Day Seventeen (July 19, 2006)

She has a name! The nurses caring for her have called her, ‘Lineo’, pronounced, ‘Dineo’. This is her Besotho name. Three Canadian friends emailed me today. All three separately suggested the names ‘Faith’ and ‘Hope’. She will be called, ‘Lineo Faith Hope’. Today I negotiated with the Matron of the hospital and the head of Social Welfare for the hospital and they agreed to let me sponsor her which means she will receive food, clothing and school fees where ever she ends up. She will spend the next three months at a place called, ‘Beautiful Gate’ which specifically cares for abandoned children while the police search for the mother. The mother is almost never found. After three months they are put up for adoption or sent to foster care if there is a spot, an orphanage if there is not. There is a slim chance of arranging a Canadian adoption. The opportunity alone, made today a great day. I snuck out of the clinic three times to cuddle with her. While awake it is obvious that she is under four weeks of age but well fed and cared for. My heart breaks for the mother that loved her but didn’t have the means to care for her. Elizabeth and I decided that her birthday is July 1, 2006- how fitting that the Besotho baby with the Canadian name has a very Canadian birthday. God is good, all the time!