Thanks to the Youth AIDS Walk in October, ChangeOneLife was able to send $500 to Kikuyu Hospital this month. These funds will purchase infant formula and other supplies provided to these babies whose mothers are HIV positive and are served in Kikuyu Hospital’s AIDS Clinic as part of our joint Mothers Milk Project. By providing infant formula, COL prevents these mothers from transmitting HIV to their babies in breast milk.

Vanessa, COL’s Health Ministry Consultant to Kenya, recently reported on a fantastic day she spent with 7 Mother’s Milk recipient mothers and their children. Check out some of the great photos below!

Mother's Milk 1

Mother's Milk 3

Mother's Milk 4

Mother's Milk 6

Mother's Milk 10

Mother's Milk 18

Mother's Milk 19

Mother's Milk 23

One baby came on board just 2 months ago, a boy named John Maina. He is now 3 months old and his Mother is Jane Mugure. Another new recipient just started. She is a 1 month old baby girl named Patience Nduta with her mother Purity Nyambura. These two will be the first to benefit from COL extending the Mother’s Milk project from 6 months to one year of life.

To see more pictures from this wonderful day and past Mother’s Milk photos, visit COL’s photo gallery.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

Last month I shared with you the story of Paulina and Grace, two infants that are new to the Mother’s Milk Project. Vanessa also had the great delight of meeting with one of COL’s original Mother’s Milk recipients, Dadison. If you remember, Dadison did not have an easy beginning to life.

Dadison’s mother, Zipporah, was very sick when she first came to Kikuyu. She had AIDS and her CD4 count, a type of white blood cell count, was only 165. A normal CD4 count ranges from 500 to 1500. Even in her weakened state, Zipporah thought only of her child. For fear of transmission of the HIV virus through breast milk, Dadison received infant formula provided by COL through his first six months of life.

It has been over a year now since Dadison graduated from the Mother’s Milk Project. He remains HIV negative! And he has done much growing since Vanessa and Jo’s last visit. As you can see from the picture, Dadison found the phone a very interesting gadget. Vanessa even described him as “quite the busy body.”

When I look at Dadison, I cannot help but Praise God for small miracles. Keep both Zipporah and Dadison in your prayers so they may continue to grow stronger.

Here are more adorable pictures from Vanessa’s meeting with past Mother’s Milk recipients. I apologize for the awkward format, but I am currently experiencing some difficulty with my image uploader. Expect more pictures soon!

*Update* Problem Fixed!

Zipporah & Dadison

Dadison 2011

Dadison cheesing it up

Dadison close up

Dadison hide & seek

Dadison making a call

Dadison May 2011

Dadison on cellphone

Dadison walking

Dadison

Mother's Milk 2011 update

Mama Zipporah

Mother's Milk Mother Zipporah

Mother's Milk 2011 Update

Mary smiling with Baby Pauline

Mary & Pauline 2011

Mary & Pauline

Mother's Milk Mary & Pauline

Mama Mary and Baby Pauline

Mother's Milk Pauline

Mother's Milk Zipporah & Dadison

Mother's Milk Frola & Grace

Mother's Milk Mary & Pauline

Baby Pauline

Vanessa has completed her travels and continues to report back on some of her powerful encounters in Kenya. She had the great pleasure of making multiple visits to Kikuyu Hospital, where she met with both past and present recipients of our Mother’s Milk Project. Remember Mother’s Milk is one of COL’s AIDS Alive Projects, which provides infant formula to babies of HIV+ mothers. By providing infant formula, COL prevents these mothers from transmitting HIV to their babies in breast milk. Here are the profiles of two mothers Vanessa had the fortune to meet.

Mary & Pauline

Mary Wambui is a 25 years old mother under incredible stress. Not only is she struggling to support her growing family, but her milk has dried up. Now 4 ½ month old baby Pauline has lost the great source of nutrition her mother supplied. Cow’s milk would be a poor substitute but formula is far too expensive for Mary’s family. For this reason,  (more…)

Rev. Vanessa Sharp continues to work on COL’s behalf in Kenya. Last week she was able to visit Kikuyu Hospital, where she met with AIDS Clinic Staff and discussed current COL projects and future missions.

Rev. Vanessa Sharp at Kikuyu

Vanessa also had the wonderful opportunity to preach at the hospital’s morning chapel service. She spoke on Col. 1:3-13, a passage of thankfulness and prayer. She shared that it was a very timely topic for the staff of Kikuyu, which numbers in some 230 members. And while (more…)

I bring news from Rev. Vanessa Sharp, our AIDS consultant in Africa. She arrived in Kenya on May 3^rd and is working hard there on COL’s behalf until May 28^th.

