Soon Finlay!

We have had news that Finlay will be on his way home very soon. He has been cleared to travel and should be arriving here very early Thursday morning. We are still so amazed and thankful for his healing.

Just last month, this little boy was facing a sad reality. He could only expect to get gradually weaker, until his body could not cope any more and then he would die. We were prepared to stand by him through that journey - to love and support him no matter what the outcome. We would have make sure Finlay was wrapping in tenderness every moment and that he never had to suffer alone.

 But how wonderful when the story is rewritten! How exciting that now we get to watch him grow stronger and start to enjoy being a little boy! We look forward to encouraging his development and seeing him discover things he never noticed because he was so sick. This little boy is going to have more energy, he is going to be be more alert, and he is going to be making up for lost time. I think Finlay will only continue to amaze us!

 Please keep him in your thoughts as he travels - it's a big journey for a little guy who has recently had major heart surgery. We will feel very happy when we finally get him back here and we can wrap him up in cotton wool for just a little longer! And we can't wait to kiss those pink fingertips and see the difference in him for ourselves. 

We are still short on funds to cover this miraculous surgery which has restored Finlay's hope, but trusting there will be provision for this. If you would like to share in giving Finlay the best Christmas gift ever - LIFE - please contact us.
info@butterflych.org
And we will definitely be posting pictures when our cute boy arrives back. Stay tuned.

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Even Butterflies like junk food.

Of course, we don't give our Butterfly babies junk food every day ...only healthy, nutritious food for our little ones.  BUT  every kid needs a treat now and then. So, when the weather was perfect for strolling, Alan, Lana and Ayi took Hannah, Angel and Jesse out for a lunch date to KFC. Here they are, just setting out from the SWI.

 The children look as if they don't realize what yummy delights are in store for them!

Angel soon worked it out. She decided that popcorn chicken was just delicious. The popcorn chicken is very spicy here by the way. There is much more "kick" in the flavour. KFC also make great iced coffee for the grownups. (Just a tip in case you visit and need a coffee fix.)

Hannah looks like she is waiting for something.

OK - perhaps she is really here for the ice-cream.

Angel realizes that ice-cream gets in faster if you enlist a grown-up to operate the spoon.

Little faces covered in ice-cream are just so cute!

Jesse enjoyed his ice-cream too.

And a few quick photo opportunities on the way home.

 It's so important for the children to get out and about in their community. Learning about new places and having fun treats is all part of childhood, and we don't want our kids to miss out on these experiences. It's also great for the community to engage with our kids. They get to see these precious little faces, and enjoy the sound of our sweet children's laughter. And who knows - those little interactions might just be changing hearts!

Finlay update.

 Please keep Finlay in your thoughts today. He's been moved out of intensive care, which is fabulous. But now the poor little boy has a chest infection. That's not good news when you are still in recovery from a very large heart surgery. We are still hoping to have Finlay back with us in about ten days, but he does need to get over this infection without any complications. Thank you to his friends all around the world, for holding Finlay up through his recovery.

Pink is for girls - right?

I know we have been celebrating Finlay's pink lips and fingertips .... but some of our other boys are pretty in pink too. It's a cute cultural difference that pink is not necessarily a girls colour here. Nor is purple. So be warned - if you come for a visit, don't ever assume that a baby all dressed in pink or purple is a little girl. Our ayis lovingly pick out clothing for "their" babies - making sure they fit well, and look cute and cosy.  But colour has nothing to do with the selection process, as you can see!

Here is handsome Jonathon, before he moved to foster care. He is looking dashing in candy pink.

 

And here is Paul in sweet pastel stripes. You might notice that he is eating his snack with relish - this is typical Paul! He loves his snacks!

This one shows little William, enjoying a tender moment with his ayi. On this day, he was wearing a soft fleecy pink romper, and looking very cosy in it.

  And this is such a cute shot of William with Paul, Hannah, Swallow and Angel. It especially makes me smile to see Paul's wonderful purple vest.

