Nicol Family Blog

The BIG day has arrived!!!!

Well today Berhanu and I drove up to LA and met with Karen for his pre-op appointment. Everything went well.

We also met up with the film crew again and they got some good footage of Bernie riding his bike round the garden, it was so cute!!!! and also scary at the same time. Unknown to him by this time tomorrow he will be through the first stage of back surgery.

After we were finished with the crew we went to the zoo, where we spent the rest of the day.

Right now I am in Ronald McDonald House just beside the hospital as Bernie has to be at the hospital for 5.30am!!!!! He is fast asleep after speaking to Bethany for half an hour on the cell phone (don't ask me!!!! I do not know how someone who cannot speak a word of English can speak to someone who cannot speak a word of Amharic for half an hour!!!!!).

Please pray for wee Bernie that God keeps his wee body strong through this long operation, and that our GREAT physician leads Dr Skaggs hands. We thank the Lord for Dr Skaggs and his team. Pray for each person that enters that operating theatre tomorrow, that they will feel something different, and that something being the power of prayer.

Thanks once again, will keep you posted through out the day tomorrow.

I am hoping to attach a photograph of Bernie with his pumpkin that we carved tonight before he went to bed.

And so the story unfolds......?

Hi Jim,

thanks for your kind words. At the moment, I'm in the amsterdam

airport, heading to Ethiopia.

Yeah, I really like Berhanu as well.

Here's what my volunteer, Chloe, wrote about Berhanu:

While most 8 year olds spend their day in a 2nd grade classroom,

Berhanu Haptu spends his day helping his elderly grandmother with her

daily chores and caring for his 7 year old sister. When asks what he

wants to e when he grows up, Berhanu ponders, , looking towards the

sky, before slowly answering "stoo-dint." The closest school is 6

kilometers, away, and with Berhanu's poor health, the daily roundtrip

commute of 12 kms makes school impossible for Berhanu.

Both of Berhanu's parents died before he was old enough to remember,

and his 24 year old uncle has assumed the multiple roles of mother,

father, and legal guardian. His uncle, Sisai, is a 10th grade high

school student as well as a farmer and primary caregiver for his

nephew, niece, and mother. The family earns their living by leasing

their small plot of land and reaping a quarter of the farmer's yearly

harvest. Sisay is not able to quantify their yearly income monetarily,

but can only tell me that a good harvest will yield them 6 quintile

(600 kgs) of dura, a type of wheat.

Berhanu is soft and gentle and sidles up to me as his uncle speaks,

eager to examine my fingers, separating them one by one. Berhanu's own

hand remains hidden under the worn cuff of his sweatshirt, a deformed

claw with 3 fingers. It is, as he believes, that by hiding it he has

convinced himself that it is not there. I roll up his sleeve to play

with his hand the same way he plays with mine, but he is quick to

catch me before I complete the first roll of fabric. He looks up with

a sheepish smile. It is interesting to me that Berhanu is so much more

self-conscious about his congenital deformities of his hand than the

exaggerated sickle curve of his spine, but perhaps, in his 8 year old

way, he is choosing his battles. I want to tell him that both battles

can be fought, But I am afraid the ruin the silence of our exchange.

Berhanu's dream is to 1 day be a student. Mine is that he may one day

let me play with his hand the same way he plays with mine.

I am about to send 10 patients to Ghana for spine surgery. If you know

anyone interested in help to fund this (about $12K a kid), let me

know.

My mom lives in Laguna Niguel, and I'm happy to meet you folks next

time I'm on the west coast, and talk about future projects.

Best wishes and thanks,

Rick

To The man who has mended many kids........In Ethiopia

Dear Doctor Rodes,
How are you?
How are things in Addis in Ethiopia.
Can I simply say thanks....!

My wife Caroline and I have fostered Brahnau Haptu.
He is a delightful child who is about to undergo surgery for Scoliosis at CHLA...........via the mending Kids program.
His back ,His arm and his hearing problem along with a very slight Heart murmur make him the meekest wee man that ever lived.

We are so blessed to be able to support him at this point in time.
It is our intention to Love him and show him as much kindness and affection during these trying times in his life.

I feel I simply want to say a sincere Thanks - on behalf on mankind for what you are doing. Although we have never met, your reputations goes before you.......truly you are a genuinely kind and compassionate individual.
In CHLA you are simply a hero...!

Your life is a life of great significance...........
I stand in awe of your contribution to the fight against pain and suffering.

Is it true you have adopted children....?

If you can give us any more information on Branhues history that would be great.
(At time of typing it is 10pm in San Juan Capistarno-Branhue has just came into my office area had a little look around and went back to where my wife is in the kitchen- he has his cute little Pajamas on...!)