She has already been in contact with regional Rotary Club leadership in order to help the rural clinic projects move forward. And she has plans next week to visit Kikuyu hospital and update us on infants from COL’s Mother’s Milk Project.

Rev. Vanessa Sharp in Africa

Vanessa is also in contact with Kikuyu and CHAK hospitals to discuss the possible COL funded distribution of Mother-Baby Packs.  The Mother-Baby Pack was developed by UNICEF and Cipla as an innovative way of distributing HIV drugs to HIV + pregnant women. COL has been in contact with Cipla and would distribute MBPs to our partner clinics in Kenya if the MBPs fit into their existing HIV/AIDS services.

Her journey has not been without challenges. Vanessa currently faces two obstacles. The first is a gasoline shortage created by protest between government and Station owners. Second, she has learned from Polycarp Ochilo that this month is heavy rainy season; therefore, there may be a problem getting to the dispensaries/clinics.

Please pray on behalf of Vanessa’s trip. Pray that the obstacles will be removed so that COL can accomplish all that we desire for those in Kenya with the greatest need. The direction of future ChangeOneLife projects depends on the success of her journey.

Thank you and God Bless,

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Mother’s Day is this weekend. Are you still looking for something to give your mother? Have you thought about making a donation in her name?

I might be a little bit partial, but a donation to ChangeOnelife’s Mother’s Milk project sounds like a great fit to me. Mother’s Milk provides infant formula for babies whose mothers are HIV+ in order to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

In 2009, around 400,000 children under 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission.

Not only will you be honoring your own mother, but you will also be touching the life of a mother across the world in the most significant way.

If you would like to give to Mother’s Milk, please visit COL’s Mother’s Milk webpage.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

David (past Mother's Milk recipient)

As I reported in November, our YAV intern, Grace Lindvall, has been busy in Kenya working to continue our Mother’s Milk Project at the Kikuyu Hospital.  Remember, Mother’s Milk is ChangeOneLife’s life-saving intervention that delivers formula to infants of HIV-positive mothers in Kenya.  Grace has recently reported back with the sad but powerful story of one of the babies our funds will be supporting.

The most recent infant selected for the program will be born to Naomi (26) and George (35).  Both are HIV positive.  Unfortunately, neither have jobs and together they live in extreme poverty.

Naomi has been receiving ARV (Antiretroviral) treatment at Kikuyu hospital to prevent HIV transmission to the baby.  Once the baby is born, she will not be able to breastfeed because her breast milk could still transmit the virus to her infant.  That is where we will help by providing the nutrient rich formula the baby needs to grow healthy and remain HIV negative.  Grace is ready to meet the couple at the hospital with the formula as soon as Naomi goes into labor.

Because the couple lives in a small village outside of Nairobi, they also face hardships getting to and from the hospital.  Grace has advised that relying on bus travel for the labor is very risky because the buses do not run at night.  If Naomi goes into labor at night, she would be forced to deliver at home.  Home births pose a much greater risk to the baby.  For this reason, COL has also offered to pay for the more expensive taxi ride, so that any travel risks to the baby will be minimized.

Once the baby is born, Grace will update us with more information and pictures.  Edith Change of the hospital’s AIDS clinic is also busy looking to identify the next infant for the program.  While this is a needed life-saving intervention, it is very expensive.  Edith estimates it will cost over $400 per child.  For this reason, Mother’s Milk fundraising remains ongoing.  If you would like to donate securely, online today, please visit http://changeonelife.org/mothersmilk.php. The smallest donation can make a great impact.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

Dear COL Friends,

Kikuyu Hospital and Staff

We have an exciting update from our Intern Grace Lindvall in Kenya.  If you’ll remember, Grace is a Presbyterian Youth Adult Volunteer who while in Kenya will work part-time on ChangeOneLife AIDS Alive Projects.  She has been in Africa for over two months now and has begun coordinating COL’s mission there.

Recently, Grace has been traveling back and forth from Kikuyu Hospital in Kenya.  She met with Edith Change in the hospital’s AIDS clinic to plan the continuation of our Mother’s Milk Project.  Mother’s Milk is COL’s mission to provide formula to infants of HIV/AIDS infected mothers in order to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding. Without access to formula, these mothers face the unbearable choice between the risk of exposing their infants to HIV in breast milk or the risk of their infant dying from malnutrition without breast milk.

Edith has identified two babies for this life-saving intervention.  Funds were forwarded last week and the babies should receive the benefits soon.  Unfortunately this critical project does not come cheap.  Edith estimates that it will take 45-50 tins of formula at $8.50 per tin for a total of just over $400 per child for six months.  If you are interested in helping this project continue, please donate to ChangeOneLife’s Mother’s Milk at http://changeonelife.org/mothersmilk.php.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger