Eileen arrived at Tree of Life when she was only 4 weeks old, weighing a mere 5 pounds. Eileen’s mother was involved with a man (not Eileen’s father) when she was born. He was not willing to care for her, so the mother called the hospital and said that if they did not take her she would throw her in a trashcan. Shortly thereafter, her mother contracted HIV from her new husband after Eileen’s birth and is now dying of AIDS. We received a phone call from the hospital and arrived shortly thereafter to discover that she was wrapped in a towel and had never even been bathed. She arrived two days after my mother’s death so she was named Eileen (my mother’s name). She is the most certainly the center of attention! It truly was love at first sight! She is sponsored by Michael and Waraporn Burns.

Dtoy (sister of Taan) and whose Thai name is Jirapa Gongmuengpak was born to a 20 year old mother. Their father had a drinking problem and frequently abused their mother. In April 2008 he set their home and clothes on fire at which point their mother Rochana(the older sister of Narumol who has been with us since 1999)brought them here to live at the orphanage on May 1, 2008. Their mother has now relocated to Bangkok and keeps in bi-weekly contact with both of her daughters by phone. She also visits her daughters at least three times a year. Dtoy is a dancer and a talker! She is loves to socialize and play with everyone. She and her sister have grown close to their new slightly older sister Eileen.

Fern's school fees for 2009-2010 were paid for by nursing student Sally Turnbull from Sheffield-Hallam University, England, The Debuyst Family of Belgium is taking on the greater portion of her support, so she is a sense has 2 sponsors. Fern ( whose Thai name is Sasiwimon Dokkam) has a twin named Fil and has been with us since age 3. Both of their parents died of AIDS. We worried initially that the children may have contracted HIV but we were so thankful to find that they both tested negative. They arrived in 2002. They have been with us for the past 8 years now. Fern is a student at Anubol Buriram School in grade 5. She loves to play, sing, and dance, dress up, have her picture taken (naturally!), put on make-up and hang a lot of junk jewelry around her neck. Her fingernails are often painted in every color of the rainbow by the volunteers. She is a cartoon fanatic and a virtual delight! Now she is speaking English all the time with the volunteers and loves me to read stories to her. She already knows them so she blurts out the plot before I can finish reading it. Meet the future Miss Thailand world!

Fil has a twin named Fern and has been with us since age 3. Both of their parents died of AIDS. Along with his sister Fil has been with us nearly 8 years at this time. He is a 5th grader at the local elementary school (Anubol Buriram). Fil loves to play, sing and dance. Fil is a cartoon aficionado’s so thank heavens for Veggie Tales Christian cartoons and especially Popeye. He likes everything with the image of Popeye on it, even has a can of Popeye spinach. He is photogenic, a fantastic dancer, a prime entertainer, a perfect gentleman and a junior philosopher in the making. He is probably one of the most considerate children you will meet anywhere.

Lalita arrived on 19 December 2007. She was brought to us by my wife's sister, Wanee who was given the child by the baby's mother. The mother feared for her child's life as the baby's grandfather threatened to kill them both because as a Moslem he believed that she deserved such punishment because she had a baby and was unmarried. Lalita is an incredibly funny child and at 2 has become a non-stop talker. Full of life, bright-eyed and very intelligent. She constantly mimics the other girls activities. he is often observed sweeping, picking up bits of trash and even trying to wash her own drinking cup after dinner.