News
Raluca Update: Nov. 19, 2009
Posted on 11.20.2009 | Filed as Bulletin
We wanted to jot a brief note to let all of you know how things are going with Raluca’s visit to the States. For those of you who aren’t sure what I’m talking about, Raluca is a nine-year-old little girl from Romania who was born with spina bifida. As a result, she is paralyzed from roughly the knees down, and walking is almost impossible for her. With appropriate ankle-foot orthotics (AFOs), which are braces that stabilize her lower legs and feet, she is able to walk using forearm crutches. TSC’s rehab team provided a pair of AFOs for Raluca when the team traveled to Romania in late 2007, but we learned a few months ago that Raluca had outgrown those braces and was unable to walk. Our team volunteered to provide a new set of braces for her if the ministry could manage to bring her here to Ohio. We sent out an appeal to our followers–that’s all of you, by the way—and your generosity made the trip possible.
Raluca and her mom arrived here on Tuesday, November 10, and our rehab team began the casting process the following day. Casts were taken of Raluca’s feet and lower legs, and our orthotist then began the fabricating process. Some of the rehab team members took Raluca to the Cincinnati Zoo on Friday, and then to our Children’s Museum on Saturday. She and her mom are having a wonderful time in the States. Yesterday, the finished AFOs were fitted to Raluca’s legs, and they seem to be working beautifully. Additionally, our rehab team made arrangements for Raluca to receive a new pair of forearm crutches, a new pair of shoes particularly suited to her AFOs, and a special adaptive device to make it possible for Raluca’s mom to get Raluca into and out of the bathtub without additional assistance—a need that is becoming more pronounced now that Raluca is getting a bit older. Raluca and her mom will board a plane this Saturday to head home to Romania after a trip that was truly life changing, perhaps for both of them.
We want to thank all of you for the part you played in making this trip possible, both through prayer and through financial support. You really have made a difference in the life of this little girl. We also want to thank our amazing rehab team: Abby, Alison, Doug, Jill, Kate, and Sherrie. The work you have done and the ways you have given of yourselves in this venture have been and will continue to be inspiring to all of us, and we so appreciate your hearts for God’s needy ones.
Following are a few pictures of the trip so far, some of which include a few miscellaneous Rosenow kids, and maybe a couple of others.
