Snakebite Update - Zama

Speaking of snakes, I have an update on Zama (or Zamo), the baby who was bitten on her leg while she was sleeping in her hut in Swaziland. She and her mother, Sizakele, have now been in the U.S. for her surgery and treatment since May 27. She is scheduled for her third surgery to release the scar contractures that have developed due to scarring around the graft site. She is having trouble keeping the front of her foot down, so this will help her get more mobility at the ankle. She has had to stay longer than planned due to the scarring and physical therapy, so money is being raised to help with the expenses. A pancake breakfast in Loma Linda raised $1,050.00! Also, Dr. Bush hosted a multi-family garage sale at his home with the proceeds going to help and $1,550.00 was raised. Some children donated their piggy banks, which was touching. If anyone wants to contribute, the address is;

Medical/living costs: LLUMC Venom Fund #834
Sean Bush, M.D.
11234 Anderson St., Room A108
Loma Linda, CA 92354

Sizakele is 22 and has never had any formal education. She came here with an interpreter and is now fluent in English. She is learning her alphabet and is taking an aptitude test this week to see what reading level she has attained. She has made those around her pause to think about how fortunate we all are, even in these hard times. At the garage sale, she was amazed at how many clothes people donated and surprised that they still had more at home. In Swaziland, she had only three shirts and two skirts. Zama had only three outfits. They had to walk 30 minutes to the river to wash them and bring them home again.

Zama is thriving and can understand English and everything that is said to her She is now 22 months old and very mischevious. Dr. Bush's wife, A'me, will be returning to Swaziland with them next month. We are hoping to get some contacts and information about possibly doing adoptions and setting up an orphanage there. We are contemplating setting up a non-profit branch of our agency, A Gift of Hope Adoptions, called "Gifts of Hope" to fund water wells and orphanage projects in that region of the world. Due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS, there are many orphans. We are hoping that we can get some of them into good homes and make the others much more comfortable. If you want to help or contribute in any way, there will be many opportunities to help. In the meantime, prayers are good!

They desperately need water wells. Can you imagine drinking dirty river water where people wash their clothes and take baths? Animals cross the river as well. Everyone deserves clean drinking water. I will think about that every time I sip from a bottle of purified water. If you or anyone you know (Make it a boy scout/girl scout project!) would like to help build a well in Swaziland, the fund contact information is;

Hug fund/Zama
All Nations African SDA Church
Verah Mthombeni
Box 1579
Loma Linda, CA 92354

Thank you!