Tison opened each gift with what can only be called--pure joy. He was as excited and joyous for everyone who got to open a gift at our home, for his first American Christmas. It was like the best day you can imagine.
When the dust settled he got three movies. He kept saying moobee. He loved the remote control car and mastered it in a short time. Our dog does not appreciate the car but Tison is enjoying the small things.
We do not have a date on his first surgery--but it could happen quickly. Meanwhile, he is enjoying moobees and his remote control car.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
MooBee
English is not an easy language to master. If you come from a remote island in a far off corner of Indonesia, you will not hear English spoken. You may not even hear Bahasa Indonesia (official language) spoken either, because many of these people speak only their local dialect. Tison comes from one of these places and has done very well in his first weeks in America.
We just love the way he asks to see a movie--he calls it MooBee. He is now counting on his own in English and thinks the number eight is funny, because it also means (ate) I have finished eating. There are a number of English words that sound the same, are spelled differently and have different meanings. What a language we have.
Before going to bed each night, he is having several books read to him. He is smart and is picking up a number of new words. He is also helping us with our Indonesia. I think it is amazing how his young mind can remember words. I am a testament to how hard, it can be, for an old brain to learn a new language. I tell my Indonesian friends--Saya otak tua (I have an old brain). Words just do not stick as easily as they used to--I need more of that youthful new language glue maybe the words would stick the first time I hear them.
I have written several times about his adjustment to our ways and the climate here in the far north. I think he is doing as-well-as can be expected.
We are still awaiting the date for his first surgery. We should hear in the next day or two.
We just love the way he asks to see a movie--he calls it MooBee. He is now counting on his own in English and thinks the number eight is funny, because it also means (ate) I have finished eating. There are a number of English words that sound the same, are spelled differently and have different meanings. What a language we have.
Before going to bed each night, he is having several books read to him. He is smart and is picking up a number of new words. He is also helping us with our Indonesia. I think it is amazing how his young mind can remember words. I am a testament to how hard, it can be, for an old brain to learn a new language. I tell my Indonesian friends--Saya otak tua (I have an old brain). Words just do not stick as easily as they used to--I need more of that youthful new language glue maybe the words would stick the first time I hear them.
I have written several times about his adjustment to our ways and the climate here in the far north. I think he is doing as-well-as can be expected.
We are still awaiting the date for his first surgery. We should hear in the next day or two.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
An Indonesian Taco
The adjustment to American food has and will be a test for Tison. He is doing pretty good but still looks at us like--you are going to eat THAT. We had one of my favorite meals tonight--my wife's moose taco dinner. She serves a flour tortilla that fits nicely on a plate. We had all the regulars--sour cream, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, moose meat mixed with re-fried beans, and cheese. She added a dish of cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, grapes and bananas. We have also learned to keep a large bowl of white rice within his reach.
Tison took a look at what was before him and decided to create his own. He first put a stack of cucumbers on his tortilla, then add lots of rice, tomatoes and a little moose and bean mix. He tried to roll it, like the rest of us. It fell apart in his hand--there was just too much rice. He gave up on it and just ate it with his hands (Indonesian style). The grapes and bananas were dessert and it was all washed down with Orange Fanta Soda. That is an "Indonesian Taco".
His host family is gone for a planned Christmas vacation, so he is staying with us. He has been a laugh every hour. Experiencing everyday life is taken in full stride. He is happy and loves movies and having books read to him. There have been no complaints, except for the six shots he got for his immunization. He goes to bed when he is told and he has his dressing on his open wound changed every day without a problem.
His first surgery could be this next week. He will begin the life changing process and could be here around a year. I see many more Indonesian tacos in his future.
Tison took a look at what was before him and decided to create his own. He first put a stack of cucumbers on his tortilla, then add lots of rice, tomatoes and a little moose and bean mix. He tried to roll it, like the rest of us. It fell apart in his hand--there was just too much rice. He gave up on it and just ate it with his hands (Indonesian style). The grapes and bananas were dessert and it was all washed down with Orange Fanta Soda. That is an "Indonesian Taco".
His host family is gone for a planned Christmas vacation, so he is staying with us. He has been a laugh every hour. Experiencing everyday life is taken in full stride. He is happy and loves movies and having books read to him. There have been no complaints, except for the six shots he got for his immunization. He goes to bed when he is told and he has his dressing on his open wound changed every day without a problem.
His first surgery could be this next week. He will begin the life changing process and could be here around a year. I see many more Indonesian tacos in his future.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Strange Cold World
It just snowed and Tison went outside for some fun. He is in a very strange place with snow and crazy people who enjoy the outside. This is a place where your eye brows and eye lashes can frost in the cold. It happens quickly and you hardly even notice it.Tison will be looking at his first surgery very soon. He has an open would on his right shin and it will need to be closed with skin grafting. He has had fun adjusting to his new home and getting to know the Johnson's, his host family. Once the surgeries begin he will be reminded of why he is here.
