Sharing the Gift of Thanksgiving

Happy thanksgiving to everyone! While most people are gathered around the dinner table ready to feast on that turkey and yummy pumpkin pie, I am in my room thinking and thinking and thinking. On my side of the world, we do not have Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is not a National Holiday here, but that doesn't mean that we can't celebrate it. This Thanksgiving I close my eyes and thank God for giving me a wonderful gift, the gift of life. God has been a great Father, for He has provided me with a wonderful mom and brother and blessed me with a loving boyfriend and great friends.

This Thanksgiving I would like to give someone else a reason to be thankful, I would like to share with someone else the miracle of life that God has given me. I'm probably not making much sense am I? Please don't turn away from this post. I really need you, yes you, you reading my blog.

This post is especially dedicated to baby Andrei Laris B. Daniel. Baby Andrei was born on March 5, 2011. This month marks his 8th month of life. He is my elementary principal's grandson. Andrei is a biliary atresia baby. Biliary atresia is a congenital medical condition wherein there is a blockage in the ducts that carries a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder. The blockage of bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver. Andrei underwent Kasai Procedure (a medical procedure which involves removing the blocked bile ducts and gallbladder and replacing them with a segment of the child's own small intestine. This segment of intestine is sewn to the liver and functions as a new extrahepatic bile duct system) last May 28. Up to present baby Andrei is still not jaundiced free and has an enlarged abdomen due to enlarged liver & spleen. Just last Oct 15, his Pediatric Gastroenterologist advised his parents that he needs a liver transplant at the soonest possible time. There aren't any doctors here in the Philippines who specialize in this sort of case. Andrei needs to have his liver transplant in Taiwan. His family needs Php4million to make this transplant possible. They will need to stay in Taiwan for 3 months for follow up check ups with the doctors there. I'm sure if they stay in Taiwan for 3 months they will not have a job to come back to when they get back to the Philippines.
A picture of baby Andrei and his parents. Look at his abnormally yellow skin color.

Baby Andrei, 1 week after his first operation.

His parents and family have organized a Concert for a Cause for their little angel. The ticket sells P50 (fifty pesos) which is equivalent to $1.16 USD, P100 ($2.31), P150($3.47).
This photo was taken on October 19, 2011.

I am knocking on your hearts. Please help me share the gift of Thanksgiving, let's give baby Andrei something to be thankful for. Let's give him the gift of life, the miracle that God has given us. You can help by donating, no amount is ever too small. If you or someone you know participates in medical missions, it would be a great help if they could send medicines for this baby, I'm sure he will be taking a lot of medicines after he has his liver transplant (should the transplant actually push through). Or you can pray. Prayer is very powerful. I believe the power of prayers can definitely move mountains, let's pray together to help make this mountain a challenge that Andrei can overcome.


If you guys would like to know more about baby Andrei, you can visit his facebook page that his parents created visit here.