Unpeeling Another Layer of Sidney

We contacted Half the Sky about a week ago. This particular organization works in the Chenzhou Children’s Welfare Institute where Sidney lived. As I have written in prior blogs, Half the Sky implements additional training and staff. One of the many benefits is more interaction with children in the orphanage. On Wednesday, I opened an email indicating that Half the Sky’s office in Beijing had information on Sidney with 5 individual photos ranging from 5 months of age to a one of the last photos taken 11 days before we first met in Changsha. Tom and I talked about the people who work with and become attached to children in China. I am certain it is bittersweet to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to a future and life, yet letting go of a child who has become so much a part of your life. There were also written reports to go along with the photos.

Most interesting was the last report. This was written 7/2/2010, and we traveled to Changsha for Sidney (approximately 5 hours from the orphanage) on 7/13/2010. The volunteer indicated Sidney always asked her to go out to the garden and pick a flower. About three weeks after we arrived home, we went and visited my parent’s house. Though she had met “BobBob or Gimpa Bob” prior to visiting, she started taking a particular interest in my dad after the visit. As my mother waxed philosophical about Sidney’s reasons for becoming so fond of my father, he interrupted saying,” all I did was take her out to see the flowers on the deck.”
Such a cool connection he made without even knowing.

We also found out Sidney’s physical health was not good when she first arrived at the orphanage. We are unsure if this is one of the reasons why she was left in the hospital in Chenzhou. I don’t think we were aware of how bad her condition was or we just don’t think about it, because she is thriving now. Her report indicates that Half the Sky started working with after about 2 ½ months in the orphanage, because “when she first came, her health condition was not good.” We are unsure of what exactly was going on, but we feel very lucky that Sidney is here to be our daughter. Typically, as we witnessed traveling, there is a tendency to have an answer for all health concerns, like “the baby has a fever from the air conditioning.” I remember thinking when our guide gave us this information, hmmm, air condition, virus, bacterial infection; they are all the same right? Sorry, a bit of sarcasm.

I cannot get the photos to upload to blogger but will figure out a way at some point.