Family-A Gift from God

In the last year you have heard a lot about two precious babies with very difficult names (Altieres and Thavilidy). They came to the Miriam home, not because of many congenital health problems (premature, fetal alcohol syndrome, heart murmur) but because their mother’s drinking kept her from meeting even their most basic needs. The fact is they arrived barely alive.

From the time they arrived the twins won the hearts of everyone who met them, fist because of their zeal; with almost no strength, they held on and never gave up. They fought for the simplest things, like rolling over, sitting up and learning to walk. Though the babies had a slow start they have grown, developed and shown that they are bright, creative little ones. They are also joyful, loving babies, whose smiles and laughter captures every heart. It is easy to see why they brought joy to the hearts, not just of the adults that work with them but of every other child that came to the Miriam Home! These little ones remind the other children of their little brothers and sisters and gave them a real feeling of home.

One of our goals for Altieres and Thavilidy has been to see them in a godly family, who would be able to provide the special healthcare needs they have, and much more, meet their emotional and spiritual needs so that they can grow up to be the man and woman of God they are meant to be. For quite a time this goal was frustrated by the fact that their mother would not release them to be adopted, but did not make the life changes needed to allow the children to return to her (specifically, to stop drinking). The juvenile judge felt he couldn’t permanently remove them from their mother against her will without giving her one more chance and in May of this year he decided that the children’s health was strong enough that they should be returned to their mother to see if she could and would care for them. The attempt lasted less than a month. During this time the children (now nearly two years old) spent the day outside in a single crib (because there was no safe place in the house or yard for them to play), and at night slept on a mattress on the floor.

Read the exciting new for these beautiful twins here as well as read the rest of Jonni’s newsletter.