25/01/2026
Friday was a day of great sorrow and shock for us as one of our babies was unexpectedly taken into the arms of Jesus- much earlier than any of us would have humanly wanted.
Baby Chileleko was the smallest of the twin boys that we received early in December at only 10 days old. While his brother was born at a healthy 2.4kg (5 lbs 8 ounces). Chileleko was born a tiny 1.8 kg ( just under 4lbs). When they were brought to us, both of them had lost weight due to the death of their mother. Chipo was strong and quickly put the weight back on.
Little man Chileleko however, struggled with having enough energy to drink more than a few sips of his bottles. Those first few weeks we took turns feeding him every two hours around the clock, and sometimes it would take up to an hour to get him to drink just 1 ounce, but we kept annoying him, tapping his bottle, messing with his ears, nose, and feet, un******ng him and doing whatever we could do to help him stay awake enough to get at least some in.
Melanie and (Amber) even took him into their houses for a week to help the mommies and give this little cutie the fighting chance he needed.
We bought special formula and neonate vitamins for him. Slowly (but steadily he improved. He went from 1.5 kg at his lowest to 2.5kg just a few days ago when he turned two months old. His cheeks were filling out and getting round. He was up to drinking two ounces at a time and was alert and awake. He was still on a strict feeding schedule morning and night and we were still keeping a close eye on him. It seemed he was growing and getting close to thriving.
Thursday night he was alert, awake, drinking well and had a good night but around 05:00 hrs the moms noticed his breathing seemed just a bit different. Not necessarily serious but with him being so tiny we started making plan to rush him to the hospital. Less than an hour and a half later, on the way to the hospital he just suddenly stopped breathing. We were able to get him breathing again a few small times but then within just a few minutes, nothing. In all our efforts, nothing we did could help him take another breath, and he entered into the arms of Jesus.
We are all shattered, shocked and heartbroken. This little cutie has wormed his was into our hearts due to his extra tiny size and serious, fighting spirit. Why hadn’t God answered our prayers for healing? He definitely could have?
These are questions that we may only get answers to one day when we are with Jesus, but in the meantime we know that Chileleko went directly from the arms of those who loved him to the arms of one who loved him first, more than we ever could have imagined. He is in the presence of Love itself and we are called to trust that His ways are higher than our own. God is good, and He is comforting us in our time of sorrow.
Please pray for the mommies, his twin brother, his family and kids at the children’s home. Infant loss is so common here in daily village life of Zambia but we have been protected so long from it.
Please pray for protection against animistic beliefs assisted with twin infant death, and that even through these hard times that God’s glory will shine through.
Thank you for your prayers and for all of you who have been there standing in the gap for us and this ministry through the good times and hard. We appreciate you so much.
We love you little Chileleko. You will forever be missed and never forgotten. Our lives were forever changed by the blessing of knowing and caring for you, even if only for 2 short months.
