Many of you have been asking for updates on Afeefa, so I'll start with her. We are so incredibly thankful for how God continues to work all things for His glory and how He continues to care for Afeefa and for us. We have seen this throughout Afeefa's time here, but most recently in the provision of a respite family, the Trumbulls. We weren't necessarily feeling the need for a break, but we were given a week without Afeefa while she stayed at the Trumbulls, and it really turned out to be a time of blessing and refreshing for our family. Not only that, we feel like God has given us new friends in in the Trumbull family, and we feel truly blessed.
As many of you know, Dr. Trese saw Afeefa for one last time on October 5.
I want to add here, that I continue to be amazed that Children's Circle Mission was able to find the doctors and team of therapists that they have found for Afeefa. Most of you are not aware that at almost every single visit we had to Dr. Trese, he was being trailed by other doctors from all over the world who had come to learn from him. At each visit I also met people who had come from New York, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia----all of them saying the same, that he is truly the best. I recently did a google search and saw rave reviews of him from people from literally all around the world. Afeefa could not possibly have had better care than Dr Trese has been able to give her. I asked Lita (from CCM) how she even found him, and she pretty much just said it was God's leading. So, we just give Him thanks that Afeefa has had such good care. In addition, the optometrist who tested and fitted Afeefa for her glasses is one of the only people at least in this part of the country who specializes in care for low vision infants. And her therapists there are also top notch. So, I just want to share this because as our time with Afeefa comes to a close, it's just good to reflect on all of the amazing pieces on this journey, and the team of doctors and therapists has certainly been a big part of it all.
With that said, at Afeefa's last appointment with Dr. Trese, he was amazed at her progress and encouraged us to arrange for her return home and to encourage her family to find an ophthalmologist in Guyana who could carry on with her long-term care. He is very confident that he has done all he can, and that Afeefa is ready for this next step in her journey.
In preparing for her return home, again I just see how God is providing for her. One of the biggest long-term needs she has are for regular testing for glaucoma, as she is at a high risk for this disease; Afeefa's mom informed me on Friday that she was able to connect with a doctor in Georgetown, Guyana who is able and willing to do these tests. We are so thankful that she has made this connection and that Afeefa will have someone to keep an eye on her over the next years. Dr. Trese has also offered to be available should they ever have questions or need guidance, so it seems that things are in place for a good future for Afeefa.
Her second big long-term need is for continuing therapy. We had hoped there would be some way for Afeefa's mom to come here and learn everything, but that is just such a complicated thing because of how strict the US is regarding visas. So, at a meeting we had with CCM, they agreed that the best thing for Afeefa would be for me to bring her back to her mom and to spend a couple of days teaching her all that I have learned. Kevin, one of Afeefa's therapists, had explained to us that Afeefa's surgery is what gave her the potential for sight, and that the therapy that is done over the next 3-5 years will ultimately determine how much sight she gains. So, the therapy piece is crucial for her mom to learn. My neighbor Nadean has graciously offered to help me produce a teaching DVD, as well----if you ever need anyone to make videos for you, let me know and I'll connect you to her (this is her business). Also, I was able to coordinate a meeting with two retired vision therapists who have specialized for 30 years with low vision infants and children; they will meet us at Afeefa's final check-up with the therapist in Detroit, and have agreed to be video-taped for the teaching DVD. I feel like God is pulling all of the pieces together for Afeefa to have long-term success.
Not only that, we just see her improving with her eyes all of the time. She can focus longer on things for therapy, she keeps her head up almost all the time, keeps her glasses on more of the time than not----all of these are the signs the doctors have told us to look for as indication of improved vision. She also likes to play peek-a-boo, which is a pretty significant development, too. So, God is good. He is faithful 100%, and though we are very sad at the thought of Afeefa going home, we have peace and joy knowing that she will get good care and be reunited with her family.
I have a plane ticket to take Afeefa home on November 17, and to return on November 22. There are a lot of details that need to come together before this time, so please, keep us in your prayers. Lord willing, I will have four days to teach as much as I can to Afeefa's family, and to hopefully help Afeefa transition back to her family. As many of you have observed, Afeefa has become very attached to us---and we to her---so we would appreciate your prayers for her to bond and reconnect well with her own family. The nurses at our pediatrician's office shared with us that it's good that she is able to go back now, as reattachment to her own family would become more difficult the longer she stays (I know that this is true, but I think they mostly shared it to make me feel better about her leaving). So, we are all sad, but we rejoice at the success of this whole journey for Afeefa. The whole experience has taught us so much, and it has been a tremendous joy to care for her----money could never buy the joy that this has given us, and there aren't words to express it.
I'll attach of couple of recent pictures for your viewing enjoyment! Thanks for your continued prayers!
