Last October, we welcomed our first baby- Zechariah Blaze Wanyonyi. He was born via c-section as he was in breech position and the full 40 weeks gestation.

We went to a missions hospital and, although the surgeon was good and knew all he needed to know to perform the operation safely, we ran in to many challenges post op.

Although the surgeon directed me to eat dinner the night of the operation and to begin fluids a few hours after, the nurses in my ward did not have that understanding, and I was blocked from both eating and drinking for nearly four days following the major surgery. Due to this combined with the blood loss, my milk never came in fully and my poor son began to starve.

Formula saved his life (very expensive in Kenya… $80 a month to maintain enough for a newborn to eat, and the cost goes up from there. It is about 25 dollars per can!) but doctors also told us not to use this as breast milk is better. Unfortunately, we had no choice, and Zechariah was raised this last year on part formula, part boiled fresh cows milk mixed with a bit of water(pure cows milk is too rich for babies and we followed instruction from my mother in law who is a midwife and has been most of her life. It may not be the way of teh west, but in our lives, western and village ways mix and God comes through for the rest)

Despite efforts to wait a bit, we got pregnant with our daughter only five months after Zechariah was born. She is due on Christmas day, though we have a c-section scheduled earlier to welcome her in to the world. Since it has been less than 2 years between children, a natural delivery is ill advised and has a higher risk of complications. Though my faith says I am safe in christ, the doctors will not allow me to chance those complications and the only other option would be home birth in the village, nearly one hour transportation away from the nearest hospital. (this is if we had to call an ambulance. I can ride our motorbike there in thirty minutes or so, but try doing that one in the middle of labor! :0)

Because of these things, Samarah Ruth-Noel Wanyonyi is set to come in to the world on the 15th of December at teh only modern private hospital I have found in town. I have checked with doctors and nurses to see when they would want me to eat and drink following surgery. I have checked in to the care we would be receiving. I have checked in to the additional cost of a private room (rather than the public ward which houses around 20 women side by side) so that I can have a family member with me during the recovery to help out just in case. (only $20 per night!) and I have detailed the cost of the full treatment and operation. (a difference between Kenya and American Healthcare is Kenya requires payment prior to treatment, so I must ensure that the full $700 American that is needed for operation, medicine, room, and all care is in hand in the next few weeks)

God has connected us with an amazing gynecologist who has been a bridge between East Africa and the western medicine I am accustomed to. This esteemed gentleman completed his residency in Indiana through Indiana University and surrounding hospitals in the area. He knows what is available here in Kenya, but he also knows, even better than I do, the processes out in America for birth and has been able to comfort my heart after what happened at the other hospital last year. I am, so grateful that the Lord Jesus has connected our family with him.

With just over five weeks to go before bringing our Samarah (this means mountain of God) in to the world, we are still fundraising but the amounts are less 260 still needed to cover the rest of the hospital costs plus pay a four wheeled vehicle for a ride . We work through The Last Call International Ministries, registered in the USA as a nonprofit C3 organization. Donations can be made to Carey or Albert Wanyonyi through the linked website (there is a memo line… Csection, our names, or birth will all be given to us) my sister is our accountant stateside and ensures both proper and timely disbursement, but also sends out tax receipts to all who give at the start of each new year.

We cannot wait to share the arrival of this precious daughter with all of you. Pictures will be posted once she arrives! God bless and keep you all.