So next time you see a referral picture of a baby boy in pink or purple - it's probably not because there weren't any other colours available. Babies wear any colour at all here, and they always look cute!

Fun with sweaters.

We have been gifted with some beautiful hand made sweaters to keep our precious Butterflies warm and cosy. Now that the air is really starting to get a cold winter edge, it's time to pull all those sweaters out of storage and sort out them out for the children. Miss Hannah came along to give assistance.

She is being very sweet and helpful, but there is a little glint in her eyes that shows she has come up with an idea for some fun.

This is definitely a cheeky look - she has something on her mind for sure!

So Hannah has decided to wear four sweaters herself, and to give her dolly a nice outfit with a hat and a warm sweater.

 It's so good to see Hannah enjoying being silly. All our kids have medical needs and of course, it's very important that they get the treatment they need. But sometimes laughter and the freedom to be silly is just as important as medicine.

And thank you so much to all those who have lovingly knitted for our little ones!

Gentle Jesse

Jesse's cot is called Gentleness, and it seems to be very appropriate. It has taken a very gentle approach and a lot of love to help Jesse find his confidence. You see, Jesse came to us after having lost his sight. His world was plunged into darkness and everything was changing for him. He was thought to have tumours in his eyes, but this proved not to be the case. However his eye disease, whilst not threatening his life, has destroyed his sight forever. You can understand why Jesse was afraid and unwilling to trust.

Gradually, gradually, Jesse has come out of his shell. He really enjoys human contact, and especially touch and talking. These are the types of interactions which mean a lot to him now - he cannot see the people around him, so he needs to hear and feel them. He is not longer afraid of the other children, and he even seems happier to interact with visitors. If you spend time with him, he will search you out with his hands, and then keep his hand on your lap. That way he always knows where you are. Jesse's fear has delayed his development, but now he is starting to make progress again - learning to babble and building up some strength in his arms and legs. He is using his hands much more  to explore the world he lives in. It takes courage to reach out into darkness, so Jesse needs a lot of encouragement.

We love this gentle little boy. He has so much potential, and we see it shining from him more and more as his fear is chipped away. Jesse now needs a home where his wonderful potential can be realized: a place which is loving and kind, and where they are well equipped for teaching blind children. Bethel Home for the Blind is able to take on new children only with sponsorship - there are so many who need their help. We hope that some-one will step forward to sponsor little Jesse to go there. We feel sure it is the best place for him, and this little guy deserves the very best.

If you feel able to help Jesse, please contact us: info@butterflych.org

Home for Christmas?

We are really, really hoping that Angel will be going home for Christmas.

And it looks like she might be excited at this thought too!

Those eyes.

Paul has such soulful eyes. He is usually smiling, so they are often scrunched up in a merry grin. But this picture shows his soulful look perfectly. Such a precious little boy.

We are so thankful that he survived his rough start to life. He brings lots of joy to our Home with his antics. One of his favorite things to do is to pretend that he is on the telephone. He babbles away, just like he is having a real conversation. He's definitely an imaginative little boy.

Soon we will be celebrating Paul's birthday. It will be a time to rejoice in his life and enjoy the happiness he shares with everyone around him. But we will stop a moment too, and think of the things he has gone through in his first year of life. As well as a playful nature and a great imagination, this  little boy has shown courage and resilience. Perhaps that is what is reflected in those soulful looks he sometimes gets. We are so proud of you Paul. We know it's been a tough year in a lot of ways, but you have grabbed hold of life with both hands. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Finlay looks good in pink.

We have photos of Finlay from last week to share. Look at the colour of his sweet lips.

 He is being given oxygen - that's the green tube in his nostrils - but his colour still looks so much better. Those lips are almost rosy. And it looks like his hair has grown too. Anyone know if better oxygenation promotes hair growth? Maybe there's a thesis in that for somebody.

 His cute personality hasn't changed, as you can see by this picture. Not sure what he's doing with that phone - maybe he's trying to call and tell us he's ready to come home!
Not yet Finlay. Since these pictures were taken, he's had another very large surgery to correct the transposition of his great arteries, and repair the large hole in his heart.. Right now he is still being ventilated, and looking a lot less perky. But hopefully it won't be too long, little buddy - we can't wait for you to come home either.