Please write back and tell us how we can assist you............I work at www.oceanhillschurch.com
We would like to send a container from our church in California....to you for free.
The question is what do you really need what could we put in the container..........I was involved a number of years ago sending a container to Sierra Leone.
We put a tractor and plowing implement inside..........we then packed the container with clothes and medical supplies, that could be used in Sierra Leone.
I have a Vision of a container being packed in CA loaded at long beach and sent to you..........

Brahanhue is two things.....he is a precious soul in need of help-he is also a walking commercial for mending kids..........we want the world to know and to help good people like you who are on the front line..........

Simply how can we help –can we do anything for you.........?

Jim Nicol

Brano Goes to San diego Wild life park........

Day of much needed rest!!!!

Today we had a much needed day of rest. We went to the mall and looked at the puppies and also went on a bike ride round the neighborhood twice!!!!

Bernie is talking up a storm!! He and Bethany are bonding so well, it makes my heart warm and mooshy.

Tomorrow we are hoping to go to San Diego Animal Park with Gus and Kelly, so photos tomorrow.

Hi Ho Hi Ho is off to Animal Park we Go!!!!

CH LA THE BARN HUE WAY

Marathon Day!!!!!!

Well, today started real early in the Nicol household this morning with a 5am wake up call for mum!!!!!!

We had to be at the hospital at 9.15am, and for anyone that knows the LA traffic at that time in the morning knows that it is horrendous!!!!

Well hi ho hi ho, it's off to the hospital we go!!!!

First appointment....... MRI and CT scan. Berhanu did not like getting his IV in and he cried for the first time, poor wee soul!!!!! Jim and I went down to the caffeteria and met up with the filming crew again!! (Ahhhh) and had a much needed something to eat. We were told that the two scans would take two hours, so what better way to pass time, than to talk to a camera crew and eat!!!

Second appointment........... cardiology, where they detected a heart murmur, but nothing too serious (thank the Lord), still camera crew in tow!!! Everything was good with his heart.

Third and most important appointment...............Dr Skaggs, orthopedic, the surgeon that will do his surgery. Dr Skaggs had a look at Berhanu's scans and decided that the operation would be too much to do in one surgery!!!!!!! so Berhanu will get his first back surgery on 21st October and his second 6 days later!!!!. Not what we expected, but it is for Berhanu's best interest as the surgery was lengthy and also he will get better results. Jim and I looked at a book with before and after pictures and they are amazing!!!! We pray that wee Bernie will get as good as, if not better results. The one thing that really impressed me about Dr Skaggs was, his young son came to visit with his dad, and to me that speaks volumes. Jim and I were told about the procedure and all the goes on during the operation and all the possibilites that could happen, but we are believing and trusting in God, that He will guide this surgeon's hands as God is the Great Physician, and that all things will be well.

Last but by no means least, Noreen (the lady who works at CHLA, but does all the appointments for Mending Kids International) managed to get us in to see the hand surgeon today insted of Monday, so that was a blessing. The doctor said that Bernie had only part of his arm and hand, and that his wee thumb was a floating thumb, and that means it is not attached to anything, so he said that the best thing for Bernie would be to take the little thumb off and move one of his two fingers to where his thumb would have been, so that he could pick things up and do lots of different tasks.

Still the camera crew were filming through all the different appointments, so all I can say now is "Where is my trailer, and that's a wrap, and does anyone have any lippy?"

After finishing at the hospital, we took Bernie to an Ethiopian Restaurant, he loved it and ate everything in sight, Jim and I.................. well, just between you and I, it was not our favourite food, but we would take Bernie back........................with a packed lunch for us!!!!!

Jim and I are just home with Bernie who is fast asleep, and the time is 10pm (long day)

Seriously, pray that God's will will be done and His mighty hand on this wee soul and to protect him from coughs and anything else, and also that he would continue putting on weight at the speed that he has been!!!!

Thanks to everyone for their love and support in lots of ways, Jim and I and the rest of the Nicol Clan really do appreciate it.

Keep the prayers coming

toys R us

First visit to Toys r us

Just smile

Brahn Noo Rides his little red bike

2lbs ON!!!!!!!! yipeee!!!!!

On Monday Jim had a brilliant idea?????? get wee Bernie a bike!!!!!!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho to Toys are Us we go. Three hours later and about 10 bikes later.......................we came home with half of the store!!!!

Bernie loves his new bike, so much that I renamed him, Stunt Man.............he is a maniac!!!

He loves to go fast, so much so that Jim had to attach a long pole to the back of the bike so that he could keep control of him.

Bernie is coming out of his shell so much in the house, he giggles and laughs and is trying to say everything that we tell him!!!! He is still very shy outside the house and is not too sure with lots of people.

Today, he had his second appointment at the hospital, and yes, he put on 2lbs in 5 days!!!!! so good!!!! I wish I could loose 2lbs in 5 days!!!!!

The doctor was mostly happy with him, but did say that he still needed to put on some weight and get nutritional better. We will put him on a mult-vitimin for children and pray that this helps. I am also going to be getting carnantion instant breakfast as that seems to be full of goodness for him.

