Sheryl - new baby??

[Guest guest]

Sheryl and -

Congratulations on your impending new addition. I am so happy for

you. I will never ever forget sitting in on your visit with Dr.

Harbison. Dalia is an incredibly sweet baby (well, not a baby any

more, huh!) and she is blessed to have the two of you as her

parents. Please keep me posted on whether you have a boy or girl,

name, and all the good stuff! Salem

> >

> > Jen Salem from MAGIC here. My apologies first -- I have not

been

> > able to get on the listserve since April 5th or so. Please

> contact

> > me directly if you have any questions for me, because I

> undoubtedly

> > will not have time to go back and read old emails. Newsletter

> copy

> > was due 2 days ago.... still haven't turned it in .... you all

> know

> > how busy spring can get with kids.

> >

> > So many of us are so blessed with our RSS/SGA children and the

> > education and treatment options we have access to (even if

> > limited). MAGIC has been blessed to have been in contact with

an

> > incredible mom from Peru named Deysi (she may be on the

listserve,

> I

> > do not know). She has a 2 year old son named and she has

> > forwarded us incredible photos. Photos that very much remind me

> of

> > Colton (Libby's son) and Christian Chavez ('s son)

and

> > Cals (Jodi's son). The same mild RSS look but the

> > haunting big eyes, the ears that protrude just so.

appears

> > to have significant asymmetry of the left leg. He is very small

> but

> > his weight for height doesn't appear too severe.

> >

> > His mother has been battling and pushing and doing everything

she

> > can to find out everything about RSS for . Simply put,

her

> > options in Peru are extremely limited.

> >

> > This young mother has suffered greatly in her life, and

absolutely

> > knows what hunger is; gifts are rare in her life. And yet her

son

> > is the love of her young life. If I could post even some of her

> > letters -- they truly are incredible. She clearly has fought

for

> > her education and done everything she can to learn as much

English

> > as possible.

> >

> > Our RSS/SGA division is providing financial aid to ensure that

> their

> > hotel and registration/fees are covered for the convention.

> MAGIC's

> > Chicago office is working with the American embassy to ensure

the

> > proper paperwork is turned in for the VISAs. However, the

> cheapest

> > airfare we can find so far is $661 per person (she would need

> about

> > $1,300 for she and ).

> >

> > There is no way that she could afford even $100. She has no one

> to

> > help her raise this money in Peru. Our RSS/SGA general

> > scholarship fund can not pay for her airfare because we

have " set

> > standard " scholarships to make things equitable.

> >

> > However, we CAN take directed donations from other families for

> > their airfare. Another family can do a fundraiser and " earmark "

> the

> > funds for and Deysi's airfare.

> >

> > I will be honest that in the beginning, I was hesitant about

> this.

> > In my mind I kept thinking, why is one family more important

than

> > another? Why should we spend so much money on airfare for one

> > family? Then I received 's photos in the mail. My heart

> > broke. His home is immaculate and yet it is clear that they

live

> > below what we would call the poverty line. And yet he smiles in

> the

> > photos and the photos of he and his mother -- she adores him.

> >

> > So. Can we do this? Can we raise $1,300 for to come to

> > America to see Dr. Harbison and for Deysi to meet all of you and

> > learn about RSS and possible treatments? She has an American

> > father; I do not believe she is in contact with him but I may

try

> > and contact him myself. But through him, maybe there is the

> chance

> > that could receive ongoing care in the US, if it is

> needed??

> >

> > Remember last summer when I posted about LeeAnn from Korea??

How

> > her potential adoptive family had decided not to adopt her, and

> Dr.

> > Harbison truly believed that LeeAnn was an angel and needed a

home

> > in the US? So many of you talked to your family and friends,

and

> > literally 3 different families contacted the agency about

adopting

> > her. And guess what -- on this listserve now is the

amazing

> > mother to LeeAnn!!!! I am so sorry to be so emotional but this

is

> > why Katy and I keep staying on as volunteers for MAGIC. This

> > listserve has the power to literally alter the course of a

child's

> > life for the better. What an incredible power to be given.

> >

> > My daughter and I get on a plane next Wednesday to see

Dr.

> > Harbison, and WE CAN DO THAT!!!! My daughter has been so

blessed

> by

> > access to the best medical care. Why shouldn't any child have

the

> > same access?

> >

> > If 100 families on this listserve gave $15 each, we would raise

> > enough money to pay for their airfare. Can some of us skip

> > Starbucks for two weeks? Watch television at home this weekend

> > instead of going to the movies?

> >

> > If you can, mail any donations to MAGIC with a note that says

the

> > money is earmarked for 's Airfare Scholarship Fund, c/o

> MAGIC

> > Foundation, 6645 W. North Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

> >

> > Thank you for listening. If your family is unable to contribute

> at

> > this time, prayers are worth just as much, if not more!!!!

> >

> > God bless all of our children.

> > Salem

> > RSS/SGA Division Co-Consultant

> > MAGIC Foundation