Help us bring Tahlia home
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When Ebola became a global health pandemic back in fall 2014, my heart was broken and I volunteered with Harvard/Partners in Health to be a part of the Ebola medical response in Sierra Leone.
During my time working in the wards, I saw horrible things. Things that no human being should endure. I didn't staff the peds ward, but I knew peripherally of a little baby girl clinging to life. She had been abandoned at an Ebola treatment unit. Although she did not have Ebola, she was severely malnourished and fought bacterial sepsis and malaria. She lay on her plastic mattress, constantly emitting a low-pitched wail. She would stop crying only when held, but would avert her gaze from any other human being. She was terrified.
We realized as a medical team she had no discharge plan, as she had been abandoned by her family, and all the orphanages were full, in the chaos and disorder of the Ebola crisis. Impulsively, I texted my husband and asked if we could move forward with steps to adopt her. Impulsively, he said 'of course'.
Fast forward 11 months, two agonizing trips back to Sierra Leone, home studies, extortion attempts, and a drained bank account, to today. We are finally at the point where we may be able to bring home this precious little girl.
We hadn't planned on this many trips back to Sierra Leone, and the whole process has been far more expensive than we ever could have anticipated. We would be very blessed by any contribution you would make to help mitigate the high travel, legal and childcare expenses. We thank you for helping to alleviate our financial burden in pursuit of this sweet girl. We are so excited to treasure and love her, and we know she will be an incredible source of joy in our family.
We began this journey trusting God, and at each turn trying to just do the next. right. thing. Not knowing what was around the bend.
The generousity and kindness you show is enveloping and gives us strength. Thank you.
Ashley & Philip Black
During my time working in the wards, I saw horrible things. Things that no human being should endure. I didn't staff the peds ward, but I knew peripherally of a little baby girl clinging to life. She had been abandoned at an Ebola treatment unit. Although she did not have Ebola, she was severely malnourished and fought bacterial sepsis and malaria. She lay on her plastic mattress, constantly emitting a low-pitched wail. She would stop crying only when held, but would avert her gaze from any other human being. She was terrified.
We realized as a medical team she had no discharge plan, as she had been abandoned by her family, and all the orphanages were full, in the chaos and disorder of the Ebola crisis. Impulsively, I texted my husband and asked if we could move forward with steps to adopt her. Impulsively, he said 'of course'.
Fast forward 11 months, two agonizing trips back to Sierra Leone, home studies, extortion attempts, and a drained bank account, to today. We are finally at the point where we may be able to bring home this precious little girl.
We hadn't planned on this many trips back to Sierra Leone, and the whole process has been far more expensive than we ever could have anticipated. We would be very blessed by any contribution you would make to help mitigate the high travel, legal and childcare expenses. We thank you for helping to alleviate our financial burden in pursuit of this sweet girl. We are so excited to treasure and love her, and we know she will be an incredible source of joy in our family.
We began this journey trusting God, and at each turn trying to just do the next. right. thing. Not knowing what was around the bend.
The generousity and kindness you show is enveloping and gives us strength. Thank you.
Ashley & Philip Black
Organizer
Ashley Gale Black
Organizer
Chicago, IL
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