Bernie also got a small hearing test and his right ear did not seem to be hearing, so pray that when he sees the specialist that he does have hearing in his ear.

Tonight when I was folding up the laundry, he came and helped me to fold and then proceeded to have a throwing sock fight with me, boy, he has some shot on him for such a small creature!!!

Tomorrow is a big day for him, he has an early appointment at 9.30 for an MRI and CT scan so he has to have nothing to eat after midnight and only clear liquids after that. Pray that he does not wake up too hungry. He then goes on to a 1.30 appointment with cardiology and then on to a 3.30 with orthopedics, this appointment is with Dr Skaggs who is going to determine whether Bernie is up for the operation, so pray God's will on this decision. It will then take us a while to get back down to San Juan, so pray for a good safe journey.

We are so happy to be sharing this blessed time in our lives with so many different people from different walks of life.

God's richest blessing to you and yours!!

Sunday 11th October

So far, so good!!!! Bernie is doing brilliant!!!

He has settled into the Nicol Clan fab.

Yesterday we went shoe shopping, and boy!!! he knows what he likes!!!! He tried on a pair of baseball boots and he loved them!!! only problem was, they were too small and trying to tell him that we would go to another store and get the right size was difficult!!! He was holding on to them with all his might. Thank goodness we found the right size!!! tears were stopped by an 11 1/2 pair of black and white pair of boots!!!

Bernie is still exhausted and fell asleep around 4pm and that really was him till 5am this morning!!!

his wee body clock is still all over the place, not to mention everything that he has been through in the past 3 to 4 weeks of his life!!!

Today we are taking him to church, Everyone has been hearing about him now for a few weeks, and they are so excited about finally meeting him!!!

We thank God for Jill Fawcett who introduced us to mending kids, without her and of course God's plan for our lives, we would never have had the sheer honor to look after this sweet young boy!!!!

Sorry there are no pictures this time round, as I am not as technical as Jim, but I promise to try harder the next time.

Thanks to everyone for all your gift's for Bernie, I am sure he is blown away, most of all, thanks for all your prayers and good wishes for him and The Nicol Clan.

Branahue starts to talk

ABC CHAN 7 wantt to use Benahuoe

Howdy http://jamesnicol7.blogspot.com/

James 1
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
How are you?

I have started a blog to cover our www.mendingkids.org experience as we foster an 8 year old child called Berahnau from Ethiopia......he needs some serious back surgery. He also has a withered right arm. He is mal nourished and is a sorry we soul.

I simply cant keep up with all the mails the calls and the loving support we have had.....we are overwhelmed.

I had thought we could have done this Quitley,and picked up a big reward in heaven, The Nuns say that if you publicizes your good works on earth you have had your rewards.......the things done secretly God will rewards openly..........This is my position.

ABC CHANNEL 7 - It would appear that ..this is not Gods will for Bernahua.We have been asked by the LA children's Hospital if we can be involved in a documentary on Mending kids a section aired on channel 7-will be based around Bernahiue.
He is so Photogenic- his eyes tell a story of deep sorrow, yet when he smiles the world lights up.
He has the ability to melt people to tears....so small so broken and yet a gift from God.

The purpose of the Blog is simply this............
Bring attention to the plight of Children in third world countries who need life saving surgeries.
We also want to build up a network of families that can take the children and be host homes.
There is no profit or expenses paid for Gas ect-the travel up to LA is a pain but the rewards that will last into the life of a child and on into eternity are overwhelming.

It is my intention to tell as many people as I can of www.mendingkids.com ...........

Mending kids locate them – fly them to the US – surgeons do the surgery but they need Host families to provide homes care and transportation for the children.

This is my wife's project...............I am just a player on the sideline in a support role.....

This is real Jesus stuff..............no question about it this is front line hands on every dime being used to help some of the meekest people on the face of the earth........

So so good so refreshing ,so humbling to be involved.

No body is making any money-just broken kids being mended.

Superb .....

Tell as many people as you can............. Www.mendingkids.org ..............they are the real deal..!

Your pal

Jim

http://jamesnicol7.blogspot.com/

SAT MORNING Feeling -different

Sat Morning ,

Bernie is now up and running around.

He has slept well and is now playing with Chris my 20 year old.

I need to decide should I go up the mountain to the mens retreat to lead a communion service or should I stay..Prep for Tommorrow and get back into the groove..........

His Sleeping pattern is good but he is Jet lagged.

He clearly has experince of Dogs........the car door opened and he gave our Dog an unusual ethiopian welcome with his foot ........!

He is learning our names..........

This was the first meeting between Bern and Chris,

Chris left the room in tears as we considered the plight of the meekest person on the planet...yet a Rich gift from God called Bernie.

Its a long time since I felt my eyes fill with teras......not open tears of sorrow but tears of.......compassion for a peson so so frail and so so weak.