Operation Day

            All of last night I was packing to leave Tororo. I packed my suitcase to get ready to head back America. I felt like this trip flew by the fastest. Everyday went by so fast. I am really going to miss all those babies. The morning came really quickly. Ruth came to pick up Jackie and I at 5am, so we had to be ready by 4:45am. Faith needed to be at the hospital at a certain time, so we could not be late. After she picked us up, we went to pick up Faith’s father because he would have to sign off on the surgery. Once he was in our van, we went to Smile Africa to pick up baby Faith. It was a quiet ride in the beginning. After our first rest stop, I handed Faith to her father to spend time with him. The father was so happy to be with Faith and Faith was happy as well. I am so glad that they got to spend time together.

            Once we got to the hospital, things started to move quickly. We were lucky enough to get an earlier surgery than what we had planned for. The nurse took me to put on scrubs so that I could escort the baby into the operating room and stay with her until she was asleep. I handed baby Faith to the doctor and he began the procedure to make her sleep. Once they hooked her up to the monitor, I began to get nervous; not because anything bad was happening, but because I love her so much and I just wanted her to be safe. I could feel my heart racing, so I had to quietly pray to God to calm my heart and tell Him that I trust Him with baby Faith.

            The surgery was a little less than an hour. They began to wake her up and I could not wait to see her. I was pacing back and forth outside the door waiting for them to tell me that I could go in and see Faith. Finally after much anticipation, they allowed me to come in the room. Faith was still dozing in and out of sleep but I started talking to her telling her much I love her and how happy I am to see her. Faith had an eye patch over her eye to protect it while it heals. Luckily though, she only has to wear the eye patch for the day, then at night we are able to take it off.

            Once Faith was back in my arms again, I felt so much better. I just wanted to hold her and protect her and keep her safe. I was then able to quickly change out of the scrubs and back into my regular clothes. We all had a really long day, and after the surgery, both Faith and I could not stay awake. I just held on tightly to her and we both fell asleep.

            Finally after many hours of waiting for the doctor to clear us, we were released from the hospital. We all could not wait to get to the hotel. We were all so tired and poor Faith was just exhausted from traveling from Tororo and then surgery, but she got through it like a champ! After we got to the hotel I was able to remove the eye patch and bathe her and feed her. Once she got some food in her belly she was a happy baby. Faith was laughing and smiling like she didn’t just have surgery a few hours before.

            I am so proud of Faith for being so strong. I love her so much and I am excited at what the future holds for sweet baby Faith. The surgery cost $900 and we were able to raise $640! WOW! Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to help make Faith’s life better. I am so grateful for your heart and generosity. If you would still like to donate and help us cover the cost of Faith’s surgery, please go to www.cityoflightsinternational.org. These children are the next generation! You just never know, Faith could be president of Uganda one day and you would be able to say “I helped pay for surgery that helped change President Faith’s life!” J

            After a very long day, we are all going to get the much-needed rest we so badly crave. Thank you all so much for praying for Faith and encouraging me along the journey. Tomorrow I head to the airport to head back to Los Angeles. This has been a very busy trip and also one of the hardest, but I am so grateful that I get to come and be apart of the lives of these amazing children. It is going to be sad to say good-bye to Faith after all we have been through together this trip, but I know that she will be happy and well taken care of when I go back home. I miss all the babies already and I am already planning my next trip back to the Red Dirt!

"My heart will never forget the things these Blue Eyes have seen…and my feet will forever be stained by the Red Dirt."