Robbie's Story
By Doreen H
Robert Michael Mucie Siyum came to our family from Ethiopia in July of 2006. He was a tiny 4-month-old who had struggled mightily with a major blood infection while in Ethiopia. He had already been referred to us and accepted as part of the family while he struggled to stay alive. Through the marvelous care given by Dr. Tsegaye and the nurses and nannies, he not only survived, but thrived, under the care given him at Horizon House. Upon my arrival in Ethiopia he had gained weight, was eating non-stop, and had captured the hearts of the staff and of our family.
He came home to New York State to join his mother, father, and big brother Jay T. It’s been a little more than a year since we came home and Robbie continues to thrive. He’s grown into an energetic, happy, funny, and mischievous toddler. He loves to wrestle with his big brother, run outside, play in the sprinkler, dance, and laugh. It’s amazing to see how much he’s grown from the tiny baby with the spindly limbs into a rough, tough, chubby toddler.
We can’t imagine our lives without him. His big brother hates to be away from him even for a day. He’s the joy of our lives.
We think about the family he left behind every day who still live in Sidama. We plan to return to Ethiopia when he’s older to help him connect with his birth family and with his birth country. Thank you to Wide Horizons for Children for taking such good care of our son and for bringing this joy into our lives.