming arrival of his forever family. Although his presence is already missed at MBHOH, we are endlessly thankful that we are able to celebrate this beautiful news. We look forward with hope to his arrival into the arms of his forever family.  Please pray for David in the upcoming days — that he would know his family even before they come for him and that his transition would be sweet and full of familiar comforts.

Of course, all these miracles couldn’t be possible without the ongoing prayers and support of all the Show Hope sponsors who have done so much to see this day come for these children.

On their behalf, we say “thank you!”

Oliver's pre-op photo with his nanny.

Oliver's post-op photo. He is healing beautifully!

Cathy Troyer, Constituent Relations Manager, reflects on a touching experience she shared with Mariah, a nurse at MBHOH, earlier this week.

On Tuesday night, one of the little ones on the 5th floor, the palliative care floor, passed away shortly before dinner. Mariah had been comforting Sophia all day as we anticipated her passing. She was held, cared for and made comfortable. In the end, she entered in to a peaceful sleep, and then went on to be made new with a body that was not broken.

As I was talking to Mariah today, she told me she was going to the rooftop and asked me to go along with her. As we stepped outside, she walked toward the wall at the perimeter of the roof. On this wall is painted a sweet landscape with yellow skies, high hills, and little trees. On the rolling hills are written the names of all the little ones who have come to MBHOH but didn’t make it. Mariah knelt down and found just the right spot and wrote “S o p h i a.” We both stood in silence for a few moments.

I asked Mariah how difficult it was for her to do this, since the children under her care at MBHOH are in hospice care. Her response was that when these kids come in here, no one knows their name; in relation to the world’s concerns, they don’t often register. When they pass, writing their names on this wall of remembrance reminds us that God has not forgotten them. He knows each of us by name. He knows these little ones by name. And for all the little ones that remain outside these walls, forgotten, He knows them by name as well. Sophia is part of this story and now, she also moves us to continue to press forward on behalf of these children.

The BA Team arrived at Maria’s Big House of Hope on Wednesday morning and met up with Cathy Troyer, the Constituent Relations Manager, here at Show Hope.  She arrived in Luoyang two days earlier to spend time with the nurses and staff.

It has been a great week on many levels already. The kids from Brentwood Academy have been terrific and each one has brought so much to this time here. They have been polite, engaged, funny, thoughtful, hard workers, and have really worked hard to embrace both the children as well as the culture at large. They arrived in Luoyang early this morning after an overnight train ride that seemed full of stories they will tell for years to come. The students spent most of their first day at MBHOH working on painting projects that Jim, a fine arts teacher at BA, helped them plan and complete. Jim and Joanna have been terrific leaders and the kids have responded well to their guidance while here. You couldn’t ask for a better group!

In addition to the two teams that have been here working, the second floor officially opened! The nurses have nicknamed it “the smile floor,” because this floor will be used to care for babies who are awaiting surgery for cleft lips and palates. Twenty-one new babies were admitted to MBHOH for this floor this week alone! On Monday, we admitted identical twin girls (Bella and Ella). They are so identical, even in their cleft lip, that it seems impossible to distinguish them at this point. Thankfully, the nurses have placed arm ID bands on all the new admissions while they get to know the children. Along with two children who were already here awaiting surgery, we now have 23 little ones on the second floor. Their ayis (nannies) are lavishing love and care on these babies to ensure they are at the proper health and weight to receive surgeries from the next Geisinger Medical team. We will follow the kids through the next few months in anticipation of their surgeries and the transformation to come.