World AIDS Day- The 1st Day of Christmas

December 1st- Raffle for World AIDS day! Starting now, you can join in on the first raffle! The raffle will benefit Jonathan who was orphaned by the world-famous serial killer known as AIDS. We have all heard of HIV & AIDS, but the statistics may astound you. I saw this piece that was put together by World Vision last year, and it makes my heart stop beating every time I see it. It reminds me that while we talk of the HIV/AIDS crisis, we don't really KNOW what it's like until we have been in their shoes... The mothers and fathers who are dying, the children who are watching their parents (who are supposed to care for them, by the way) wither away. I know it's hard to hear, but imagine how hard it is to LIVE. We are just talking about it, and they are living it every painful day. So, please pay attention to these few words that come in the intro of the program:

AIDS the largest humanitarian crisis ever

3 million people die every year

250,000 people die every month

brothers, uncles, fathers

57,533 people die every week

sisters, aunts, mothers

8,219 people die every day

AIDS

5 people die every MINUTE!!!

but no statistic can help you understand the suffering

of those who are dying with AIDS

and those who are left behind.

Now, if you think you are strong enough to watch these short clips, they will inspire you to make a difference in these children's lives:

One Life

Hidden Faces of AIDS

Now, I want you to know that you can make a difference. All of the money earned between 11/30 beginning at 6:30 PM CST and ending 12/1 at 11:59 PM CST that is donated to Jonathan's fundraiser will go to help children orphaned by AIDS. Once Jonathan's fundraiser is completed, the excess funds will go to other children orphaned by AIDS who are in the Children International program. I hope we can make a big difference in their lives and wipe out all of their bad memories of what the virus has taken away from them!

To enter the raffle, make a donation here. For every $1 you give, you will receive 1 raffle ticket. Make sure to leave your e-mail address in the comments section of the donation page, so that you can be contacted if you win. Today's prize is a 6 piece ceramic mug set and 2 bags of flavored coffee. All items are brand new, and ship out in time for Christmas gift-giving.

Description of prize:

Cities around the world stacking mugs set of six 10 oz mugs in chrome holder

Boca Java Hightide Hazelnut 8 oz ground coffee (smooth and creamy toasted hazelnut. A subtle hint of nutty flavor and a nice finish. This coffee will help you sail through the day.)

Boca Java Tropical Kiss 8 oz ground coffee (Chocolate coffee with a smooch of coconut, coupled with sweet chocolate and tropical coconut. Cupid is sure to take aim at the coffee lover in you!)

There are more great gifts to come... Tomorrow's gift ships directly from Portugal! So, stay tuned!

This was a wild surprise

http://http://ilovemykids08.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-for-those-in-need.html

You may or may not remember one of the things that my girls got involved with around Christmas time last year. I put the blog post link above, just in case you missed it... Jaden, Morgan, and I packed up Christmas presents for children with HIV/AIDS and took them to a non-profit that works with these children and their families. A month or so later, I received a magazine from the organization. I didn't even look at the magazine. I put the magazine in the pile of junk mail. 5 months later (today), I decided to flip through it and was surprised to see our names in an article about Christmas items they received. In the picture above, you can, also, see our brown lunch bags that we put Christmas decorations on. We are not pictured (thank goodness!! I mean, thank goodness I'm not!!) If you have trouble reading the small words, you can click on the picture above to maximize the attachment.

I wanted to mention that I have begun a new book that is inspiring. It is giving me many more ideas of how to help people, and include my children. Maybe we can even start a non-profit! Whatever we decide to do, we won't be doing it to get our name in a magazine, though. I hope that we can make at least one person's life better, but I believe we can do more than that (with the help of others).

Have you ever heard of Efavirenz?

More than likely, if you are not HIV+, or at least work with the HIV+ community, you have never heard of Efavirenz. Efavirenz is one of several prescription drugs an HIV+ person will take in their lifetime... That is, if they have access to it!!! How unfortunate that as we come around the bend of a new generation of people willing to help provide these drugs to the poorest of people, to give access of these drugs to EVERY person, there are always people waiting to take something away from those who need it the most.

