Out of the ER

I just received report that Nhi has been moved out of the ER and is just in the normal care section of the hospital. He is doing much better and will hopefully recovery quickly. The agency has updated us with all that has been going on in the orphanage in Bac Lieu. Here is some of what she said.

"It has been a difficult week for several children in Bac Lieu who are struggling with illness and who were admitted to the hospital. A total of 5 children are currently in the care of the Bac Lieu General hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia. I have informed all families who are directly affected by this situation. Several children at the Bac Lieu orphanage have been fighting (to varying degrees) diarrhea, upper respiratory infections and, in some cases, pneumonia. Please know that FTIA, the Bac Lieu orphanage, Vietnamese health officials and doctors & nurses at the Bac Lieu General Hospital are taking the situation very seriously. We are following up with families as often as there are updates about their particular child's situation. In cases when it is necessary to admit a child to the Bac Lieu General Hospital, we feel confident that the hospital is able to provide the level of care that is needed.

In response to this very unfortunate event, FTIA is working with provincial and orphanage officials to be as cooperative as possible. Children in orphanages often trade germs and infections because they live in such close proximity to one another. The current weather in Bac Lieu is also thought to be a factor, partly because this recent spike in illness and hospital admissions is not limited to the orphanage. As such, the Bac Lieu Preventative Health Center has already visited the orphanage to sanitize and sterilize the facility so that the environment is as healthy as possible for those children living there. We also informed the IAD, DOLISA and all relevant parties of what is happening, asking for their cooperation to urge officials in Vietnam to process these adoption cases as efficiently as possible so that children do not remain in the orphanage unnecessarily long, especially when they have adoptive families waiting and eager to receive them.

In this situation, you are undoubtedly asking what you can do to help and worrying about the safety of the child you hope to bring into your family. Please be assured that FTIA will inform any family directly affected by this situation, and we will also keep all families informed of the general situation. For now, I ask that you keep these children and families in your thoughts and prayers. I will be in touch as there is more news to share. "

What I left off was that, of those children that were hospitalized, a little girl that was referred had passed away from an infection more serious than pneumonia. It was an awful bit of news to hear. It has been very difficult to focus on the good news we have received, knowing Nhi is getting better, when another family in our same situation has suffered such a great loss. We wish them all our good thoughts, prayers and condolences.