That was Then-(July 2007), This is Now------- --------------------(July -2009)

Michael was born July 18, 2007 at Kisoro Hospital, where his twin died at birth. He and his mother were transferred to St. Francis and at only 0.9kg (less than 2lbs) weight and since his mother had a heart condition and delivered at 6 mo. gestation, neither were expected to live. Three days later his dear mother- Ida-, did indeed go to the heavens, leaving him a simple white, with pink fringe, blanket for him to be buried in.

As you know, Michael chose not to join his birth mother but hung on in the Nursery until I came into his life in September 2007. Palm Sunday of 2008 he was Baptized HUGH MICHAEL at St. Francis Hospital Chapel by Fr. John Vianney (though since there is no "UG" sound in the local language, will always be known as only Michael in Uganda. He lived with me until the summer of 2008, when he went to live at Potters Village, a home in Kisoro Uganda, for Vulnerable Children.

Soon he will join my helper Bernedette and her husband and brand new baby (her first) Obama , in their home and they will be a family. I will always be Grammy to both Michael and Baby Obama, as I was there for his birth and he also has entered my heart.

Bernedette and her young husband will take Michael in as soon as they have proper housing, which in US terms costs about $500!
---------My all time favorite of my adorable Two Year Old Little Boy!
----------Is he cute or what in his denim outfit?
----------Am I cute or what in my Obama "Yes We Can" shirt?
----OK Grammy, I am finished reading this book. Bring on the next.
--This was Valentine Weekend 2009. Michael and Baby Daniel, who now lives in Potters Village with him, were getting a bit of sun while we took in the laundry.
------Michael and I will always be very close, no matter the distance. I was" Mama Michael" but am now "GRAMMY", though I'll always be his godmother.

It is a ball, Michael, not something to eat!

In this photo---I am wearing traditional toga like garb, while my helper and Michael's future Foster Mom ----Bernedette--- is wearing her first pair of slacks. Oct. 2008
-----Michael eats anything: Ugandan food as well as American Rice Crispies (Ha) But unlike his friends , he usually prefers a plate and sometimes insists on eating with a spoon. How un-african of him! In this pic he is savoring a very small type, but o, so sweet, banana.
---This was taken just at the point when walking meant holding onto furniture, which is no longer the case.
--- These shots of Michael is his black pants and vest, I call "My Little Man" pics. I just picked up a similar outfit in the thrift shop for "going to church". Only this outfit will actually have a clip on tie, like my Daddy used to wear (smile)
-------Getting a bath in Uganda is the same for any size child. Same tub the clothes get washed in as well
------Michael enjoys that he is the mascot of all the Nursing Students (some , of whom, met him as a newborn.

-----That's right, Michael, just one foot in front of the other. You can do it!

-----Michael likes to redecorate my home when he comes to visit. Here he is repositioning a wonderful home made gift given to me by my dear friend Lynn

Come Celebrate Michael's journey- 2008

Dear Friends
Here s a series of pics of Michael in 2008. Next week I'll bring you up to date and you'll get to see the 2 year old little boy he has become!
Grammy Marie
---Have always loved this shot , where I am teaching some visitors how to carry a baby on one's back. Michael doesn't look like he quite trusts my abilities-ha
----------Michael in Blue Series March 2008
--------"Please let me get to that cake"
----------Michael's 1st Birthday Celebration
-------------Michael's First Birthday!
-----------Michael with Chicken Pox's--covered in Calamine Lotion
--------------Michael peeking out from under the covers.
----------MICHAEL'S baptism Palm Sunday March 2008
-------------Olivia-Michael and Mama Michael --about April 2008
-------------Mariea Goretti and me with Michael in his Baptism dress
------This is one of a series of pics taken of Michael in March 2008

------- In the beginnings

These are not good pics, they are just to show you how very very tiny he was. Note the size of my hand next to his little face. He woud often just hold my finger forever, just as his security blanket. ---------------------
Michael turns two years old the 18th of this month--July! This is the first of three installment leading up to the precious, healthy little boy he has grown into.--- Sr. Vastina, the Charge Nurse in Maternity, recently told me that when his mother died, his family wanted to take him to be buried with her.----- I know to us that sounds ludicrous, but no one , absolutely no one, expected him to survive,

Sr. Vastina refused saying that as long as there was breath, there was life and as long as there was life, she had to do all in her power to save him, And even more importantly, she needed to be able to face God with her actions. ----------Thank you Sr. Vastina for making that decision.

