V went in for a cardiac catherization – the (hopefully) last step before his wonderful doctors schedule his open-heart surgery – at 7:30 a.m. today. The procedure is supposed to take about three hours, and then V will be in recovery for about six hours (they go in through an artery in his groin and put him under general anesthesia) while he comes gently out of the anesthetic and the doctors keep pressure on the entry point on his upper... Read more
… and love the message of this song performed by all these beautiful souls all over the world. Yes. 1Love! Read more
Amen. Happy Mother’s Day. Read more
When he was living with his Aunt Esme on the outskirts of Blantyre, Malawi, there was a little river that ran behind their small compound of mud-and-wattle huts. He used to fish the river with a piece of string, a hook he shared with a few other boys, a stick and a worm. He said he’d roast the tiny fish over an open fire for dinner. Don’t think he’ll be eating this one, but he’s for sure a natural angler.... Read more
In Swahili, there is a saying: Asiyefunzwa na mamae hufunzwa na ulimwengu. It means, essentially, that a child who is not taught by his mother will be taught by the world. In the Kijita language spoken in parts of Tanzania they say Omwana ni wa bhone, meaning no matter who a child’s biological parents are, its upbringing belongs to the community. And in Chichewa, the language Vasco Sylvester speaks, they say Mwana wa mzako ndi wako yemwe — your child... Read more
GODSTUFF VASCO TAKES CHICAGO: ‘IT’S GREAT TO BE ALIVE!’ In Swahili, there is a saying: Asiyefunzwa na mamae hufunzwa na ulimwengu. It means, essentially, that a child who is not taught by his mother will be taught by the world. In the Kijita language spoken in parts of Tanzania they say Omwana ni wa bhone, meaning no matter who a child’s biological parents are, its upbringing belongs to the community. And in Chichewa, the language Vasco Sylvester speaks, they say... Read more
Location: The Morton Arboretum’s Children’s GardenTime: Last SaturdayUsual suspects: Vasco and his new BFF Thomas (red-striped shirt) Read more
The Vasco report: Two thumbs up! Vasco’s having a ball in Chicago, putting on weight, learning English quickly and generally being a source of joy and laughter to all around him. For a more detailed update (along with some new photos and video) please pay a visit to Vasco’s Heart Read more
Little man in the city of Big Shoulders …. Vasco is doing so well! He’s been seeing doctors and exploring Chicago. So far, in their myriad tests, Vasco’s doctors have not discovered anything dire (apart from his ventricular septal defect and its various effects on his cardio-pulmonary system) and our wee man’s treatment is proceeding on course. On Friday, he’ll have a cardiac catheterization to take a look at his heart from the inside before doctors decide precisely what surgical... Read more
GODSTUFFVASCO IN CHICAGO:‘HIS LAUGHTER IS MUSIC. HIS JOY IS INFECTIOUS.’ Even bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway at rush hour can be a blessing — when you see it through the eyes of a child who has never seen it before. Thursday afternoon, on our way back to Oak Park from Navy Pier, where he had his first piece of pizza and saw a Ferris wheel for the first time, Vasco squealed with delight every time a Blue Line L... Read more
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