Little Miss Sunshine

Anyone who has visited Butterfly Home will agree that Annie is our resident ray of sunshine. This little girl laughs at just about anything. She hardly ever cries - if you do ever hear her crying, you know something is really upsetting her. Most of the time, her face wears a beautiful broad grin.

Annie's joy comes from interacting with the people around her. Her communication is limited by her cerebral palsy, but she makes great eye contact, and babbles away to you as you talk to her. She loves to be touched and you can see her eyes light up as some-one sits down to play with her. Annie can't move herself to get closer to people, so she relies on people taking the time to come to her.
 In our world, people like Annie often get overlooked - you have to slow down and take an extra moment to reach out to them. But what a delight it is to take that extra moment for Annie. Just one flash of her super smile, and little day-to-day worries fly out the window. Those moments make a difference - to Annie's heart and to ours. Annie is learning that she is loved without reservation, and we are learning to look beyond a little girl's label and see her for the treasure she is. Children like Annie enrich our world, and we are full of gratitude that she is here.

 When Annie arrived, she didn't smile so much. Her body was wracked with spasms and she was constantly in pain. It's not an exaggeration to say that her feet used to touch the back of her head.A child's body isn't made to be in that position, but Annie's muscles were so taut that her poor little body was pulled back like a bow. Its unimaginable how much that must have hurt.

Today, Annie still has cerebral palsy, causing muscle rigidity and very reduced motor control, but her terrible spams are mostly controlled. It is so wonderful to see her coming out of the fog of pain, and watch her her sparkling personality blossoming. She's valued for who she is and she is responding with her whole heart. It's a hard truth that not all children can be healed, but we know it is our calling to love every child, and cherish every life. Children like Annie remind us daily what a joyful calling that is!

Finlay's second surgery

Wonderful news from Shanghai - we have a report today that Finlay's second surgery has been successful. At this stage, it looks like his left ventricle is holding up to the new workload very nicely. We are so hopeful that this will continue to be the case, and that Finlay will have a smooth recovery. Oh, how we look forward to welcoming this little boy home again - not as a child with no future, but as a little boy with the world at his feet! We feel sure there is a family somewhere out there who will one day get to call this miracle boy their own. What a story he will have for them, and how happy we are to be a part of it. We are so thankful for those who have helped with the medical costs for these procedures. You are part of this story too, and your help has given back a little boy's life.

Linda, Finlay's ayi, is exhausted and missing home, so she has returned for a break. Finlay is now being cared for by Peng Ayi. He already knows her well, as she looked after him at Butterfly Home and he is very comfortable with her. Our thoughts are with her as she gets used to a new routine in a new city. It's not easy being far from home in stressful circumstances and we are grateful for these courageous women who love Finlay so much that they are willing to give of themselves in this way.

Please keep little Finlay in your thoughts - his body still has a lot of healing to do and he is continuing to struggle with pain. We also need further donations for the surgical expenses. Contact us if you are able to help to meet this need.

Big Sister Hannah

Hannah is one of the older kids in the Home. She was two years old when she arrived, and had only recently been abandoned. As you can imagine, she was shattered. It's taken some time for her to gradually feel safe and show her personality. Now we are seeing a bright little girl who has a naturally caring heart. It's the sweetest thing to watch her loving her Butterfly brothers and sisters. She enjoys her role as the big sister of the Home, and is very tender with the younger ones. 
Here she is giving Annie some fun in the pusher. Annie is definitely enjoying herself, and Hannah is pretty happy too.

 And if you have traveled here, you will have seen these wonderful brooms. Hannah loves to be a big girl and help out - take a look at the pile of leaves she has carefully gathered. What a great kid!

Autumn days

The weather in our city is a little ....... extreme. In summertime every day is hot, hot, hot. Not only hot, it's terribly humid. You have to drinks lots, because you sweat lots. I know - it's not very polite, but it's a fact of life if you live in this city.

