They're two little girls who were in need of an Angel -- tiny twins, connected at the heart. And they've captured the hearts of everyone who's met them. Dateline reported on their incredible journey from a small village on a far away continent to a state-of-the-art medical center in America, how their family and doctors came together to give them a chance to live separate lives. And how one woman became their angel, moving heaven and earth to make it happen.
How are they doing now?
Today, Loice and Christine are bright, energetic, challenging and curious two and half year olds. They are doing well in their development - language, motor, and social skills are exceptional for these two miracles. Christine excels in motor and perception with ball handling skills beyond her age. Loice excels in language and especially talking on the phone.
They have developed a level of trust with their mother, Cindy, and in their community both in Baltimore and beyond. Gifts to Loice and Christine to assist with their continuing medical needs and future educational needs may be made through the their church:
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
611 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard
Severna Park, MD 21146
They ask that gifts be designated with a memo line: Loice & Christine Fund. The family sends thanks for support of these miraculous children.
A note from Dr. Cindy Howard:
It is important for us to recognize that Loice and Christine are representative of many children in need in our world. While others may not need special surgery for separation, there are many who need medical services and supplies beyond the capacity of their families and government to provide. You can provide help to some of those children through donations to the Okuyamba Abaana Fund which provides diagnostic medical tests, medicine and food to children hospitalized at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Loice and Christine were patients in the nursery at Mulago Hospital for the first four months of their life.
Okuyamba Abaana Fund
The Okuyamba Abaana Fund (Helping the Children Fund) was established specifically to help families who need just a little extra financial help to make it through the crisis of a child's illness or hospitalization. The Fund can help pay the small amount for food for the family while staying in the hospital ($2/day). It can help pay for a course of antibiotics to treat an infant's case of meningitis which the family could never afford ($50). It can pay for x-ray and lab studies which can better define a treatment plan and prevent needless hospitalization or incorrect treatment because of unavailable diagnostic information (chest x-ray $2).
This fund was established by Drs. Joe and Becky Sherman while they were working in Kamapala. All donations received go directly to children's care in Kampala, Uganda. Health Frontiers, a US based non-profit serves as fiscal agent. Make checks payable to Health Frontiers and clearly designate on memo line: Okuyamba Abaana Fund. Mail donations to
Okuyamba Abaana Fund
c/o Health Frontiers
44500 66th Avenue Way
Kenyon, MN 55946