Some sad news today. A baby girl passed away after being at the hospital for a while. No one knew what she died from, but she had a fever for quite some time.

Another baby came in today. She has hydrocephalus. I knew it from the moment I saw her, because I had watched a documentary recently on the disease, and there was no way she didn't have this. Her head is so abnormally and shockingly large. She cant keep her eyes from rolling to the back of her head (called 'sundowning') and she is in constant intense pain. It's so heartbreaking. Also, her growth has been incredibly stunted from the inter-cranial pressure and I was shocked when I learned that she was two years old.

I know the disease is fatal if not treated. Not to mention she's writhing in pain most of the time. I don't know how she has been treated or if it has even been an option, considering her mother didn't even have the means to feed her. I'm going to ask the orphanage administrator if she has a shunt in place to drain the fluid from her brain. That is the only way she can survive. I'm hoping she already has one and it is just starting to work. If she doesn't have one, I'm going to get my gears turning and try as hard as I can to make a plan to help her. It's so painful to watch her be so uncomfortable all the time.

My first step is to talk to the administrator. If it is okay, she will let me know whether or not the baby has a shunt already. If she doesn't, I will find out from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (I know they have done shunts on babies before) about the costs of the procedure. If then I am able to raise the funds, I will have to have another discussion with the administrator about the legal process of putting an 'orphan' through surgery. I am not promising anything to the orphanage until I have all the funds readily available and realistic plans set in place. Only then will I tell them that I have raised an amount of money for the girl to have her surgery.

I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but this is a case where I can't just sit by and do nothing. I have to get into action, because this little girl doesn't have a voice for herself, and no one to speak for her.

I didn't get a photo today, because it was hectic as she just came in and I was busy with multiple babies. I will try to get one tomorrow, and I will post it along with how the meeting with the administrator went. Thats all for now.

Cute pic of Yeboah to brighten your day!