Then in wintertime, suddenly it's freezing. You find yourself rummaging around for all that really unattractive thermal underwear which you NEVER imagined you would need again. Your breath comes out as a frosty cloud, and that's even before you go outside.

So springtime and autumn are welcome relief from the two extremes. And right now, we are enjoying the pulse of a more outdoorsy routine. Lots of walks in the pushers, lots of swinging, lots of relaxed autumn days. I think you can tell from the pictures that the babies enjoy it too.

Finlay's progress

We are excited to report that Finlay is continuing to improve. Of course, recovery from heart surgery was never going to be a walk in the park, especially when you are just a baby. But the little guy is up for the challenge, and his ayi is right there supporting him through everything.

He is out of intensive care now, so we celebrating that step with thankful hearts. Unfortunately he is still having some trouble with pain and it's making him a little fretful. His ayi is finding that he is most comfortable in her arms. Lots of gentle touch seems to help to soothe him. I guess just like all of us, he needs to know that he is not alone.

At this stage, he is still on schedule for his second surgery next week. What a miracle for an inoperable child!  Please join us in thankfulness for the great progress so far, and hope that his pain will be managed well. We will let you all know when his next surgery is scheduled.

Look at those lashes

I think most of the world would agree that there is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby. Just seeing them resting, safe and relaxed, is a little miracle to enjoy every day.

At Butterfly Home, we can't ever forget the traumatic stories some of our children have. They are very sick children, often shattered by recent abandonment. Its nearly impossible for them to find rest. When they arrive, their sleep is usually fractured and tense. Their little bodies are wracked with pain and their hearts are confused. For some children, even breathing is a struggle. It's just heartbreaking to watch a baby who cannot even sleep peacefully.

That's why we don't take a sleeping baby for granted. Watching them sleep actually fills us with incredible joy. We are just so thankful that they are secure and happy enough to drift into total abandonment. 

And would you look at those lashes! Just beautiful.

And of course, Little Swallow's eyes are just as lovely when she's awake!

New haircut!

Dear little Sarah has a new haircut, and suddenly she doesn't look like a baby anymore. She's had her hair trimmed a few times before, but these bangs definitely make her look all "little girl". It's amazing how a haircut can make a child look so grown up!

Sarah is a party girl, with an engaging nature, and a talent for socializing. Her left arm has some nerve damage which makes it weaker than her right, though she doesn't seem to find that a problem. Twice daily she has physio sessions to help her work on new skills, but actually this little girl is pretty motivated to keep working all through the day. If there are fun and cuddles to be had, Sarah will get herself there. 

She's always happy to see YeYe Alan, because she knows she can count on him for a game and a giggle!

Good news from Shanghai

We are thrilled to be able to share that Finlay's first surgery has been a success.

 Before the operation, the surgeon even suggested that the whole repair might be done at once, with no need for further surgeries. While that sounded great to us, it isn't the way things have worked out .... but we are singing from the hilltops anyway!

Our little guy WILL need a second surgery, but he is already looking SO much pinker after the first one. Of course, he is a small boy recovering from a big surgery, so he is not exactly up and out of bed right now. He is sporting some pretty unfashionable looking ICU wear - namely a lot of tubes and drains. But there is a flush of colour coming back into his fingertips, and those little blue lips are on their way to becoming positively rosy. His ayi tells us that pink looks pretty good on him!

At this stage, the surgeon is sounding very optimistic. He even hopes that the second surgery can be done in about 2 weeks. This is much faster than some of the earlier estimates. We are pleased about this, but we still understand the need to let Finlay's body heal before planning too far ahead. It's important to allow his heart time to respond to the new plumbing arrangements.

 Finlay's ayi is doing well too. She adore this little boy, and is excited for the new hope in his life. Even so, it's hard to watch some-one you love go through major surgery, and it's hard to be in a big city so far from home. Keep Linda in your thoughts in the weeks to come - there is still a long road ahead and she knows she needs to stay strong and cheerful for Finlay.
We still do need to raise funds to cover Finlay's operations. Please contact us by email if you would like to help: info@butterflych.org

Nurse Catherine is in the house.

