The police found a very malnourished baby and gave him a name (Merga) that means “he is growing” and his second name (Kellem) is the district in Dembidollo where he was found.  I am sure the police gave him the name Merga because they wanted him to grow!  He was extremely malnourished when brought to the orphanage.  His estimated age was 1 year, 1 month and he weighed 13.2 pounds and was 26.9” tall.  He was given an estimated birth date of 8/16/10.

He has been at the orphanage for seven months and has made remarkable progress!  His legs have filled out and have some meat on them and he looks good, although developmentally he is behind.  He learned to walk when he was 17 months and is not talking other than identifying his caregivers by name.  He is very bonded to his nannies and is appropriately shy of strangers.  He likes to play and dance to music and has a cute little personality.  He is fed meat twice a week, eggs three times a week and milk five times a day.  Other foods include pasta, injera and various kinds of wat with vegetables. 

Because Merga comes with some high risk factors, the family who adopts him needs to be aware that there is the potential that Merga’s early lack of care could affect him long-term.  He obviously had been laying in the dust for long periods of time because the dirt of Dembidollo had taken the skin off the bottom of his feet and he had a severe fungal infection of his toenails.  The three nails on his right foot are not resolved; his left foot looks much better and the nail on his big toe has finally grown in.  He has been treated medically for this fungus.   Merga is a sweet baby boy and is thriving on the good food and all the hugs and kisses bestowed on him by the nannies. 

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At 7 months, this little guy is strong!  He crawls all over the place and stands up holding onto furniture and is on the brink of cruising.  He is strongly attached to his nanny and is not comfortable being held by strangers.  He smiles in recognition of his favorite people …. but new faces could not coax a smile out of him; he was a bit overwhelmed with strange people and cameras.  Gudeta more than meets the developmental milestones for his age and he is a bright, alert little boy who likes to play with toys and actively pursues what he wants by crawling.  Currently, he is taking only formula, but now will be started on baby cereal mixed with formula and other soft foods will be added over time.

Under the ministrations of our orphanage director and lots of prayer, Baby “B” began gaining weight and strength.  He is now smiling and cooing and loves to be cuddled …. and he eagerly gobbles down his formula!  We call him our miracle baby and marvel at the faith and vision of his name.  His estimated birth date is 9-22-11.