Shnaider & Hands That Heal

Hands That Heal is a very special ministry which seeks to find host families and medical attention for Haitian children suffering from conditions requiring surgery. This ministry is absolutely free of charge for Haitian birth families. The children remain in the United States for treatment, but are returned healthy and whole to their families once they have received the medical care they so desperately need.

The latter is true except in special cases ... and one of those is a precious little boy named Shnaider. To read his story in its entirety, visit the following link (in order from most recent):

http://handsthatheal-mk1618b.blogspot.com/search?q=shnaider

Shnaider arrived in the United States in April of 2008 and had his first surgery at the end of May for an encephalocele (a gap in his skull which had allowed a sac full of cerebral fluid to extend on his forehead, between his eyes.) The surgery appeared to be successful, but shortly before he was to return to Haiti the sac reappeared. To make a long story short, Shnaider has now had four surgeries due to continued leaking of the spinal fluid and a malfunction of the shunt he had received.

In the meantime, his birth mother has not been located since his arrival in the United States and he will soon be considered an abandoned child in need of an adoptive home. It is urgent that an adoptive family be identified soon. Shnaider will be able to stay in the United States throughout the remainder of his adoption process due to his medical needs; however, if an adoptive family is not found then he will have to return to Haiti in approximately six months to live in an orphanage.

If you or someone you know feel God's leading to open your hearts and home to Shnaider, please contact Rebekah Hubley or Lori Shepler at Hands That Heal. You can also visit his current host family's blog at http://themuellerfamilyjourney.blogspot.com/.