Happy New Year’s! I hope you all are enjoying a very beautiful New Year’s Eve day.

I’m sharing a heartwarming message sent from Rev. Abugah. Remember last week I spoke of how COL wired an additional $500 dollars to help with Rebecca’s post-op and travel expenses.

Rev. Abugah wrote:

In deed we are very grateful to you for all your financial support as well as your prayer support towards Rebecca’s heart surgery. Without your donations, things would have been very difficult for us.

Rev. Thomas & Elizabeth wth Rebecca Abugah

He also spoke of Rebecca’s inspiring progress:

Rebecca is doing well. She plays about with joy, something she found it hard to do before the surgery. As parents, we are very excited about this and continue to praise God for His faithfulness and remember your generosity as well.

May 2012 continue to bring healing and God’s grace to this family and all of yours.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

Fellow ChangeOneLife Board Members and Friends,

This is one successful conclusion to a very serious heart operation. Rebecca looks great in these photos.

If funds are available, I want to send one last bit of funding support (say $250-500) which will help the family cover some of the extensive pre- and post-operative costs that they have incurred. Please let me know if you want to donate by contacting me at mike@griffininsure.com.

Say a prayer of thanks for this great result.

I just sense that God has something special for this little girl to do. Now, she has the opportunity to find out what it is.

Rev. Thomas & Elizabeth with Rebecca Abugah

Blessings to you all as you dwell on the many things you have to be thankful for. Also, continue to pray for those that have needs we can’t meet or don’t know about–I’m sure there are many.

Mike Griffin

ChangeOneLife, Inc.

“helping the world’s poor people to know the miracle of good health“

“O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” – Psalm 30:2

I have fantastic news to share! Rebecca has finally had her heart surgery. The surgery took place on October 5 at the National Cardio-thoracic Centre of the Kole Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana and she has been recovering well. Her father, Rev. Abugah asks that we continue to pray that all will be well for her. He also shares his deepest gratitude for your love, prayers and financial support.

Rebecca gaining strength already.

Rebecca and Mother surgery

Rebecca and Parents surgery

Rebecca and Mom close up

Mom and Rebecca Photo

Remember Rebecca is just four years old and was suffering from a life-threatening heart condition. Early this year, COL designated Rebecca as an Urgent Medical Needs case. Through your charitable donations, COL was able to contribute over $3000 to Rebecca’s heart operation.

We celebrate Rebecca’s successful surgery and will continue in prayer asking God that she have a complete and rapid recovery.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

Today, I bring warmest greetings from a grateful father. Rev. Thomas Abugah has sent another update of Rebecca’s surgery plans. Praise God they have made the final payment and the cost of surgery has been taken care of now. However, the family still faces certain hurdles in the process.

On their last payment, the family was asked to find four people to donate a pint of blood each. The blood will be given to Rebecca during the surgery. Rev. Abugah and his wife will donate if they are a match, but that still leaves two other adults to fill the requirement. Such a need, of course, is not easy to fill but they continue to trust in God’s will.

Once the four pints are gathered and a few more blood tests are run, they will proceed to the hospital for the date to be scheduled. The surgery cannot move forward until the four pints of blood are gathered or four pints are bought.

Again, Rev. Abugah graciously gives thanks to COL for our generous help. He asks too that we continue to pray for Rebecca and for a quick resolution to these last issues leading to the surgery.

We are still taking donations for this adorable 3 year-old on COL’s website. In fact, Rebecca turns 4 on August 1st. You can contribute to her gift of life by donating to Rebecca’s profile here.

Blessings,

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/Lead Blogger

I just received a wonderful email from ChangeOneLife President and CEO, Mike Griffin:

Yesterday, I wired an additional $1250 to Ghana to help with the corrective heart surgery for three-year old Rebecca Abugah. I would love to see the look on her pastor father’s face now that they can proceed with the needed surgery for his young daughter. Say a prayer for the surgeons and nurses attending to her care. It is major heart surgery and not without considerable risks. But with your help and generosity, this is one life changed for the better. Who knows? Rebecca may grow up to be a great preacher or important government minister or beloved parent or all three.