I am a very optimistic person, and so it is hard for me to deal with the realities of HIV & AIDS. Back when I first started working with children with HIV & AIDS, there was not much they could do but wait to die... Really!! It was so sad because the medications that were supposed to prolong what little life span they had made them so sick they couldn't even enjoy the days or their nights they had left in this world. In 1992, when I started working with these children, it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel... the light that never came for half of the kids I met that year. I watched them little by little turn into skeletons of their former selves (literally). They were so miserable at the end.

I remember well a small 5 year old named Chucky. We were told not to pick him up and not to give in to his pleas to be held. The reason, the director said, is because he had become so spoiled, and he needed to be using his muscles. Chucky didn't have muscles you could see. He was literally skin and bones! He couldn't sit down because even with pillows underneath him, it hurt him to sit. He died a few months after I met him, at the age of 5!

Thinking back to that time now, I regret having listened to that director. Chucky might have needed to use his muscles, but what about the heart muscle? Who was concerned about his heart? I wish I could run to him now and pick him up... and NEVER put him down! I wish I could tell him that I'll love him & remember him forever!!

He was born at a time that did not have the answers he needed to live. They were close to the answers, but not close enough... In 1996, the break through came. It wasn't a cure, but it may as well have been for hundereds of thousands of people who received a second lease on life. In fact, the break through (a combination of medications that prolongs the life of an HIV+ person) was named the top "Breakthrough of the Year" by "Science".

This explains why the children now though HIV+ at birth, live a relatively "normal" life. This life only remains stable for as long as the children have access to and take the prescriptions that they need to take on a regular schedule (as well as vitamins and nutrional supplements). In most countries the HIV medication is now available to everyone. This includes countries such as: Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.

Now, you can imagine my horror to find out (last night on the news) that people are stealing this medication from the people who need it!!! Why would they do that? To get high!!!! Are you kidding me? Can they be charged with manslaughter when the people that don't get their medication die? I am livid!!! I guess you can tell. So, I thought I would share the article with you... My goal was to make sure that ALL of the children with HIV or AIDS in the CI program have sponsors that will be there with them through it all- They are now all sponsored!! The CI program provides them with things that are essential to survival. The regular CI sponsored child benefits tremendously from CI's programs. Imagine what it can do for a child who is battling to stay alive!! Because of the sensitivity of the issue at hand, specifics can not be told here.

Now, here is the article I was speaking of (Reader Descretion is advised):

