I have so many unforgettable moments from working here. I will never forget seeing diaper rashes so bad that skin is peeling off of their bottoms all the way up to their belly buttons.
I will never forget the stinch of the old abandoned baby room.
I will never forget all the throw up I have worn because babies ate too fast; gulping down formula way too fast because nurses clipped the tops of nipples so they don't have to spend too much time feeding these little ones.
I will never forget praying over the cribs of these little babies pleading that the Lord would rescue them from their bleak future and do something I can't imagine in their lives.
I will never ever forget the sweet smiles and laughs from so many infants. It is such a gift to be able to spend days just holding, singing and loving on them. No one else does this for them and I never wanted to miss a Friday!
I will never ever ever forget little Cassandra who I fell in love with in late March. So much that we wanted to adopt her and make her part of our family. If only adoption were open! Urgh!!
Well a few weeks before I left Romania Cassandra's baby brother, Bogdan, who is a few months old was abandoned as well. It was love at first sight for me! He has the same big beautiful brown eyes as Cassandra. Yes, I wanted to adopt him too. I thought our family would be complete with this sister/brother set. Maybe one day?? ;)
Well, I have lots of answer to prayer concerning little Cassandra. If you remember she had a cleft palate and needed several surgeries. She is almost two (in Sept.) and she had been in the abandoned baby hospital her entire life! She was just stuck in a crib alone all day everyday. Well, shortly after we started working there she had two surgeries. The first to fix the outside of her mouth and the second to begin working on the inside. She still needs more surgeries over time, but so happy that there has been a start!!
Also, after the surgery Cassandra needed 24 hour care. A lady named Janny lives right near the hospital on a huge farm. She is from Holland and is just a wonderful woman. She took Cassandra in taking care of her and loving on her. She would not take Cassandra back to the abandoned baby hospital, but instead took her into her home. She has no plan of taking her back there and will keep her until they find her a good home or until who knows when. And she is okay with that.
HUGE. ANSWER. TO. PRAYER.
When we realized the Lord was leading back to the States and not to remain in Romania long term, she was one of my first concerns. What would happen with her? Would she just stay in that crib and smelly room?
So I prayed. God answered. She is in a wonderful home. She is walking almost on her own. She is trying to babble, but it's hard when she has a huge canal inside her mouth. She is being loved on. She has toys to play with.
I was able to go see her before I left Romania. Janny let me come to her house to visit her and take her some birthday gifts and goodies. There was a moment that I know God made happen.
As I was about to leave I had a little chat with Cassandra and told her it was time for me to go now. Immediately she throws her arms around my neck and brings her cheek up against mine and just lays there holding me for about an entire minute!
Teary eyes.
Full heart.
I almost put her in my car and tried smuggling her out of the country. I had to resist the urge. It was just a sweet moment for me and I was grateful for the Lord taking her out of a pit and putting her feet in a better place physically. I'm excited for her future and I continue to pray for her and her brother Bogdan. Hoping they are reunited soon.
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