 
June 2010
Nteboheleng Graduates From the Safehome Five year old Nteboheleng was reunified with her grandmother this month. Nteboheleng didn't exactly leave the safehome empy handed. On the morning she left, TTL staff gave her new clothes and a new bag with Disney princesses on it. The bo'me also washed the clothes and hair of Nteboheng's favorite doll - which she long ago named Nteboheng - so it would be clean for her departure. For months she carried the doll everywhere, wrapped in a little blanket on her back, just like the bo'me carry the babies.
In her daily mimicry of the
bo m'e, Nteboheng would feed her doll with one specific toy she pretended was a
bottle, half a plastic egg shell she pretended was a snack container, and a
hinged doll house she pretended was a refrigerator. She would talk to the doll
just as the bo m'e talk to the babies, with a smart, perfect intonation that
always amused the bo'me.
TTL staff were amazed to watch Nteboheng's progression. When she arrived at the safehome at the beginning of March she was emaciated and
horribly skinny, lethargic and quiet. Her personality was unknown to us. She
was HIV-positive but not on medication. For kids her age, a CD4 count of less
than 500 is considered "severe suppression" -- and her CD4 count was
6.
Today she is a happy,
outgoing little girl who talks up a storm and who has boundless energy and the
undeniable personality of an unapologetic and witty m'e-in-training.
May 2010 Update: A Smiling Seithati Graduates From the Safehome Seithati, TTL's March Baby of the Month, returned home in May after spending 3 months at the safehome. The tiny, malnourished little girl that TTL found in February went from weighing 13 pounds to more than 20 pounds - healthy and strong enough to go back to her village to continue to receive TTL outreach support. On the morning of May 3rd, Seithati danced in the play room when she heard the news she was headed home, excited for the reunion with her beloved grandmother. With her departure, the safehome lost its most gregarious child. Seithati was a favorite among the staff and one who brightened the room at any given moment with her easy laugh, warm smile and quirky habits. Seithati's grandmother cried upon seeing her - overcome by emotion at how healthy and beautiful her little granddaughter looked. In classic Seithati fashion, she looked around at the adults and asked everyone what the commotion was about. Seithati, here with TTLF Fellow Kevin Rector, thrived at the safehome. Her story is yet another example of how TTL helps children out of malnutrition and illness and toward a future they deserve. She will be missed!  April 2010
A Healthy Masella Returns Home
Masella, a seven-month old girl from the St. Martin area with a giant smile, went home this month after spending three months in the safe home. She arrived on December 23 after TTL found her severely malnourished. Her mother was very ill at the time and did not have the capacity to care for her.
Today, it's a different story. Masella's mother has recovered, Masella is in good health, and they are reunited. Masella's story is another example of TTL's life saving role in Lesotho. 
March 2010
Say Hello to Seithati
In February, TTL outreach workers and TTLF fellow, Kevin Rector, came across 3 year old Seithati at the Linakaneng Clinic, which is about an hour outside of Mokhotlong. The TTL staff was there to provide general health assessments to dozens of mothers with their young babies and children. As they were about to leave, they were approached by an older woman who requested they look at her granddaughter.
The grandmother said that the girls mother has "disappeared," leaving her daughter behind.
From first glance, Seithati looked like a one year old. Upon examining the child's health book, TTL staff learned that the quiet little girl was approaching 3 years old and only weighed 6kg. Her arms and legs were tiny, her swollen belly was large and distended.
Since arriving at the safehome, Seithati is stronger and more lively. Once lethargic and quiet, Seithati is considerably more active - often playing with her buddy Thuso or coloring. She's even found her singing voice and is not afraid to share it with the rest of the babies and bo'me in the playroom! All Seithati needed was some food. TTL staff expects Seithati will be reunited with her grandmother as soon as her malnutrition is stabilized. For more on Seithati - check out Kevin Rector's blog, live from Lesotho! February 2010
TTLF Welcomes Nthati!
TTLF staff welcomed Nthati to the safehome on January 19th. Extended family members took the little girl, who weighed no more than 2kg, to the safehome after her mother, Manthati, 21, passed away at the hospital after a long fight with TB. TTLF staff continues to monitor her nutrition as they await DNA/PCR results. January 19th
Update:
After just seven days at the safehome, Nthati appears to be on the road to recovery! TTLF staff is happy to report that she has gained weight, now at 2.4kg, and she even found her smile!
January 26
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Touching Tiny Lives Foundation - USA 11415 Manor Rd. Leawood, KS 66211
info@touchingtinylives.org 913.530.3698
Touching Tiny Lives Foundation - CANADA 79 Wellington Street West TD Centre Box 270 Toronto, ON M5K1N2
ttlfcanada@gmail.com
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