We are in the throes of another busy day here in Santo Domingo, full of doctor’s appointments and tests. We should finish things at 8:00 or 9:00 tonight. We make the most of our time here. The days are long but very productive. The Dominican doctors here are second to none, top-notch. They are very professional and love the kids from Love A Child very much.

I am currently with the nurses and Jackson and Daniel. Daniel is meeting with a pediatric maxillofacial surgeon, and Jackson is meeting with a pediatric nephrologist. We have several more appointments today. Lionel (Yonel) is back at the apartment resting after a very long day yesterday, beginning his road to recovery.

Lionel’s hand surgery lasted about 5 and 1/2 hours. The surgeon pretty much rebuilt his whole left hand. The flesh and muscles of his hand were melted together when he was a very small child. The muscles that control the opening and closing of the hand have not been used since he was an infant. The doctors put pins in each finger to try to straighten the bones. Then they took a skin graft from his abdomen to make enough skin for his fingers.

Lionel is with Roselyne at the apartment. He is taking antibiotics and pain medication. Since the surgery involved so many skin grafts, his hand is prone to infection. The surgeon told Roselyne, “the real work starts now,” we must keep the hand from becoming infected.

We are praying for a speedy recovery and specifically for life to come into his fingers. He now has five complete fingers, but we are praying that they come alive and are able to move. They have been bound his whole life, so they are not sure about the blood vessels or muscular structure of his fingers. I have faith that he will be able to grip things just like anyone else. If Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead, he surely can make Lionel’s hand strong.

He is in good spirits and is an inspiration. Lionel is a very strong young man. In the midst of his pain, he still smiles and is very polite and respectful. Please keep him in your prayers, and also pray for Daniel and Jackson.

Jesse