The very bad news...

As I type this, I can't even see the screen. My tears just won't stop this evening as I think about the news we have heard this week. We were hoping to go pick up the kids any day, and now we will pick up the baby and leave Liyone there for several weeks or possibly months.

You see, to get their visas, both of the children had a medical exam at the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia. We found out this week that Liyone's skin test came back positive for Tuburculosis. This does not mean he has TB. You can test positive if you have had the vaccine or if you have been around somebody who was sick. He looks like a very healthy boy and does not have any of the symptoms, like the cough, fever or chills. The doctor that visits the care center has not found anything wrong with him either. But, the Embassy did a chest x-ray and it came back unclear, so now they would like to do a sputum test. This test takes eight weeks to get the results.

They will not let Liyone into the United States until they know for sure he does not have TB. We are praying that the test comes back negative, which is very common. Then he will be cleared immediately for his visa and we can bring him home. If the test comes back positive for TB, he must stay in Ethiopia another 6-8 months and take an antibiotic to get rid of the virus. They say less then 10 children a year have to take the antibiotic, so the odds are very good that the test will come back negative.

We have asked the Embassy if we can come pick up Kidist first. They have agreed and are still reviewing her file. As soon as they say yes, I'll be on a plane and bringing her home. Mike will be making the second trip just as soon as we get clearance for Liyone. We are hoping August, if things go well.

Please pray that he will be able to understand what is happening. I'll be able to see him every day on my trip to pick up Kidist, but he won't be able to come home with me, like he is expecting. He cried last time when we left, and I just don't know how to see this happen again. Especially since we don't know how long it will take. Please pray that the test results come back as quick as possible and they come back clear! This little boy has had a rough life and we need to get him home!