When the baby girl was well enough to be off oxygen, I would carry her over to the ICU so that her mama could see how well she was doing and how much she was improving. Her whole face would light up to see her baby getting healthier each day. Unfortunately the mama passed away not long after being admitted. It was heartbreaking. No other family had come in with them.
Finally family from their home village came to check on the mother and daughter. When they found that the mother had died, they did not want to take the baby. My friend and boss at the time spoke with the family and talked for a very long time about taking this child home. Finally they agreed. From my American way of thinking I was so skeptical. I didn't think you could 'talk someone into' this kind of thing. But at the time, I chose to trust what my friend was saying. She was from the same tribe, spoke the same language and understood the social cues like I couldn't. It was hard to watch them drive away that day. I was sure they were trying to save face at the hospital, and would just drop the little bundle off on the side of the road as soon as they turned the corner.
There's a song that's been running through my head the past few days (yes, it is a christmas song). The chorus says, "Noel, Noel, Come and See what God has done." I am so grateful when we get to see the end of the story, and see what God in his love and mercy has done.