A drug intended to treat HIV and AIDS is sweeping the townships of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is cheap and powerfully addictive.
"Nightline" witnessed the drug's effects upclose on a 17-year-old addict we're calling Joshua to protect his identity. A high school junior from a middle-class neighborhood in Durban, he said his parents would kick him out of the house if they knew. And yet he smokes the drug every day before and after class, despite his dreams of becoming a doctor.
"Once you've first started there's no turning back," he said, adding that he wants to stop using but can't.
When he uses, "it feels like you got no problem at all. Like yesterday if you killed a person and you smoked this thing you wouldn't remember that you killed a person yesterday."
The drug Joshua and his friends are abusing is the anti-retroviral Efavirenz. When taken properly, it's part of a lifesaving treatment for HIV patients. When crushed and smoked, it's a cheap high with no medical benefit.
When the teenagers finished smoking, they didn't have to hide. Everyone in the neighborhood seems to be aware of what they're doing, and they say the same was true when they went to purchase the drug.
South Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world and KwaZulu-Natal province has the highest rate in South Africa -- 40 percent. For the infected, anti-retroviral drugs, or ARVs, are the only things standing between life and a painful death.
The drug is so cheap and plentiful, thanks in part to a well-meaning effort by the American government to distribute ARV', a program that has helped extend the lives of more than 500,000 AIDS patients.
But as the medical director of one U.S.-funded clinic said, ARV abuse is threatening to turn an HIV success story into a health crisis.
"It's extremely frustrating," said Dr. Njabulo Masabo, from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "It's extremely, you know, discouraging because on one end you're trying to fight this epidemic that has ravaged the world so much ... the results are catastrophic."
Drug Dealer: 'They Shouldn't Blame Me'
How ARV abuse began is uncertain. Taken as prescribed, Efavirenz can cause vivid dreams. Someone -- possibly an HIV patient experimenting -- discovered that smoking the drug greatly enhances those hallucinations.
Today, some of the illegal drugs come from HIV patients selling their own lifesaving medication for profit. Others are stolen from patients or pharmacies.
Pharmacies in the townships have banklike security. The drugs are kept behind vault doors, because they have an enormous black market value. Just one container of the ARVs is worth $60, and a whole shelf is worth $3,000.
Driving through the townships, a local AIDS health worker named Zola Shezi showed us the extent of the black market in ARVs. She saw drug dens everywhere; one she identified had children playing right outside.
"Just here, the man he owns the house, he built all these rooms & one, there's one room where his customers stay and crush and do things."
The few police we saw did nothing.
In just three years, ARVs have grown from a niche drug abused by a small number of HIV patients into a widespread addiction, increasingly among young people.
Many ARV abusers are young students, and in a neighborhood like the one we visited you'll find dealers on almost every street, selling to students during school hours and just after.
In his house that doubles as a drug den, we met one of the dealers face-to-face. Dinda -- he gave us a false name to hide his identity -- said he earns many times what he could make, if he could find a job.
He acknowledged that the drugs are meant for people with HIV, but said "nobody can give me that money while I'm sitting at home; I have to go and do something for money."
Recounting a story that's not unusual in the area, he said he's the only one of eight siblings still alive. His siblings were all victims of HIV or gang violence, leaving him to take care of a large, extended family.
"I'm unemployed, four of these years I am not working, if I can stop this we can all suffer," he said. "So they shouldn't blame me for what I'm trying to make a living out of."
HIV Could Build Resistance to Medication
For families of abusers, it's a very different story. ARVs are powerful enough to turn even young people into violent addicts. We met Dudu, who told us her 21-year-old son steals from her to pay for his habit.
"Sometimes if I said I'm going to call the police he said he going to kill me," she said. "I believe him."
Now, South Africa may soon face a deadly consequence of ARV addiction. By smoking the drug, abusers are in effect giving HIV a small taste of anti-retroviral medication -- not enough to kill the virus, but enough for it to potentially develop resistance to the drug.
It's like "educating the HIV," said Masabo. "And so you'll find that we have a second epidemic emerging, an epidemic that we cannot control with the current drug that we have."
Back in the drug den, the teenage addict Joshua told us what happens to HIV patients isn't his problem.
"I feel guilty sometimes, but hey. I know what I'm doing is wrong, but what I've started I must carry on."
The cemeteries of South Africa are already crowded with victims of HIV. Now, a new danger is threatening to put the country's best defense up in smoke. (article taken from ABC news, and can be found in its entirety here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/Story?id=7227982&page=1 )

Jonathan~ The next up to get a BED!!!

Jonathan wrote me a very sweet letter after he received his Christmas package. Now, I can't find the letter (I think the girls put it some where). Luckily, I had already scanned the pictures, or I wouldn't have those either. As soon as I figure out where they put the letter, I will come back & post it because it was VERY Sweet!!! As you can see by his smile, he is precious! He looks so excited to have the clothes and small things that I sent. I wonder what he will think when he has a nice comfy bed to lay in!!! Only $65 more to go, and he will have it!!! YAY!!!
Luckily, I did e-mail Alice two parts of Jonathan's letter that I especially liked, so here is a portion of my e-mail containing Jonathan's letter:

I am REALLY excited for the pics & letter Jonathan. You can see in the pictures that he is genuinely happy with the items & his letter is very sweet. He told me "your nice words made me feel so happy" and "thanks from the bottom of my heart for being such a wonderful sponsor." What was even more exciting is these are the first pictures with big smiles, so I know he is truly happy... That is what keeps me going.

