Kasih’s Journey

Its with pleasure that I write to say that we have reached target for Kasih’s fundraising.  At the moment we are in process of balancing her account and planning the placement of the funds safely for her future.

Consequently, we are no longer taking donations for Kasih.  No doubt there will be another small child or troubled community that will draw our attention and efforts shortly.

Its exciting to think that together we have made such a significant difference to a small girl’s life.  What a joy for all of us!!

Thankyou to all who have shared of their time, energy, dollars and prayers - Kasih is blessed by all of you!!

Regards

Lisa and Nicole

Greetings all,

its with a smile that I write to advise we have achieved our goal for Kasih.  We have reached the fund raising target, and are in the process of moving the funds safely into trust for her future surgery needs and education.

Consequently, we have closed down the paypal links, and will not be accepting further donations for Kasih - for now we will be considering other needs and projects that we can start supporting.

We will report back with final figures and an update from Indonesia as soon as able.

Blessings!

Lisa and Nicole

 

Information is slow to filter through from Kira - Kasih’s home village.  Martin returned from Indonesia after safely escorting Kasih and Nur home earlier this year, and things have been quiet since then.

Kasih and Nur have settled well back into village life - that itself was a big thing for Nur, after visiting and living in Australia for five months - returning to a village with no electricity or running water at home, and many of the other things we take for granted - like this computer I am typing on … truly Nur and Kasih show us that material possessions are not the ‘be all and end all’ - life is about family and relationships - and their homecoming to husband/father, parents, friends and Kasih’s playmates was apparently huge.  Kasih is quite the little star of her village :-).

To really highlight the difference that your donations, prayers and thoughts have made to Kasih, below are three photos that take us from a saddened worried family in Kira back in October last year, to a smiling homecoming photo with a new bright little girl in February this year - and a miracle of surgery in between…

 

Blessings and thanks to all who support Kasih!!

Lisa!

 

Kasih and Nur are safely home in Indonesia - a new smile, a new hope for life and a grandmother crying tears of joy at the transformation of her little one!!

Kasih’s story has touched the lives of many many people throughout the world - from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Philippines, Indonesia, as far north as Alaska, and as far south as the bottom of the south island of New Zealand!

Kasih’s journey is proof that life is bigger than any one of us, and that together we can make a difference.

Her journey continues now for several years - Kasih will need followup reviews and probably more surgery as she heads towards her teenage years.

Our dream is that she has every chance at life now - to live, to get an education, fall in love, marry, have her own children and be blessed in her own life and family.

We will post more as her story unfolds.

To all of you who have helped with time, funds, advocacy, coordinating travel, or whatever, we say thankyou from Kasih and her family.

God bless,

Lisa and Nicole
New Zealand.

From Martin in Adelaide - Kasih is going really well - a quick update below …

Kasih is continuing to recover well although the scar under her left eye will probably take another week to fully heal.   Overall, her face has really been transformed.  Nur has said on several occasions that she is having to adjust herself as Kasih not only looks so different but, now that she has a mouth, she also sounds different and her behaviour is also very different.  Nur says it is like Kasih has been born again. 

A few days ago she decided to go walkabout at the nurses quarters and managed to get herself into the lift and down to a lower floor.  Everyone was out looking for her – this is more like the Kasih we know.  She is a typical little adventurer!!

Check out the amazing difference in Kasih’s smile in this video Martin has sent through of her ..

WOW,

its amazing to see how Kasih is doing after only two days post op.  I thought I was dieing(!!) after having my wisdom teeth out, yet, only two days after major surgery Kasih is up and running around - still sore and irritable for certain - but incredibly looking like a whole different little girl…..

 

Kasih has done so well with an amazing outcome from her surgery!

As soon as she came to…she was wanting to sing twinkle twinkle little star…she is a wee star herself!

More details to follow

We love you Kasih xxxx

Kasih’s big operation is just 2 days away now! It has been a difficult time of waiting for Nur, her Mum -like any Mum, there is concern that she will remain healthy prior to her operation & of course that she will make a good recovery. Please pray for Kasih and her Mum on Tuesday and also for Prof David and his surgical team. We are so excited that Kasih’s miracle face restoration is becoming a reality!

You are a brave girl Kasih and we will be praying for you! All our love

Nicole & Lisa xxxx

Happy New Year to all!

It seems that things are taking longer than expected for young Kasih -with her surgery being postponed once more until 13th January

We expect the decision was due to the shorter staffing during the Christmas break - but its much better to think of Kasih having access to a full complement of specialists and nursing staff in the New Year for post operative care.

The downside however is that Nur and Kasih’s visas runout before she will be due to go home - so its back to the consulate and through all the paperwork as well as a redo medical exams to apply for Visa extensions

We would be lost without the help and support of the Aldgate Baptist team on the ground in Adelaide - Martin and Virginia have been steadfast in their support of Kasih and Nur, and in doing the things that make this possible.

We are hoping to set up an education grant for Kasih from residual funds. If you would like to give to this specifically, please annotate this with your giving … she looks keen to study already!

Blessings and a Happy New Year to you all!

Nicole

 

 

The Adelaide Courier has picked up Kasih’s story -

Read on for the story:

Kasih’s birth brought overwhelming grief to her mother, but her life is bringing joy and hope to her family, her native island in Indonesia and the wider Muslim and Christian communities.

The 20-month-old from Halmahera, in what was once part of the rich spice islands of the Dutch East Indies, was born with a rare Tessier cleft palate that left a large gap through the centre of her face.

Next month at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital she will have the first of several surgeries to reconstruct her face, thanks to the Aldgate Baptist Church and another church in NZ. Read more