Day Two

We are settling into our routine. I miss the restaurant at the Raluca; in fact I miss the Raluca. But the hospital work is actually easier as there are fewer children to care for and we can give them more individual attention. There are 3 babies in isolation who may join us at the end of the week and if that happens we will be busier!

As for the children we do have:

Delia continues to have a fever but is relatively good natured despite not felling well. She has an IV port or whatever they call it in her head because she doesn't have arms. I did see today that she has one malformed leg with 3 toes. Despite her physical challenges she seems pretty sharp. She is babbling and rolling herself over and back without assistance!

Gaby is still Gaby in terms of her likes and dislikes but is much more engaged. I can't believe she is eating from a spoon. Reni, the speech therapist on our team, is feeding her. Gaby even seems to enjoy our frequent strolls down the hall.

Ionut has been cranky. Just wants to be left alone. I worry that he gets left alone a lot at the placement center.

Cleo is a delight. I don't know if the shunt helped or if it is that she is getting more attention - probably both. Anyway she is eating better and smiling a lot. She loves the vibrations from the exercise ball and was laughing today. Too funny.

Kristen had Alina saying "I love you" pretty clearly today. Alina is so much calmer. I think she does better with less competition from the other kids and more attention. Renee had her playing with blocks and Louisa is teaching her Romanian folk dancing! Our little mimic.

I learned today that Andrei entered the hospital only a few says before our arrival. He was found in a barn with the dogs and animals on his parent's property. Wonder if they were ashamed of having a disabled child and hiding him away. He has a great smile and we are learning about him as he learns about us. We saw a big difference just between yesterday and today. He seems to be thirsty a bit, maybe dehydrated.

I visited "my" Andreea today. Took my IPad to show her grandmother pictures of Andreea from the clinic. She said she has some of them at her house; ones that I had sent her. I also gave them some diapers this morning as her grandmother seemed to be asking for them yesterday.

We are off to Da Vinci for dinner - the best restaurant in Barlad in my opinion. Hopefully i can stay awake during dinner! Have been so tired at night. My foot has been hurting a bit so today I just stayed in the hospital after lunch. Need to pace myself.

Still having trouble posting pictures.

Mini Tutova

We had a good first day at the hospital today. I've decided it is like a mini Tutova. They have set aside a few rooms at the end of the hall and Globsl has painted the walls and brought in the cribs and toys etc from the clinic. So it feels like a familiar setting in a less familiar place.

We did learn that the children's hospitsl has merged with the adult hospital. So the former director Dr Magda now is only in charge of a section of the hospital. We also heard that of the 80 hospitals that closed when I as herr last year that were supposed to be turned into homes for seniors only 6 have actually become senior homes. In Tutova there were supposed to be 60 seniors and there are 20.

So for the news on the children. We arrived to find Cleo, Alina, Delia (the 11 month old missing arms and legs), and Andrei, a 4 year old boy with I'm not sure what disability but he doesn't have much muscle tone, doesn't speak etc. We were sad to hear that Nadia the teenager with severe CP who I met last year passed away over the weekend. And my Andreea from Tutova who now lives with her father and grandmother wasn't the hospital as well. I was especially excited when we went to the placement center to pick up Gaby and Ionut! Gaby was all smiles although Ionut was quite fussy.

Cleo is doing so well. She was laughing and smiling so much. And Gaby was eating soft solid food from a spoon! She finished 2 bowls! And is walking with assistance and holding only one hand. Alina immediately wanted to play pattycake with me. I could swear she remembered it from last time.

There is more to tell but I'm tired and have a head ache do will just post some pictures and write more later. Wi fi doesn't work in the rooms, only in the first floor lounge. Not surprising.

Oops. Pictures aren't loading. Will try tomorrow.

Back to Romania

For those of you who have followed my trips to Romania, yes, I am going back. As difficult as the closing of the clinic in Tutova was last year, I just can't stay away.  

I haven't decided if I will maintain this blog or post updates on Facebook or send emails. It may depend on how the internet is working at the hotel in Barlad and my IPad skills. I got the app where I can transfer photos from my IPhone to my IPad but who knows if I will get it to work properly.  Wish me luck.

We will be volunteering at the Children's Hospital in Barlad, where we were the 3rd week of my trip last year. I think the program there is more established since then and I've seen pictures where volunteers have painted walls and the place looks more cheery. Let's hope I can make it up the 3, or is it 4, flights of stairs with the air cast I have on my left foot. 

And let's hope that the weather warms up a bit. It has been bitterly cold in Romania, a difficult situation for people who are already struggling.


Stay turned and I'll let you know how I'll be providing updates.