Diego~ The confusing letter

This was a very strange direct package follow-up. First of all, Diego has been writing to me, but this time his cousin wrote & the reason for that states "too young" to write. It does get stranger though... Somehow, maybe they had the information for his old sponsor in the system at the field office because a different person was being addressed in the letter. This person "Amie" was, also, listed on the follow-up notes as his sponsor with Amie's address included... Very strange! Anyway, on with the letter that his cousin wrote:
I hope this letter find you in good healthin union with your family. I thank you for the gifts you sent Diego. We received 1 card, 1 pair of gloves (thanks, Mack!), 5 shirts, 1 flashlight, 1 key ring, 1 sharpener, 6 toy cars, & coloring sheets. We will always be thankful for all that you've done for Diego. We like your support. We hope that Diego continues to do well in school.
With the hope of writing you soon, Alejandra says good-bye
(package sent 12/18/08, arrived 1/19/09, delivered to Diego 1/28/09, thank you letter received 3/10/09)

On another note about the bed fundraiser. Beds are still needed for 3 children with HIV/AIDS. Diego, Jonathan & Leydi are all in line to receive a bed. A donor contacted Children International when he/she saw Jaden's story. That donor said that they wanted to help her with her fundraiser. That was 2 weeks ago, and I haven't heard a word from the donor. So, I think she is on her own (well, she has my help, too, of course). The Wiggles shirts are now not selling at all. All of the auctions that I set up are ending without any bids. So now I have merchandise, and need to have a bright idea to get this money raised. I lowered the price on the shirts, but it hasn't made a difference. Does any one have any ideas? She is still collecting coins, also, but that is a lot slower than the shirt selling... Except now, maybe it isn't slower. She may be more profitable that way. I don't want to get too down about it because Jaden set this goal up, and at the time (to me) it seemed unreachable... But, I didn't want her to know my feelings, so I just went with it full-force trying to help her reach her goal. ANY ideas you all can provide are greatly appreciated!!!

More for the bed fundraiser

Cat tote bag
Dog tote bag
Cat shoulder bag
Dog shoulder bag

In an effort to HOPEFULLY raise fund faster for the beds that are still needed for Jonathan, Diego and Leydi, I have added these 4 tote & shoulder bags to my Ebay store. The Ebay link is still on the upper right hand side of this blog. The Wiggles shirts (that once were selling so well) and not doing so well now. I think Ebay does better in the summer months, so if all else fails, maybe we can finish the fundraiser in the summer. Of course, I really hope it ends sooner than that... We'll see.

Something New!

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You should now see something new on the right hand side of the blog. I have figured out how to add a ticker for Jaden's bed fundraiser. I have not, however, figured out how I can get it to fit in that small square... So, it still has to be worked on, but at least you will now be able to keep track of the fundraiser everyday. As you already know, Jaden sent $125 for Dulce's bed. Now, there is an additional $50 towards the second bed. I have the fundraiser set up for a goal of $750 because I don't have an exact figure yet. I have the cost for all of the beds except one. I am waiting to hear back from Children International. Once I have the exact figure, I will adjust the goal amount accordingly. Scott Cotter told me today that they have it prepared & it will be coming my way. Maybe by next week we will know what is needed to purchase a bed for Leydi. The Wiggles shirt sale is still going on, and you can click on my Ebay button on the right to see the items. That money, along with any donations (loose change or otherwise) will go toward the bed fund. We hope to have beds for all 4 (of the sick) children by June! Thanks to everyone who helps! And, for those who may have missed the "sponsorship experience" that was posted on the CI web-site about the bed fundraiser, you can read the article in my earlier post here: http://childrenaretheworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/family-affair-sharing-joy-of.html

An undercover project that began in January

Ok, I have to start somewhere in order to explain the project that was begun in January. This was my e-mail that I sent to a couple of people to start a group of 4 sponsors that are dedicated to making big changes in their sponsored children's lives:

I have a fundaising idea, so I want to run it by you. Tell me what you think... What if we have a group of 4 people. Every month we give $40 for fundraising. Each person gives $40, and the person with the sponsored child for the month gives $40 (or more depending on what that person wants to accomplish). That will make a $160 donation, so we will get pics. Each year, that would mean each of us would be giving 3 special needs donations, but every month we are just putting up $40. If it is my month, I would choose one of my sponsored children, and that is where the donations would go (to that child). Like this:
January~ fundraiser for Mack's child
February~ fundraiser for Alice's child
March~ fundraiser for Heather's child
April~ fundraiser for a child that is in a different sponsorship program, whose pics we won't see

Then, back to Mack, etc. Everyone would have to be faithful about the donations and be committed to doing it for at least one full rotation, otherwise, it wouldn't be fair. We could start in January, and you could draw names to see who goes first, second, etc. I have a few projects. For example, in the DR, one of my sponsored children only requires $116 for a bed! With my income now, it seems unreachable, but I could do $40 a month. The other good thing is we could play a part in helping more children (example, I would get to know your child's needs and the gift I helped you purchase for him/her).

