Baby Suzane

Last week a baby girl was born at Tanza to a single girl named Edna.  The baby is named Suzane.  An hour after she was born, Michele and I got a call that things were not right with Suzane.  The ladies with Edna told us that the baby's head was abnormal and that she had a big red thing on it.  We drove out lat that night and saw Suzane, and felt that everything was ok with her.  Her breathing was good, she didn't seem distressed, and her appearance had improved according to the women.  So, we said goodnight.  Two days later Suzane got a high fever, so we decided it was time to get her to the doctor.  We took her to a clinic, where they told us to get her to a hospital because she likely had a blood infection.  I came home to watch our girls, and Michele took Edna and baby to the hospital.  She's been in the hospital for 3 days now, and it seems she has pneumonia, a blood infection, and possibly meningitis.  She is in the pediatric icu, and we can't see her until she gets out.  At this hospital, someone has to be present 24 hours to run out for things the baby might need.  Rubber gloves, medicine, lab results...  It's our responsibilty to round all of these things up for the icu!!!  This is becoming quite an experience for us.  I spent the night on the floor of the icu waiting room last Sunday night.  Lots of fun!  Since then, Edna and a friend are staying there.  Unfortunately I can't post a picture yet because we can't get in to see the baby in her incubator.  While spending several hours sitting in the waiting room, Michele met a couple with an adopted baby girl in the icu.  She had serious heart troubles, and they had been hanging out in the waiting room for 4 weeks!  Monday their money ran out, so the hospital transferred the baby to their charity ward, where she died within 8 hours.  I can't imagine the pain these folks are facing this week.  To adopt a little girl, a month later she becomes seriously ill, and then dies after a month in the hospital.  I got sick to my stomach when I heard the news.  I can't imagine how the hospital could allow that to happen, and it's all about money.  That's something we probably won't get used to, living over here.  Anyway, keep baby Suzane in your prayers, and also Larry and Melissa who are surely grieving this week.  Thanks!