We are currently sponsering a little girl from Sri Lanka.  She is here with us because she is going to have some surgery in the next few weeks; she was born with a severe curvature of the spine, which, in kind, is compromising her breathing.  If she doesn't have this surgery done as soon as possible, she will, more than likely, die.  It's that serious.

We are thrilled to have little Sashi here with us.  It's alomst like having another child, and in the short time she's been here, we've already fallen in love with her. 

Sashi is an orphan:  she lost her family in the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka (and other places) six years ago; she was but a baby when the disaster struck.  She's now nearly seven years old.  Sashi was born with spina bifida; it's only been in the past few years where it's gotten worse, to the point to where she needs lifesaving surgery.  She has never walked; she has always been in a wheelchair.  In addition to the scoliosis and spina bifida, Sashi also has learning disabiilties and hydrocephalus (water on the brain).

At night, Sashi has to sleep on several pillows to ease her breathing difficulties, and she also has to use oxygen.  Just last week, the oxygen delivery people came and brought us some tanks, oxygen tubing, et al, and instructed us on how to operate/clean the equipment.  It is scary because we are so scared that Sashi will have a breathing crisis in the middle of the night; to hear her labored, gasping breathing is frightening enough; either I or my husband have to keep on checking on her several times during the night to make sure she is okay and that she doesn't need to go to the nearest emergency room.

We don't know what the outcome will be when Sashi has her surgery, but we are hopeful that it will at least give her a more normal, less pain-free life.  To see her suffering in great pain or to hear her fighting for breath is very upsetting; no child should have to suffer so much heartbreak.  Sashi has already been through enough in her short nearly-seven year lifetime; she doesn't need anything else to happen to her.

We will keep you up to date about Sashi, but while she is here, we will do everything possible to ensure a happier life for her.  We will be with her every step of the way, and that includes when she has her surgery in a few short weeks.  We want to let her know in some way that we are pulling for her and that she is in our prayers. 

Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to adopt her as our own, but for now, we have to get her well fast and past this surgery that she is facing. 

Until the next time I write, this is Theda Thomas saying so long; please keep us (and especially little Sashi) in your prayers; she  (and we) would greatly appreciate it!  God bles you always!

~Theda Thomas, Rome, Georgia.

*to be continued.*