We know everyone is hanging on for news of Finlay at the moment, and don't worry....we will be updating as soon as we can.  Scroll down for his story if you need to catch up.

But while Finlay is awaiting surgery in Shanghai, life goes on back in the Butterfly Home. This week, all the babies are enjoying the return of Nurse Catherine. Catherine has volunteered at the Home before - twice ! Can you tell she has a soft spot for these babies?
Catherine is from England. She has a taste for adventure, a love of travelling and a servant's heart. Mix that up with a wealth of experience in paediatric nursing, and you have a whole lot of blessings for our babies.

Here Catherine is attending to dear Ben. He doesn't look too thrilled at this moment, but he is surely happy on the inside to have such skilled hands to treat his problems!

Volunteers are such an important part of our work here at The Butterfly Home. Some come for a few weeks, while others for much longer. Some go to extra-ordinary lengths to get here - we just have to make mention of Lana's arrival. She's volunteering with us for a year, and travelled by bicycle all the way from Hangzhou, raising funds along the way. That's dedication!
Whatever way they get here, volunteers bless us all with their time and talents. Precious people choosing to share their gifts with our fragile little babies - it doesn't get much more encouraging than that!. Of course, our need for medical expertise is always high - if you are a doctor, nurse or therapist, we suggest you hop right onto the next plane to China. (But contact us first, of course - so we can make the necessary arrangements!).
You'd also be surprised how helpful other skills can be to us. Can you do repair work, or paint a room? Can you take beautiful photographs? Can you organize a storeroom, or cuddle a baby? Can you file paperwork, or make scrapbooks?  All you need is a flexible attitude and the ability to cope with just a little bit of the unknown. And the best bit is, that these babies will bless you just as much as you can bless them!

What's up with Finlay? (now updated with pictures)

HOPE - that's what's up !

We are so excited to find out that Finlay is not inoperable after all. Of course, there is still a long way to go for this our little guy, but we are choosing to celebrate each step. And right now, we are celebrating HOPE.

Finlay's condition is a transposition of the great arteries. This is a serious situation, and in a perfect world, his heart would have been operated on at birth. Sadly, we all know the world is not perfect (yet), and now Finlay is almost a year old and still without surgery. The abnormal way that blood flows around his heart and lungs means the left side of Finlay's heart is underdeveloped and weak. So his heart repair has to be done in 2 stages. The first stage is pulmonary artery banding and a shunt. Then he will be given some time for his left ventricle to build up strength, before a second operation to switch the blood vessels to their correct positions. The time between surgeries could be as short as two weeks, or it could be more like three months. And his heart muscle will need to respond well for the second operation to even be possible.

Finlay's first surgery will be later this week, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday. Please stand with us as we ask for healing for this little boy. It is our great hope that he will recover strongly from this first surgery, and that his little heart will respond properly, thus allowing the second operation to go ahead. The surgeon has stressed to us how dangerous this procedure can be, so we are especially asking that our friends around the world hold Finlay in their thoughts this week.

 We are thankful for the surgeons in Shanghai, who are willing to give him this chance, and the SWI, who also want to see him healed. The estimated costs we have been given for the two stages of the repair are around GBP 10 000, or around US$15 000. It's a huge amount of money, but we are trusting that there will be provision for these expenses. If you would like to be part of the gift of life for Finlay, please contact us or donate via the website.

We hope to be updating Finlay's story with news of his Stage 1 operation soon!


UPDATE: Finlay's ayi has sent these pictures and we couldnt wait to share them.

 Doesn't he look cute? There is more than a dash of mischief in this little boy.

 His blue lips show how much he NEEDS this surgery. He has already been waiting too long.

Uh-Oh. I think this might be the look he gives when he is tired of having his picture taken. But even when he's grumpy, he's still handsome!