So, that is the background on the undercover project that is going on between 4 sponsors. It is now out in the open, so if anyone would like to mimic the idea and start a group, feel free.

Now, I said all of that because I will be adding Alice's sponsored children to my blog (and hopefully, adding Mack's sponsored children, too). I will first introduce them one by one in the order that they were sponsored, so that we can all get to know them. Then, the pictures and letters received from all 20+ children (from the combined 3 CI sponsors) will be posted here. I hope to have at least one post a day to keep everyone motivated & to see the difference being made in these kids' lives...
So, stay tuned. Tomorrow, I will begin introducing Alice's 8 kids!

$125 sent for Dulce's BED!!!

It's official! Dulce is on her way to receiving a comfortable bed of her own!!! Jaden has raised enough for her, so I sent the money off this morning. Next on the list is Jonathan. We need $137 more, and Jonathan will have a bed soon. The Wiggles shirts are still on sale on my Ebay page, and Jaden is, also, still doing the coin drive. If you want to help, drop me a line and let me know. 3 more beds to buy... and then, we will be on to a new fundraiser :0) Thank you to everyone who helped with Dulce's bed! I will keep you posted when I get the thank you letter and pictures from Children International.

A Family Affair

The article about Jaden and Morgan is now live & will be up on the Children International web-site for the next 2 weeks. Enjoy:
http://www2.children.org/en/us/News/FeatureStories/2009/Pages/SponsorshipExperience-AFamilyAffair-2-17-09.aspx?sid=F22461C-840F-4BFE-9097-ADAF89036C931

Update on the Children International story about Jaden and Morgan

Ok, if you have looked for Jaden and Morgan on the Children International web-site, you have already discovered that they are not yet there. It was supposed to go live on Tuesday, but they are having technical difficulties (and trying to revamp the site)... So, hopefully, it will be up by tomorrow.

Check the CI website tomorrow!!

Big announcement! Of course, we all know how special both of the girls are, but soon the world will know. Jaden and Morgan have done a few projects to help others and already understand that there is a world beyond themselves with people that have less than they do. For Christmas, you may remember they put together Christmas gift bags for 40+ families in the Dallas area.
Now, Jaden and Morgan have decided to get money together to purchase beds for 4 children who do not have a bed. None of this came by my persuasion but rather by Jaden seeing a need and asking questions. Of course, all of that will be in the article that will go live tomorrow. It will be on the home page of the Children International web-site for a week. To see it, starting tomorrow morning, go to: http://www2.children.org/en/us/Pages/Home.aspx?sid=7AEBEA10-4811-443D-BCFE-6EBCE651AB41 , and scroll down to the bottom of the home page on the left hand side.

More about the bed fundraiser

Great news! I was able to find more Wiggles shirts, so the Wiggles fundraiser is still underway!!! Jaden has raised $125.45 so far, and she has decided to go ahead and get the first bed for a girl~ So, Dulce will be the first recipient. Her bed is $116, so that will leave some money left over to go toward the next bed (which will be for Jonathan). She is still collecting coins, too, but the Wiggles shirts make the fund raising go faster :0) Since, we want the kids to have the beds ASAP. I am anxious for a letter from one or two or three of the kids!!! Correspondemce is slow these days.

BED FUNDRAISER!

Jaden finally has enough money raised to buy a bed for one of our HIV+ kids. Now, she says that she wants to buy one for Jonathan first... She is debating between Jonathan or Dulce... So, I will update everyone when she decides who to give to first. If it is Jonathan, then, she has a few more dollars to raise. Of course, she continues to raise money in order to get all 4 of them a bed. Updates to come!

A Family Affair – Sharing the joy of sponsorship together

Here is the article that will be posted on the CI web-site in a couple of weeks:

I have been a sponsor with Children International for a year-and-a-half-now. I started with only two children, but, little by little, as I grew closer to each child, I added to my sponsor family. I never knew how much my enthusiasm for sponsorship would rub off on my own young daughters.

