Prayer Request

The body of Christ is an amazing thing. This past year we have come to know more of its' members through the network of families adopting from Ethiopia. As a group of families scattered throughout the United States we have laughed together, cried together, prayed together, waited together, and rejoiced together as our children have come home.

Tonight, I am asking you to pray for one of our fellow adoptive families, the Reeds (reedadoption.blogspot.com). The Reed family received a referral for a sweet little girl whom they named Julianna in June. They passed court on July 6, but Julianna became very ill with pneumonia and died on July 10 as they were preparing to travel to Ethiopia to bring her home. They received a referral for another sweet baby, Maura, at the end of July, but thanks to multiple delays were only allowed to go get her last week. They arrived back in the USA yesterday, and today during a Dr.s appointment, it was discovered that Maura has viral cardiomyopathy with severe damage to her right ventricle.

You can read their post below. Please join me in praying for this sweet family and for baby Maura.


This post comes from Leigh Tudor, Erica's sister.I just spoke with my sister, Erica Tudor Reed. As you know, she and Jason just returned from Ethiopia on Saturday with my newly adopted niece, Maura Rohama. They took Maura to the International Adoption Clinic at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital for a check-up yesterday. The doctors admitted her with concerns of a heart condition, and they have been doing tests and waiting on lab results. The cardiologist came in this morning and looks like the probable diagnosis is cardiomyopathy (viral). There is severe damage to Maura's right ventricle, with significant amount of blood pooling. She will be at Vanderbilt most likely through the weekend, at the very least.

In these types of cases:
About 1/3 of patients' hearts recover and strengthen on their own.
Another 1/3 can be controlled by medication without further damage or strengthening.
The last 1/3 can expect to see gradual deterioration with compromised life expectancy.

The doctors may move Maura Rohama into Intensive Care, but at this point she is still in a regular room on the 6th floor of the Children's Hospital. She is happy and gurgling and blowing bubbles and smiling. A nutritionist is coming in later this morning to discuss diet and helping her put on weight.Tomorrow, they may do a heart catheterization and/or a heart biopsy - both of which are risky procedures, especially for one so tiny.

These our specific prayer needs:
We covet your prayers, first and foremost, for Maura Rohama. We ask for God's healing hand to touch and heal this sweet baby girl.
We also pray for strength for our family to deal with whatever the prognosis may be.
Please lift up Erica, Jason, and Ashton (my five year old nephew) and ask for God' to give them comfort and peace. They have been through so much to get Maura home, and she is truly loved.
Pray for the doctors to be able to quickly diagnose and treat Maura. We long to have her home where she belongs.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, thoughts, and concerns. We feel your love, and know that God is in control.Leigh Tudor