not the sickest.

It is understandable and perhaps even commendable when so many advocate and choose to adopt children who truly, truly are "the least of these". 

There are children who live in The Bad Place who are beyond thin and beyond sick.  These are children who will present with very complicated medical needs in a family.  These are children that need assistance from hospitals and doctors in their country - now. These are children who weigh less than 20 pounds (despite being aged 10 or more!) who suffer with debilitating delays, illness, and other maladies that are almost exclusively a result of The Bad Place.

Many of you know of a fundraiser that is currently happening to benefit orphans in Pleven; orphans that could potentially die without help.

Seriously.  They could die.  And why?  Honestly, it is because of where they live, not who they are.  Children in the United States die as well.  Some die of neglect, others from incurable illnesses, and others from accidents.  But it is rare to see a child die in the United States because they live in poverty, or live in an environment that is completely unsuited to their needs. 

Rickets, a vitamin D deficiency, is rare in the United States and in other developed nations.  It is almost entirely preventable, and is also treatable. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rickets/DS00813
We take for granted the "vitamin D added" in our milk products, the easy availability of vitamins on our store shelves or on the internet, and sunlight is usually in abundance, even in our homes. 

Our little boy has rickets, among other problems.  His bones are soft, which is causing the bowing we see. He is likely in pain, suffering silently because he cannot tell anyone it hurts.  And even if he did, who would listen?  Why would he ever bother to walk or move when it hurts so much? 

He needs intervention.  But he is not the sickest.  He is not one of the ones whose faces shock you.  His is not a face you'd see in a youtube video, compelling you to act.  Our Little Dude's cheeks look plump (a mistaken image of health, but it is actually a sign of malnutrition).  He weighs 19 pounds and he's nearly 2 1/2.  His legs are softening due to nutrient deficiencies.

The funds raised to help the Pleven orphans should be designated for the very sickest, and I hope it is.  Our little boy is not the sickest.  He may not benefit much from that - and we accept that.

We must be his voice right now.  It is important for us to advocate for him, as well as the others, who suffer mightily in The Bad Place.

Please consider purchasing a bracelet from our button on the right.  As we "believe", we hope you will too.  We are going to use the profits from this to help purchase additional nutrition for him that we pray will reach him.  Please consider entering the Mulligan Stew giveaway and choosing "Ian" (our Little Dude) as your sponsored child.  If our Reece's Rainbow fund grows, we will be able to designate more of our own funds to send nutritional supplements to our Little Dude. 

Please pray for peace for our family, as we fight with horrid feelings of frustration at this process.  Where are our FBI fingerprints?  We grip at any thought of hope.  The FBI just charged our credit card for the fee on the 14th.  Does this mean we will see something soon?  I hope so. 

Our Little Dude needs to come home.  We need to travel on our first trip to see him.  We need things to move quickly so his deterioration can stop.  So many need this as well...please pray for all of them.

Thank you for purchasing bracelets, donating to the children housed in the The Bad Place, for sharing our blog, and for praying for us.  We are so grateful for followers, supporters, and prayers.