At one-and-a-half, Morgan, the younger of my two daughters, does not yet fully understand what sponsorship means. Fortunately, she likes to imitate her big sister, who sets an excellent example of the personal joy that comes from showing compassion for others. Morgan knows all of our sponsored kids by name when she sees the photos, which is quite an accomplishment considering there are nine names to remember!

Jaden, my 4-year-old daughter, first showed interest in sponsorship when she saw the pictures of the kids. She naturally asked me who they were, but her curiosity did not end there. Jaden continues to be fascinated by my "other" children, and badgers me with questions about their parents, if they have siblings, and where they live.

When our sponsored family reached nine kids, I had to come up with another way to answer Jaden’s persistent questions. I put together a small photo album featuring all of the children. When my daughter opens the album, there is a child’s picture on one side and information about them on the opposing page. That way, I can easily answer any of the questions she has by looking at the information page.

I only intended the album to be used for that purpose, but Jaden had a better idea. She carries the photo album with her everywhere! She stops friends and family to show them her album. When she flips through the album, though she can’t read, she can tell people each child’s name, plus a little about him or her, from memory. She calls them “her sponsor kids.”

One day, Jaden and I were sitting at the computer watching all of the Children International YouTube videos. Jaden never ceases to amaze me. She watched the videos with intensity and caught everything that was happening in the different programs. She noticed details in the videos that even I didn’t see. When she saw things that she thought weren’t right, she would ask me why. For example, Jaden once asked, "Why doesn't that girl have shoes on?"

When I explained that their mommies and daddies don’t have enough money to buy them shoes, she questioned, "Does Henry and Katherine (two of our sponsored children) and the other kids have shoes?"

I told her that I wasn't sure, but it was possible that they did not. Jaden's simple reply was, "Then let's send them shoes!" Similar conversations occurred for sinks, water, toilets, houses, clothes, dishes, beds, etc. My daughter's response was always, "Well, then let's send them some!"

After we were finished watching the videos, Jaden asked why the children were so sad. I explained, "Because they are hungry and dying."

She said, "Well, let's go there and help them. Come on, Mom!!!"

I told her that we couldn't go immediately. When Jaden asked me, "why not," I replied, "because it costs a lot of money to go there."

That wasn't a good answer for her, of course. Her response was, "Mom, do you have ANY money? Because I have $1. So, let's go!!"

Jaden may only be 4 years old, but she is more empathetic than most grown people. She saw the children in the videos lying on the dirt floor. She asked me why because “they would get dirty.” I went on to explain that a bed is a luxury that not everyone can afford. Some children sleep on the dirt floor because they have nothing else to sleep on. This revelation was heartbreaking to her.

We have four sponsored children that are suffering with a virus that is deeply affected by the quality of their living conditions. If they do not keep up a healthy environment (including a good night’s sleep), they risk their life by compromising their immune systems. Jaden has decided that she is going to find a way to help at least three of the sick children get the beds that they so desperately need. She has started collecting money in a jar with the change that friends and relatives have given her. Her goal is to raise $504 to buy the three beds. She has raised $25.71 so far!

After she hits the goal of $504, she has more plans for the change (including more beds). She will continue to collect and give, and I am so excited for her to be able to see the fruits of her labor. When we eventually get pictures of three smiling children with their new beds, my daughter will know that even a 4-year-old child can change the lives of others!

Sponsorship experience

Ok, as I hinted at earlier, my 4 year old daughter will be featured on the Children International web-site this month. I will let you know when it is actually up on the site to see. Anyway, it is supposed to be up on week #3, so February 15th is the date to look out for. I want to warn you in advance that if you want to be surprised by the story, I am going to ruin it for you... Tomorrow, I will post the article... 2 1/2 weeks in advance. I know I don't have that many "followers" to my blog, so I am sure I am not ruining the surprise for anyone! LOL!!!

