Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - April 2006

April 2006

I continue to have discussions with the kids to get them to go to school. One day I brought plastic glasses of Jello gelatin for each of them. The 4-year old boy said I must bring it every day. I told them that if everybody goes to school everyday then I would bring it again, trying to give them incentives that if they all go to school I will bring more. If one doesn't go then nobody gets dessert. So, Friday the middle girl didn't go to school and therefore I won't bring any at all. It is too difficult giving something to all but one who broke the rules. Like this, the others have to encourage the one who doesn't want to go. This girl thinks that Monday's and Friday's she doesn't have to go. One Friday she wasn't getting ready for school, and she goes in the afternoon session. I told her to get dressed and I will drive her to see that she enters the door. Last Friday she didn't go and I told her that I would come everyday to see that she goes. It appears that the mother doesn't provide much discipline. The oldest boy, Carlos David, is 17 and in the 4th grade. However, his father will not go to apply to get his birth certificate and now he cannot return to school. The schools are becoming strict that the kids must have their birth certificate or else they cannot enter school. Apparently he is the only one, since he has a different father, as does the oldest girl, 16 years old. At times I will take candy and the kids must pay with a kiss. When the medical mission was here in January I took the father of the church, a doctor and nurse to the home to check the kids. The 4-year old suffers asthma. Several times a week the mother must take him to the hospital in the middle of the night because he is not breathing. She has a nebulizer, which the maternity hospital gave her. I suspect from the donations I brought. However, if his breathing is very bad he must get an injection. He is a brave little boy. Tuesday I take the Cena twins to Santo Domingo for an echocardiogram. They are 7 months old. When the medical mission team were here the mother came to the clinic in Mozovi with one of the twins. The other was in the hospital. She said they were born with narrow heart valves and needed surgery. I can't remember the name with all the noise here but it's where the balloon is used to open the valve. The pediatric cardiologist in Santiago wanted to do the surgery for 50,000 pesos. I made an appointment with Dra. Toribio, the pediatric cardiologist in Santo Domingo who was instrumental in providing surgeries for Antonia, Grey, Iris Anna with the pediatric cardiologists from U.S. She said she would be able to do the surgery to open their heart valves in 6-12 months when the babies are bigger. I will also take a little boy 1 1/2 years old who needs a pace maker, so says the pediatric cardiologist in Santiago. I want to see what Dra. Toribio says. Also, I will take a 4-month baby girl who was born with a hole in her heart. The trip to Santo Domingo I dread so I must make the most of it to eliminate several trips and expenses. I will charge the tank of gas but will ask if the families can donate something. Antonia is doing great as well as Antonio. I see the families ever so often. One day I went with Irianna's mother to clean her vault and place flowers. Her mother told me the other day to give Dra. Toribio her best regards and respect for what she did to try and help her baby. It's a touchy and difficult subject. I seldom see Jacobo. He is busy working and involved in politics. The election is May 16th and the politicians are very active trying to win their spot as senator, mayor, councilman, and county commissioner. I saw Elsa, his sister, and she said everyone is fine. I bought an air filter and replaced it in the car. It was really dirty. I had the radiator patched once again. The other day I hit a pothole and it ripped a slight tear in the right front tire. Someone said to put it on the back and put the rear tire on the front before my trip to Santo Domingo. Probably a good idea. Tomorrow I must take an elderly man to Santiago. Maybe I can get it done before the trip.