Long Overdue Romania Report Part II

As promised, I am (finally) back to finish telling you about where the rest of your donations went for my sweet, Romanian children.

One of the places Jed and I are sure to visit each time is the Brasov Children's Hospital. We were not entirely shocked to find that it looked pretty much exactly as it had in this photo from 2001.

I am never sure which doctors or play therapists will be there when I go back. And, as I approach the hospital I am always a little nervous whether or not the gate attendant will let me in. Will the doctors and play therapists remember me?

Fortunately, the same man has been working the gate on the hospital drive since 2001. Though we couldn't exactly communicate verbally, he gave me a look as if to say, "You're back?!" and kindly let Jed and me pass without question.

Walking the halls of the hospital was strange after all this time. I had hoped it would look and feel different, but everything was essentially the same as it had been in 2001. The same crumbling stairs, rickety doors, and the same, stale smell.

Luciana and Maria were both still there and were thrilled and surprised to see us again. As always, they gave us a very hospitable welcome with hugs, drinks, and a comfortable place to wait for them out on the hospital balcony.Luciana, Me, Maria

Bright orange is not an uncommon hair color for middle-aged women in Romanian. Just so you know.

Their pretty view of Brasov
The doctors still have our photo collages (left with them in 2001) posted on their office walls

We were also very happy to reunite with Dana, a dedicated recreational therapist at the hospital. I spent almost every morning working with her in the summer of 2001. She is truly an insiring person --always putting the children before everything else with little or no support from the hospital staff.


It was wonderful to visit with her for a few hours and get an update on many of the children I had worked with 8 years ago.


Dana and I in her playroom
Since Dana has worked for years and years with not nearly enough financial support for the children, we decided the play therapy department would be a worthy recipient of the 2nd half of the money we had raised.


When we told Dana that we'd like to make a donation she was overjoyed! She thought about it for a moment and then quickly said, "I know exactly what I am going to do with the money. I will use it to provide Christmas for the children." The thought of having something special for the hospitalized children for Christmas brought a giant smile to her face...something we don't see in her nearly enough.


So, once again, thank you so much for your kind donations! I wish each of you could have been there to feel the sincere gratitude and happiness they generated.