Eighth and Ninth Sponsored Children~ Dulce and Leydi from the Dominican Republic

Leydi's details:

Age: 7	Gender: F	Date of Birth: 6/1/2001
Height: 3 Feet 9 Inches		Weight: 50 Pounds		Hair Color: Black		Eye Color: Black
2. Health problems, if any:
3. Attends School: Yes
4. Favorite School Subjects: Art
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing with dolls
Chores at Home: Running errands
Talents or Hobbies: Dancing
Languages Spoken: Spanish
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
5. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $65.00
6. Name of Father: Milcen			Age: 37	Occupation: Daily Worker
(If not present, why?)
7. Name of Mother: Ociani			Age: 33	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
8. Brothers and Sisters:
Name Chaline		Age 12	Gender F
9. Child now living with: Relatives
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
10. Description of Home: One Bedroom
Cooking Facilities: Coal stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Beds
Home Construction: Walls Concrete block			Roof Corrugated metal		Floor Concrete
11. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Community faucets
Electricity: Available
Sanitary Facility: Latrine

Dulce's details:

Age: 9	Gender: F	Date of Birth: 1/25/2000
Height: 4 Feet 1 Inches		Weight: 55 Pounds		Hair Color: Black		Eye Color: Black
2. Health problems, if any:
3. Attends School: Yes
4. Favorite School Subjects: Mathematics
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing with dolls, Running
Chores at Home: Running errands, General housework
Talents or Hobbies: Drawing, Dancing, Singing
Languages Spoken: Spanish
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
5. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $100.00
6. Name of Father: Victor Manuel			Age: 46	Occupation: Street Vendor
(If not present, why?)
7. Name of Mother: Dulce Maria			Age:	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
8. Brothers and Sisters:
9. Child now living with: Relatives
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
10. Description of Home: One Bedroom, Dining Room, Kitchen
Cooking Facilities: Gas Stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Beds
Home Construction: Walls Concrete block			Roof Concrete		Floor Concrete
11. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Running water in home
Electricity: Available
Sanitary Facility: Toilet

I have put Leydi and Dulce together on a post because I think it is fitting. Leydi has the top 5 pictures, and Dulce has the bottom 5. Both of these two girls still need a sponsor. I added them to my account in order to find them sponsors. I want to make sure that all of the HIV +/ AIDS diagnosed children in the Children International program get the extra care they need to stay alive. I know people are sometimes hesitant to take on a task of sponsoring a child who has special needs, but they are normal kids. They have the same dreams and aspirations of other children their same age. They do need sponsorship, however, in order to get the vitamins, nutritional supplements, and regular food they need to stay healthy. If you would like to sponsor one or both of these girls, let me know... Or, if you want to sponsor a child but don't want one that has that diagnosis, let me know which child you would like. If I can get sponsors for 2 of my healthy children, I can keep these 2 beautiful girls.

Now, on with the best part, Leydi is 7 and in the 3rd grade. When she is not going to school she likes to play with her dolls. As of the last report, her father is still alive, however, his health may not be the best. She lives with her grandmother and cousins. Her mother has already passed away. She, also, is in need of surgery. She has an umbilical hernia that needs to be corrected. She went into the doctor in 2007 to have her hernia looked at, and that is when she found out that she was HIV+. Now, she takes her medication and sees a specialist on a regular basis.

Dulce just turned 9 a few days ago. Her birthday was January 25th. She lives around the same field office as Leydi. They are both part of the Santo Domingo project. Dulce was determined to be HIV+ at birth, and more recently was diagnosed with AIDS> However, she is currently in stable condition. As you can see by the pictures, she does not let the diagnosis affect her smile or her attitude. Her letters are positive and true to her name sweet (dulce) as can be! According to her latest update, her father is alive, but does not currently take care of her. Her mother has already passed away, so she lives with her cousins.

So what do you think? Are they great kids, or what?! Oh, yeah, and don't forget that Jaden is still raising money to get all 4 children (the ones with HIV/AIDS) a bed, so that they can get the rest they need to stay healthy. You can participate in the fundraiser by checking out my Ebay listings, and bidding. Or, she is, also, collecting coins in a jar (if you are close enough to bring her your coins). Her total raised as of today is: $101.04!! She almost has enough to buy one bed, and she will just have 3 more beds to go! Then, I am sure she will come up with something else she wants to do to help others... That's just how she is!

