Help for Elliott and his twin Kathy Praise

Hello Everyone!

Here's the latest on baby Elliott.

Baby Elliott has been going through ups and downs the past few days. On Friday he had a few seizures and prior to that I noticed a "fluttering" of his arms and legs. He was in terrible pain from muscle spasms that overtook his entire body. I'm not going to lie to you, it has been rough. I sedated him so that his body could relax and made the decision to continue sedating him every 4-6 hours as he needed it.

We had a glimmer of hope when his little arms and legs that had been stuck in the same positions since we got him became completely limp and he was able to move them on his own. We cried, we praised, we hugged everyone over and over. He stayed this way for almost 48 hours and we were so happy. 

This afternoon all of that changed again. He woke up from his nap with his "I'm in pain" cry. when I went to pick him up his arms were once again rigid and upright, his hands in tiny fists that could not be opened. His legs were a little bit mobile but still stiff as a board. We tried unsuccessfully for 30 minutes or so to calm him down but it was evident that he was in too much pain. Back to the sedation we go. You should know that this has been the hardest part of this journey for me. I HATE drugs and I hate them for children even more. The first time we sedated him, I was sitting on the hospital floor with my head on my fellow Missionary's knee crying and praying. (Elliott was in her lap waiting for the drugs to kick in. I was laying hands on him and praying) I kept asking God if there was any other way. Why could he not do a miracle in Elliott's life and heal him? Why does a child so young have to suffer so needlessly? At this point, his body had serious spasms every 3-5 minutes. It doesn't make sense to me. It still doesn't.

Saturday morning I went to the orphanage to see his twin sister, Kathy Praise. We noticed the slight flutters in her hands on a previous visit but didn't think too much about it until Elliott started doing the same thing. I brought her home with me for her to visit her brother. The health differences between were blatantly obvious. She outweighs him by a lot. She kicks her legs, waves her arms and babbles like a normal baby. It was also obvious that she can see. Elliott can not.

Her entire body "flutters" periodically as well as her right arm which flutters every few minutes. This was so strange to me. The most similar thing I have seen is Parkinson's. I have never seen it in an infant. We talked to the orphanage Directors about taking both children to have brain scans to see if we can get an accurate diagnosis and if something can be done.

We need your help in so many ways:

• Prayer - prayers for healing, prayers for wisdom for us as caretakers and for all of the Medical Personnel involved. Prayer for our hearts because this is              one of the most difficult situations I have ever faced.

• Networking - I need to talk with Doctors in the U.S. who may have a better sense of what is going on and can give us some more direction. If you know a Pediatric Neurologist that may be willing to talk with us, I need to get in touch with them right away. Every moment counts.

• Finances - all of this is taking money that we didn't budget for and the costs are about to increase. There is a Pediatric Hospital in Yaounde (6 hours away) that has Neurologists. In addition to the kids medical bills,  food, diapers etc. we will need money for transportation and possibly housing while they are being treated. I have no idea what to tell you we will need. I just don't know at this point. What I do know is that these kids need help immediately and God has placed us here to see that they get what they need. Any amount you can give will be appreciated and when I have actual costs I will be sure to let you know what they are. There is a donate button attached to this email from an account with the National Christian Foundation that I created years ago to help the people of Cameroon. Any gifts made are 100% tax deductible.
  

• Medical Personnel - I am looking for Doctors and Nurses who are interested in coming to Cameroon to help with Medical Clinics as well as long term  Medical Missionaries.
• Contractor's, people with knowledge of digging wells, and people with expertise in Solar and/or Wind Energy
  

Please pray for Elliott and Praise. They are suffering.

If you know of American Missionaries who are serving in Cameroon, who may have connections to other American Doctor's please forward this information on.

Feel free to send this email to all of your friends who may know other's that can help.

All of this renews my passion to build a Medical Clinic here in this Community. There is a church in Iowa that is planning to come in March 2013 to help erect our first temporary Medical Clinic. We already have land here in Cameroon. I was going to wait until I come home in July to begin fundraising but stay tuned... You will hear more.

If you are interested in donating you can always mail a check to:

National Christian Foundation

11625 Rainwater Drive, Suite 500
Alpharetta, GA 30009

be sure to write McLean Missions Fund  and what the money is for on the Memo line.

Thanks for your prayers and your support on this journey God has called me to!