Marie Goulding - BBF Sponsorship Secretary - Sylvia Update 9th April 2010
Today has been a good day, a day which saw such a remarkable change in our little Sylvia which can only be down to the medication and treatment she had yesterday and this morning.
Before we arrived at Bukeka Sylvia's aunt had taken her back to the clinic for the final injection which we paid for yesterday. I have no doubt that Sylvia made as much fuss as she did yesterday but even though she wouldn't understand it was well worth it.
By the time I arrived Sylvia was sitting with Lindsay, she was more alert and taking much more interest in what was going on around her and she had had a drink of water and a cake. We were all so pleased but still she had not smiled. I went off to take some photos and later was called back to see what was going on. Lindsay was playing "round and round the garden ..." and to our utter astonishment Sylvia started to laugh. At first it was a slight grin, then, a turn of the head and a chuckle and this was repeated many times. Throughout the rest of the morning she sat mostly with Lindsay and was happy to hold a bottle of water and drink when she wanted, she still didn't want to get down though.
Lunch was served and a helping of rice, potatoes, meat, cabbage and ground nut sauce was given to our little star. She sat on the mat and Lindsay indicated to her to eat with her fingers, which is what she would normally do - but no, not today instead the only way she was going to eat was if someone fed her. We thought this was great because it was a clear demonstration by this little girl that she was really going to milk this situation for all its worth. She ate a huge meal and and we had some more laughter when I started blowing raspberries around her neck and face. After a while I took her into the classroom to lay her down for a sleep where the other babies usually laid, but although she stayed where she was put, there was no way she was going to sleep in case she missed something. Shortly before we left I went back into the classroom and found her standing up, she took my hand and we walked out onto the verandah. I took her hands with the intention of helping her to jump from the verandah with me but instead she held up her arms to be picked up and once again nestled into my neck. I passed her onto one of the teachers and we left, she wouldn't smile but I guess she was a bit sad that we were leaving again.
The change in this beautiful little girl was amazing. She had a cocktail of drugs which sorted out the immediate problem but I guess in reality we have enabled a short term solution to a long term problem, but at least she has had a good day too and if she had a chance of experiencing real love from quite a few people then however long it lasts it was well worth it.
Before we arrived at Bukeka Sylvia's aunt had taken her back to the clinic for the final injection which we paid for yesterday. I have no doubt that Sylvia made as much fuss as she did yesterday but even though she wouldn't understand it was well worth it.
By the time I arrived Sylvia was sitting with Lindsay, she was more alert and taking much more interest in what was going on around her and she had had a drink of water and a cake. We were all so pleased but still she had not smiled. I went off to take some photos and later was called back to see what was going on. Lindsay was playing "round and round the garden ..." and to our utter astonishment Sylvia started to laugh. At first it was a slight grin, then, a turn of the head and a chuckle and this was repeated many times. Throughout the rest of the morning she sat mostly with Lindsay and was happy to hold a bottle of water and drink when she wanted, she still didn't want to get down though.
Lunch was served and a helping of rice, potatoes, meat, cabbage and ground nut sauce was given to our little star. She sat on the mat and Lindsay indicated to her to eat with her fingers, which is what she would normally do - but no, not today instead the only way she was going to eat was if someone fed her. We thought this was great because it was a clear demonstration by this little girl that she was really going to milk this situation for all its worth. She ate a huge meal and and we had some more laughter when I started blowing raspberries around her neck and face. After a while I took her into the classroom to lay her down for a sleep where the other babies usually laid, but although she stayed where she was put, there was no way she was going to sleep in case she missed something. Shortly before we left I went back into the classroom and found her standing up, she took my hand and we walked out onto the verandah. I took her hands with the intention of helping her to jump from the verandah with me but instead she held up her arms to be picked up and once again nestled into my neck. I passed her onto one of the teachers and we left, she wouldn't smile but I guess she was a bit sad that we were leaving again.
The change in this beautiful little girl was amazing. She had a cocktail of drugs which sorted out the immediate problem but I guess in reality we have enabled a short term solution to a long term problem, but at least she has had a good day too and if she had a chance of experiencing real love from quite a few people then however long it lasts it was well worth it.