Seventh Sponsored Child~ Jonathan from Guayaguil, Ecuador

On October 22, 2008, I added 4 new children to my account. They are all children that are either infected with the HIV virus, or have already been diagnosed with AIDS. I decided that I wanted to find sponsors for them. In my group of four children was a girl named Katherine (a different Katherine than the one I currently have), who was almost immediately placed when Alice (already a sponsor) read my post about the 4 children: http://ilovemykids08.blogspot.com/2008/10/stigma-of-hivaids-can-devastate-child.html
If my post inspires you to take action, maybe you will take one or both of my last two children with the virus. The 2 children that I have left are the two girls on the top of that post...
Now, back to my story, Alice took Katherine. Katherine is the girl at the bottom of that same post. Shortly thereafter (10/28/08), Mack (another seasoned sponsor) was looking for a child in Zambia. She took Mercy, and I took on one additional child with HIV... Jonathan!
Jonathan lives with his grandmother since both of his parents are deceased (just like Diego's are). So, here are Jonathan's details:

Age: 10	Gender: M	Date of Birth: 1/20/1999
Height: 3 Feet 11 Inches		Weight: 46 Pounds		Hair Color: Black		Eye Color: Black
2. Health problems, if any:
3. Attends School: Yes
4. Favorite School Subjects: Art, Mathematics
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing soccer
Chores at Home: Sweeping, Running errands
Talents or Hobbies: Singing, Dancing
Languages Spoken: Spanish
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
5. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $50.00
6. Name of Father: Jonathan			Age:	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
7. Name of Mother: Cacilda			Age:	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
8. Brothers and Sisters:
9. Child now living with: Relatives
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
10. Description of Home: One multi-use room
Cooking Facilities: Portable gas stove
Sleeping Accommodations: Wooden beds
Home Construction: Walls Concrete block			Roof Corrugated metal		Floor Concrete
11. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Private pump
Electricity: Available
Sanitary Facility: Toilet

Sixth Sponsored Child~ Diego from Colombia

Diego was one of the children featured in CI's Blog action day slideshow. I didn't immediately decide to take him, but when I found out only one person had responded to their request for sponsors the day before, I had to help. I sent an e-mail to Kelly to find out which specific ailments the children had, and I requested children with either epilepsy or HIV/AIDS> When he responded telling me that Diego had full-blown AIDS, I couldn't turn him down. I actually wound up taking on 4 more children with HIV/AIDS in order to make sure that they could all get the special treatment that they need to stay alive... But, more on that later. I took Diego on 10/16/08. He uses the same community center that Henry uses (which is what I was looking for earlier in my quest to find a child in Cartagena~ so, I got what I wished for). Plus, since both of his parents are deceased, and he is battling a disease that causes him to be more suseptible to diseases that kill, I feel like I am making a difference in his life. He lives with his aunt and uncle. In a letter earlier, he told me that his aunt gives him the strength to go on. He is one of the children on Jaden's list that will receive a bed this year. Check out my Ebay link to donate to this cause. To date, Jaden has raised $86.97!!! Here are his details:

Age: 11	Gender: M	Date of Birth: 7/24/1997
Height: 4 Feet 4 Inches		Weight: 74 Pounds		Hair Color: Black		Eye Color: Brown
2. Health problems, if any:
3. Attends School: Yes
4. Favorite School Subjects: Mathematics
Favorite Pastimes or Sports: Playing soccer
Chores at Home: Running errands
Talents or Hobbies: Dancing, Singing
Languages Spoken: Spanish
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S FAMILY:
5. Approximate monthly income for the family (in U.S. Dollars): $175.00
6. Name of Father: Manuel			Age:	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
7. Name of Mother: Marilis			Age:	Occupation:
(If not present, why?) Deceased
8. Brothers and Sisters:
Name Laura		Age 32	Gender F	Name Maria		Age 35	Gender F
Name Yondo		Age 29	Gender M
9. Child now living with: Relatives
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HOME:
10. Description of Home: One Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen
Cooking Facilities: Open fire
Sleeping Accommodations: Wooden beds
Home Construction: Walls Concrete block			Roof Corrugated tile		Floor Concrete
11. Facilities and Services:
Water Source/Storage: Running water in home
Electricity: Available
Sanitary Facility: Toilet