I was never quick enough to catch it on camera,
but Mary was so happy and smiling the whole time we were at the house today.

          Yesterday Catherine took Mary to a clinic so that the doctors could check on her. The doctors measured her head and there has been no change in the size. The bad thing is that the weight in her head is shifting towards the back of her head and because of this the doctors said that she needs another surgery as soon as possible. Her surgery is scheduled for Monday morning. 

When I first started talking to Catherine she told us that the husband left her when Mary was born, then later on she told us that she lived with Mary’s father. We decided to leave the issue alone and not pry into her personal business and focus on caring for Mary. Today the issue came up again and we asked her why she told us previously that the father left. Catherine told us that someone was going to help them pay for the first surgery, but when they found out that she was married they backed out because they thought that the husband should pay for the surgery. So she told us she was alone because she was afraid that we would do the same thing if we knew about her husband. Regardless of the fact that he is around, this family is still struggling to afford rent and food, let alone surgery. This is apparent from where they live and the state of things in their house. 

Today when we were at their home, I got to meet Mary’s father for the first time. They were speaking in Swahili, and I could only understand bits and pieces of the conversation, but I could tell that he was so thankful and appreciative of the help that we were providing him and his family. He was so grateful and more than willing to work to pay the cost of transporting Mary and Catherine to and from Nairobi. On Sunday we are picking them up and driving them to the bus station to send them on their way. I am so thankful for my friends at home so are so willing to help and support what I am doing here.