Glory to God and thank you, COL friends, for your generous donations. You have rushed to fill this urgent medical need. With this $1250 and an additional contribution recently given through COL’s website, you have contributed over $1600 to Rebecca’s fund in only three months. Keep checking COL’s blog regularly, as I am excited to keep you up-to-date on her case as the surgery moves forward.

Please know too that we are still asking for an additional $400 to help the family with imminent costs of the surgery, including transportation, medicines and others. If you would like to help make a difference in this little girl’s life, you still can by donating to her profile. All donations made in Rebecca’s name go directly to her family.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

Whether it be her father, Rev. Abugah’s dedication to his and the Lord’s family or Rebecca’s simple love of orange soda, Rebecca’s story has really touched our hearts.  It only seems fitting that we do everything we can to help fix hers.

Our drive to raise funds for Rebecca’s heart surgery continues all throughout May.  We have received approx. $1150 of the $2000 still needed.

If you would like to donate online today, please visit Rebecca’s profile on our website.  Every little bit counts.  The sooner we reach our goal, the sooner little Rebecca can know what it’s like to be a carefree 3 year-old again!

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

In February, we shared with you that ChangeOneLife was adopting a new Urgent Medical Needs Case. Rebecca, the daughter of Rev. Thomas Abugah in Ghana, has a life-threatening heart condition. If you remember, COL agreed to pay for her first, minor surgery costing roughly $1500 (US).

Rebecca

Last week, Rev. Abugah received word that the latest tests indicated a more complicated situation and the doctors are now planning one major surgery. The Ghana Heart Foundation will assist with 50% of the costs. However, even with the foundation’s assistance, the Abugah family is responsible for $9000 (US) costs. Per the dedicated Reverend  (more…)

Dear COL Friends,

I have some exciting news to share from Saturday’s ChangeOneLife Board meeting.  The Board approved support for a new urgent medical needs case named Rebecca Abugah!  Rebecca is 3 ½ years old and is the daughter of Rev. Thomas Abugah, who attends seminary with Vanessa Sharp our AIDS consultant to Kenya.

Rebecca Abugah

At the age of 2, Rebecca fell very sick in September 2009.  She was admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, where several tests revealed that she had a heart problem.  Then an echocardiograph scan of the heart showed that she has a hole in the heart and the right ventricle is hypertrophic.  After monitoring it for some time, her doctor wrote a referral letter to see the doctors at the National Cardio-thoracic Centre of the Kole Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

After a second echocardiograph, the doctors at Kole Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra said that surgery is the only option.  Rebecca is in fact in need of two surgeries.  First, she will have a minor one to correct certain anomalies, followed by a major one to correct the hole in the heart. The minor surgery will cost $1,500 and the major one, to be done in one and half to two years time after the minor one will cost $6,000.  The family, of course, has little means to pay for such medical expenses and is in desperate need of financial assistance.

Thanks to a generous Christmas time donation, ChangeOneLife will joyfully be able to fund this first, more minor surgery.  We are very happy to offer some relief to this struggling, yet always faithful family.  I will keep you updated throughout her surgery and recovery.  Please keep little Rebecca and her family in your prayers through this difficult time.

Liz Rieckmann

ChangeOneLife/ Lead Blogger

*UPDATE: You can now give to help Rebecca on our website here.*

Dear COL Friends,

In Part IV of our Blog Sagas from Kenya, I will report about Charity, an 11-year-old young woman with spina bifida living in rural Kenya.  Charity received COL funds last year to help her with a few surgeries to treat bed soars.  Vanessa and Jo reported that Charity looked well.  The surgeries were a success.  With the help and the hard work of Tumu Tumu hospital staff, Charity’s mother, and COL funds Charity is fairing relatively well with her condition.  On their trip Vanessa and Jo made one suggestion to doctors and Charity’s family.  They emphasized the importance of keeping Charity dry.  Charity has to wear diapers.  Because, however, the diapers are slightly too small for Charity, her family struggles to keep her skin dry.  Vanessa and Jo helped Charity and her family by purchasing a month supply of larger-sized diapers with COL funds.    Charity and her family were very grateful for the gift.  To learn more about Charity’s story and how you can continue to help you can visit the ChangeOneLife website at www.changeonelife.org.

Thank you to all our COL friends who have helped this miracle of good health happen for Charity.  You have surely helped to make a difference.

-Sarah Parsons

ChangeOneLife Inc/ Lead Blogger