This pic was taken November 2007, while Michael was still in the Nursery. Icould hold himwith one hand whie changing his entire bed and straightening up his things with the other. No body told me until later that he didn't even look human at that time.

Up close and Personal--December 2007

I remembering entitling this one "Michael the Bootlegger" He was soooo tiny, that the booties were

leggings on him. This was Nov 2007, when he was 3+1/2 mo old and I would go tothe Maternity Ward several times a day to feed and care for him. He was not even 3 lbs then, maybe 2+1/2lbs My, o my--what a miracle he always has been and continues to be!

I have always loved the contrast in our blue/brown eyes in this photo. He truly was not a cute baby by any means, who ever would have imagined he'd turn out to be so adorable?

---My all time favorite Christmas pic 2007 that Bert took of Michael and Mama Michael

Christmas 2007--was entitled The Best Gift I ever Got" And it was. A precious baby boy to share my first Christmas with--only 3 lbs when he came to stay with me (yet 4 +1/2 mo, old)

Michael and I were pretty much together the first several months of his life. If he wasn't in my bed, he was on my lap. I wouldn't have changed it for the world.

St.Maria Goretti + Marie + Maria Goretti

Maria is a beautiful Woman , inside and out and I am proud to call her my friend!

My dear Ugandan friend Maria Goretti and I share a feast day--that of St. Maria Goretti on July 6th. Two years ago, shortly after our first meeting in Maria's humble home, we took this wonderful picture of Maria putting my hair on her head .Last year I gifted Maria with twin St. Maria Goretti medals, but this year, sadly, I am unable to share this special day in her presence

On some level I must have known that was the case, as several weeks ago when visiting me, I noticed she was trying to grow her hair out. I offered to treat her to a full braiding, which is the "in" thing to do here.She gladly accepted and I followed this up with a bit of sparkling makeup and a full photo shoot.

If you recall ,Maria is HIV+ since the early 90's when she was diagnosed after the delivery of her last child (and only girl) Florida.

If you want to read (or re-read ) her amazing story, click back to June 2007 blogs where I included her story of escaping from the Rwandan Genocide , walking from Rwanda to Uganda with her three small boys and 9 mo. pregnant with her daughter. Sadly her husband did not survive.

Saint Maria Goretti was born Maria Teresa Goretti in 1890 in Corinaldo in the province of Anchoa, then the Kingdom of Italy.Due to poverty and her father's illness, the family had to give up their farm and work for other farmers, While the family worked the fields, Maria stayed at home and cooked and sewed . It was a hard life but the family shared a deep love of God.
On July 5th, 1902, AlessandroSerenelli found Maria at home sewing. He threatened her with death, if she did not do as he wanted. She would not submit, prolaiming she would rather die than commit a mortal sin. At first he choked her, then stabbed her 14 times.The injured Maria crawled to the door and he stabbed her 3 more times, before running away.

Later she was found by her sister and taken to the hospital for surgery. The following day, 20 hours following the attack, Maria expressed forgiveness for her attacker and wished he would somday be in heaven with her . She then died from her injuries.

He was given a sentence of 30 years because he was a minor but expressed no remorse for 3 years until he experienced a vision of Maria handing him a bunch of Lilies which burned into his hands.After his release, he visited Maria's mother to ask her forgiveness. She said if Maria could forgive him on her death bed, then she couldn do no less. Together they attended Mass and received Holy Communion side by side.

Alessandro referred to Maria as"his little saint" and became a lay-brother in the Capuchin Order working as a receptionist and gardener until his peaceful death in 1970.

BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION:--------------------------------------------------
----Maria was beatified in April 1947 and Canonized on June 24, 1950 by Pope Pius the 12th. Her mother attended both events , along with 4 other brothers and sisters. Alessandro Serenelli, her repentant murderer, was also present at the canonization. Maria was named as the Saint ot Chastity, Rape-Victims and Forgiveness