Meet Ysmael.

Ysmael hasn't made many appearances on this blog yet. That's because he is one of our quieter kids, and he needs to spend a lot of time resting due to his serious health issues. Sometimes he has good days, when he joins in and is quite engaged with the activities going on. He likes music time, and if a DVD  catches his eye, it might keep him engaged for a little while. Other days he can be very tired and he needs a lot of sleep. On those days, he rarely eats any solid food, but his ayi makes sure he takes a bottle of milk as he rests.

He turned one a few months ago - so he's just a bit older that our two recent birthday boys. But he's not a typical one year old who is growing like a mushroom. In fact, it's a long time since Ysmael has grown at all. He weighs the same as an average 4.5 month old, and has stayed at that weight for many months now.
 Ysmale has advanced liver failure. His skin is jaundiced, and his enlarged abdomen looks startling, while his arms and legs are like fragile sticks. On his stomach is a small surgical incision - it hints at the roller coaster of hope and despair that his first parents must have endured. It looks like he had surgery - an attempt to repair his condition - but the surgery was unsuccessful. It's impossible to imagine how his first parents must have suffered as they realized that their beautiful son would not live a long life. We don't know how long they agonized over their decision, but finally, they left their boy and he became an orphan.
 Now Ysmael is one of ours. We know there is no cure for this little guy on this earth, but we are committed to loving him and serving him for as long as he is here. One of his hardships has been intense itching of his skin, caused by the jaundice. Lyn has recently started  him on a new medication, and is hoping it will make him more comfortable. He's not mobile, but he likes to be carried outside when the weather is fine. And while he might not join in when the children play, he seems to enjoy being held where he can watch them.

Here is Ysmael at Paul and William's party. He tried a little cake, and really enjoyed sitting with Nai Nai Lyn and watching the fun . (Why yes - he is wearing pink! And looking very handsome.)

Kids like Ysmael are an incredibly important part of our work here. This brave little boy will never be adopted and leave us for a new home with a Mom and a Dad. We will never get emails about his first day at school, or learning to ride a bike. This will be his home for as long as he lives, and sadly, we know that our time together will be way too short. But knowing this only increases our resolve to pour love into every day and  to make sure he is never alone. Ysmael's life will be cherished, and he will not cry out into emptiness. We will be there to hear him and respond - for every single day that he has.