The evaluation of his ankles was very good. He has full rotation to both ankles even though they have been restricted for over three years. The contractures on the ankles need to be released and the foot could go back (or close) to normal. We have to wait to see what will be the outcome once he recovers from surgery and therapy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Snow, Tears and Hope
Tison has hit the road running. He had to first get settled in his host family. Dr. Greg and Sue Johnson have opened their arms, hearts and home to him. He not only has his American Mom and Dad, in Greg and Sue, but he has a big brother in their son Andrew. In many ways, Andrew was the person who got this rescue started. Andrew met Tison on a trip to Indonesia in March of 2009. Andrew and his father joined a dental team from Alaska that went to our base in North Maluku, Indonesia. Andrew met Tison and built a bond with him and never forgot him. After coming home, Andrew asked about bringing Tison to Fairbanks. Then the amazing Liz Wood got her teeth into it and she moved many mountains and asked for help from her medical colleagues. Step-by-step this offer of help for Tison was becoming a reality. When Tison stepped off the plan he was in good hands. He got a good nights rest and in the morning of his first day in the arctic, he went outside without a coat, so he can feel the cold. I wonder what he thinks about all of us who choose to live up here in the cold. He is fascinated with the crazy white dust, we call snow.
He had a very good visit with his primary physician. I was amazed at how he and his doctor seemed to have immediate rapport with each other. There was laughing and smiles as he was examined. The needs are great and the surgeries will have to be planned according to priority. The prospects are very bright and he will have major improvement by the end of the year. He put on his coat, hat, a smile and went on to his next event.
Today, he got to see his family physician. He did great and was given a thumbs up in his general health. In order to go to school he has to have his immunizations. It was his first ever immunizations and he got six shots in the upper leg. There were tears when the syringes appeared in the room. The nurse did a wonderful job and gave him six shots very quickly. He wiped the tears from his face, put on his coat, pulled his hat over his ears and was on to the next event.
The last two days of adjustment have been filled with appointments, shots ( a few tears), playing the Wii with Andrew, taking pictures from Liz's I-Phone, eating American food, staying warm, imagining what school will be like. These first days have been filled with more than exams and appointments, they have been filled with hope.
He had a very good visit with his primary physician. I was amazed at how he and his doctor seemed to have immediate rapport with each other. There was laughing and smiles as he was examined. The needs are great and the surgeries will have to be planned according to priority. The prospects are very bright and he will have major improvement by the end of the year. He put on his coat, hat, a smile and went on to his next event.
Today, he got to see his family physician. He did great and was given a thumbs up in his general health. In order to go to school he has to have his immunizations. It was his first ever immunizations and he got six shots in the upper leg. There were tears when the syringes appeared in the room. The nurse did a wonderful job and gave him six shots very quickly. He wiped the tears from his face, put on his coat, pulled his hat over his ears and was on to the next event.
The last two days of adjustment have been filled with appointments, shots ( a few tears), playing the Wii with Andrew, taking pictures from Liz's I-Phone, eating American food, staying warm, imagining what school will be like. These first days have been filled with more than exams and appointments, they have been filled with hope.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Finally Here
Tison finally arrived in Fairbanks. He wore a big smile and walked into the arrival area to about 25 people welcoming him to his new home. He was joined by Hendra, his escort and translator, for the over 30 hours of travel since Jakarta. He actually took three days to get from our medical base to Jakarta--so he has been traveling a long time.It has taken a mountain of work to get him to Fairbanks. I am amazed at how many good people we have in our community. There are many who have contributed to making this day and the next year a life changing experience a reality. Tison may not know at this time, what a offer has been given to him, but he will understand in time that this is a landmark year for him. I can't thank those involved enough for the acts of kindness to him.
Today we go to his primary doctor for his first examination and the road map for his future will become clearer. Keep him in your prayers.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thankful
We just celebrated Thanksgiving here in America. We went to our friends home and enjoyed a big turkey dinner and lots of laughs. We sat together around the table following the meal and each of use spoke about the things we were thankful for.
Tison has not sat around a table to list the things he would be thankful for. I know he is going to be entering the most important year of his young life. He is ten years old and his year of transformation will be 2010. What a year this will be for him--he does not know, he is coming to live in a very loving home. Greg, Sue and Andrew Johnson will become his family for this year. He will have a new big brother who will tower over him at six foot three inches. Liz Wood has been a voice for him and a strong advocate for his medical treatment.
By the time this year is over, there will be many people who will have big and small parts of making this year a landmark for him. It will be fun to watch--I am sure there will be plenty of challenges along the way as well. I just want to see a little boy leave here in a year with a brighter future. That is what I will be thankful for next Thanksgiving.
Tison has not sat around a table to list the things he would be thankful for. I know he is going to be entering the most important year of his young life. He is ten years old and his year of transformation will be 2010. What a year this will be for him--he does not know, he is coming to live in a very loving home. Greg, Sue and Andrew Johnson will become his family for this year. He will have a new big brother who will tower over him at six foot three inches. Liz Wood has been a voice for him and a strong advocate for his medical treatment.
By the time this year is over, there will be many people who will have big and small parts of making this year a landmark for him. It will be fun to watch--I am sure there will be plenty of challenges along the way as well. I just want to see a little boy leave here in a year with a brighter future. That is what I will be thankful for next Thanksgiving.
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