Nicol Family Blog

Berhanu's departure!!!

Today is Tuesday 13th April. Brahanu left last Wednesday. Our God is an awesome God!!!!, He gave Bethany and I the peace to go the airport and Oh boy, was it sad, yes, but, we both had a peace knowing 2 things. One our Lord was in control, and two, Jim was over in Ethiopia, so it felt like he was not leaving us yet.

The house has been so quiet without him, and I have even been calling the dogs, Berhanu! Bethany just said last night that the night before she felt really lonely without him (her and Berhanu have shared a bed for the last number of months, due to Berhanu being scared at night.)

Berhanu went on the plane like a little man, a few times going up to the airport he said "he was scary", which meant, he was scared. When the time came to leave us he went away no problem!!

Berhanu was delayed in London for 24hrs due the the guy at the desk in LAX not reserving him a seat on the flight from London to Addis!!!

Well he arrived on Saturday morning in Addis and Jim and his uncle and his sister were all at the airport to welcome him.

I have had pictures of Berhanu in Addis with his sister, Maza and his uncle, but Jim has not manged to email me and let me know how Berhanu was. The reason for this was that not long after he came off the flight, the four of them jumped into a 4x4 and were going to Brahanu's village, 12hrs north of Addis!!

So far as of this morning, Tuesday 6am, I have not had any more word from Jim, so not too sure what is going on and where they are at this time.

I will post later in the week and let you know what has been happening to Jim while he has been in Ethiopia. By that time I just have heard how he got on at Berhanu's village and have some more news.

Jim is also now on facebook and also there are some pictures and updates on the church website.

Keep them all in your prayer, for safety and for God's will to be done and for all the right people to be in the right places.

Thanks.

Caroline

Leaving Day

Well, the big day has arrived!!!!!!!! The one that we always knew was coming, but kept putting it to the back of our minds.

Berhanu leaves for Ethiopia today at 4.30pm with Karen (MKI social worker).

Please keep our whole family in your thoughts and prayers today as it is breaking each of our hearts to let him go. I had Kim on the phone this morning from Scotland, and she was upset, and Christopher last night tried to get through and could not reach us, so Berhanu still has Chris to say goodbye to. Poor Bethany is beside herself!!!!!! Please pray for her that she gets the strength and the peace today that she needs.

Pray for a safe travel for Karen and Berhanu, as they have a long journey ahead of them.

I thank the Lord for putting this little man into our lives. God knew what He was doing when MKI passed Berhanu on to the Nicol Clan!!!

Thank you to everyone who has followed Berhanu's journey in the US.

This is not the end, this is only the beginning.

Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!

Love

Caroline

Jim will leave for Ethiopia today 4 pm

Great Party for Bran......thanks so much....!

Goodbye to my Dog Winston Kobo hear I come link below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobo,_Ethiopia

Welcome to say good bye Bran at Doheny beach

Brans back at Mar 2010

Facts re Ethiopia as Jim prepares to go

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1072164.stm

Letter to Ethiopian court

Why Is Branahue Haptu a special case for adoption?

To The Court of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Dear Sirs/Ms

We would petition the court to grant an adoption for Branahue Haptu along with his younger sister Masa on the basis that he is a special needs child. Both of the children are Orphans and live their elderly grandparents and 20-year-old uncle in Wolo Ethiopia.

Bernanu Haptu.jpg

No one knows when BranHue was exactly born, however we believe he may be around 9/10 years of age .He has been given a birth date of 1 1 00.

Both parents died of aids or Malaria and he has been raised with his sister mainly by his 20-year-old uncle Siseri.

As a child he developed Scoliosis of the spine, which resulted in a 116-degree bend in his back, it caused a large bulbous lump to form.

Branahue was diagnosed by Rick Hodes as being in urgent need of Spinal fusion surgery in America at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He was flown there by mending Kids and has had spinal fusion surgery in order to help his back become much more straight. He is now returning home and will be out of the emending kids program

His right hand has also been modified in order to allow the three fingers to become two working fingers with pinch or pincer capability.

Branahue has been diagnosed with a birth defect on his right side, which has caused a number of problems. Please find a list of the known medical conditions from which he has been afflicted with.

1. Scoliosis of the spine

2. Right Fore arm missing

3. Three fingers missing on right arm

4. Partial hearing problem on Right ear

5. Heart Murmur

6. Right Leg shorter than left leg

7. Shadows of Tb in lungs

8. Teeth in poor condition 7 have been filled two removed

9. General behavioral issues with moods and withdrawing into himself

10. Dreadfully shy in front of new people refusing to speak

11. No education and a general fear of new places.

We have acted as Foster parents for Branahue for the last 6 months.

We have three children Kimberley 22 Christopher 20 and Bethany 12.We are people who simply love children and have always had little people around our feet for the last 22 years.

We would love to give Both he and his sister Masa a home where they will have two parents and a family of people that will love them firstly.

Our medical system in America will also be able to treat Branahue and adjust his spinal fusion as he grows. He and his sister will be educated in the states. They will be given the best that we can to help them with the special needs that Branahue has also.

Our two oldest children are at university and are working away from home .We have the room and have the God given desire to share our lives with these two children.

I would ask if you would consider our plea to adopt the children. It would be an honor to raise them and maybe one day see them return as Doctors to Ethiopia……….

In life many people talk about helping children in need…here is a chance for us to really switch on love, care, tenderness and give the children an environment where they will be treasured loved and formed into two fine young people.

Please consider our application for adoption.

Simply

Jim and Caroline Nicol.

Marschelle the Director of mending kids

disney wolrd with Helen Vid at bottom

Helen from Scotland comes to visit Bran

Branos journey coming to an end link at base

Brano on The back of Jim's Mike Ocean Point

Bran meets Kim our oldest Girl

One handed swing ..!

Brano woods.!

Brano Back in CHLA

Brano is Back in CHLA

we are here today the 15th of Jan 2010

to have his hand operated on.

On His right hand he has three fingers.His hand is connected directly to his elbow with no fore arm.The surgeons are removing a small stub he has for a thumb and shortening his ring finger to be more like a thumb.They will then relocate his other finger to be able to give him pinch between thumb and remaining finger.

The film crew were here to film his progress for a documentary that is being made to be shown in June on ABC.

The hospital is quieter today.His operation will take some 5 hrs.Carrie will stay over night and I will travel back down by train.

At time of typing it is 1pm on a Friday afternoon.

It is so emotionally draining to visit this place once again.I can feel my senses being effected,Caroline had been backwards and forwards and has became part of the furniture over the last wee while.

For me when I see a downs syndrome child or one who has an affliction that shall last a life I am still cut to the heart.

We are so... so blessed to have our health and strength,to simply have complete Motor skill is a glorious gift from God ,yet so easily we murmur and complain.

Bran has changed our lives forever,no longer doe the small things of life really bug us......here we have a child with numerous serious difficulties that effect him for the rest of his life.........Life is full of such blessings for some yet sorrow for others. We live a stones throw away from a sea of sorrow.the situation in Haiti,the poverty in the world,the millions of other Branos,the unloved the unwanted.....what can we do...?

We shall attempt to change the world one Brano at a time......he is a big part of our mission in 2010.

I genuinely pray that God will bless mending kids.......if you pause and really think about whoever it is that has paid for his surgery his flights and his visa ect...........what a great heart ,and what an honor for us to be a small part of the great process that has mended a little boy who one day shall be a man repaired and ready for life.

Truly this is one of the best projects we have ever been involved in.