Merry Christmas from Marta!
This sweet baby girl arrived at the Hogar on May 17th at about 5 weeks of age. She was born April 10th, 2022 and deserted by her mother at the hospital. She has a shunt in her brain to treat her for hydrocephalus. The Hogar knew she would be a very special and fragile child, a true angel living on Earth. On June 1st, she received a CT scan that showed her underlying diagnosis was actually anencephaly. Large areas of her brain, especially her occipital lobes developed poorly or not at all. This was devastating news as her life expectancy is estimated to be only 2 or 3 years. She was baptized on June 3rd with a beautiful ceremony surrounded by all her Hogar brothers and sister as well as caregivers. Two days later she was back at the hospital with high fevers and seizures. Her shunt had to be surgically replaced and her health stabilized. At her worst she had about 400 seizures a day.
Marta has had several brain surgeries and been hospitalized multiple times-once for 30 days. We are happy to report that she is now doing well. Her advancement is a true testament to the loving and comprehensive care each child at the Hogar receives. She is dearly loved and cared for exquisitely.
The staff affectionately refers to her as Marita. Her current care includes 8 different medications for seizures, vitamins, reflux medications, stomach protectors and a specialized formula that cost about $80 a can. She sees her pediatrician regularly, a gastroenterologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon and physical therapist. All her care is in a city about 30 minutes away. Marita began smiling on July 29th and is now working on taking cereal mixed with vegetables. Thanks to your support Marita is living a happy and dignified life until God decides to call his little angel home.
By donating to the Hogar Mission you can help care for Marita and the other children. We certainly appreciate every donation. In December, Honduras requires staff to be paid double their usual salary. We need help providing these funds and appreciate funds to help provide a Merry Christmas for the children. God Bless and Thank You!