Twins-Barbara and Brenda-July 2012 update

---------------Barbara and Brenda with Mom and Marie July 2012--I had several surprise visitors while in Uganda and this was one of them. Back in the winter of 2009, This Mom had brought her twins in for immunizations and I noted they were underweight. The original story below tells it all, but today 2 and 1/2 years later, Mom brought Barbara and Brenda to visit me. They are doing very well, though Barbara who was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome cannot walk and with no follow up programs here in Uganda, I am not sure exactly what her future will look like. The good news is they are both well nourished and well loved, as is evidenced from the above photo. Mom brought me lots of tomatoes and avocado's as thank you gifts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several months ago a Mom brought her twin girls in for immunizations and I noted that both babies were underweight, one more than the other.-Mom was trained how to mix the formula and how to supplement her breast milk with bottles of formula to increase the babies body weights and in time catch them up to the curve indicated on the growth monitoring chart.. This photo was taken when the babies were still tiny enough for their 5 year old sister to help Mom carry them on her back. Can you imagine your 5 year old carrying his or her baby sisters on their backs? Nor could I, until I came to this country where culturally, a girl is a mother to her younger siblings from the time she can walk.! Well following several months of receiving both breast milk and formula, there was a noted improvement in one child but to a much lesser degree in the other. Mom simply said Barbara often refused to eat , whereas her sister Brenda was always more than willing. Mom found it rather funny and I found it perplexing. Upon examination I saw that Barbara had a different "look" about her and besides the decreased weight, appeared to also be developmentally behind her sister. I suspected "Down Syndrome" and this was recently confirmed by Pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth from Tulane University, New Orleans.

--------Mom was counseled on Downs Syndrome and how it might effect the development of Barbara, and encouraged to try and feed her smaller amts more frequently. But, whereas Barbara's symptoms are only mild, it may take some time before Mom truly understands the challenges and joys of having a child with Down's syndrome in the house. Last week Mom came by to pick up the formula and only had Barbara with her, with beaded hair, no less. Apparently this was for the baptism soon to come. In this recent pic, one can more easily see the doll like characteristics of Barbara, which are often noted in Down's Syndrome. The good news is that both twins are gaining well and appear to be healthy. Now that they are 7 mo. old, solid food has been introduced into their diets, which should make a difference and soon formula will not be necessary for either of the girls.

------Mom and twin on her back , while young sister carries other twin