The orphanage called even before I left for the US to ask if there was any way we could take some babies. I did not want to leave the people here with the added responsibility and so I decided to wait until I got back. Going to choose babies is one of the hardest things I do. I know what the children need and I know what to do but I do not know how to get that to every one. So I make the agonizing decision about who gets to stay and who gets to come home with me. There were four volunteers who were staying until the end of December and so I sat down and made the proposal. Did they want to take on some babies and have to care for them night and day until they left? They were all for it. I tried to tell it as "hard" as I could, but I am not sure they really understood. So off we went to the orphanage for the 1... and the next 1 and another 1 and the last 1. As is common that is not what happened. The nannies at the orphanage asked us to take another 1 and then there was another 1 suggested. We were all ready to go when I saw a baby I knew would not live for very much longer if I did not take him. So there were were with 1....1.....1.....1....1.....1.....1. They have since become known as the Starfish Seven. Mother Theresa often said something to the effect, if you looking at the many you will feel overwhelmed and will not be able to help the one. For me, if I focus on the 1's I am bring home then it seems so much more manageable.
That last boy on the boat got the name Noah. See if you can pick him out?
My most grateful thanks to Angie, Aubrie, Marjolein and Michelle. I have been in awe of your loyalty to the commitment you made. I know I am sending you home as different people. You have graduated from the Starfish University of life.
Most of the babies have not been sponsored and if you want to help with a tax free donation:
USA: Starfish Children's Services,
C/O Patrick McLaughlin,
6 West 122nd Street,
New York, NY 10027
Australia: Global Development Group (Please quote this number J701N)
Jessica Tan
(07) 3341 6475
Life, love and laughter,
Amanda
At Starfish, we have taken care of 161 children to date, arranged more than 190 surgeries and had 69 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Australia and in China. We did two adoptions on November 6th, Sally (Audrey) and Celine (Zahara), who are both becoming American citizens to two single moms who are both teachers. We currently have 55 babies under the age of 3 and a half at the foster home. We have just added two girls whom we are getting ready for Spina bifida surgery in Hong Kong. We are taking care of them temporarily. We have added 5 girls and 4 boys recently.
Starfish Children's Services
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