I'm taking a piece of Lego with me to the Bulgarian's Orphanages..In memory of Brandon Lee Howe

Dear friends , family and clients...
This is the latest. On Valentine's Day I had to work and go to school , on the other hand my husband had to go to a funeral. It was a co-worker of his who's son passed away on the Feb 5th. Prior going to the funeral Tom said that the boy Brandon Lee Howe was 23 years old and since 5 years old he had some health complications. I was sad to hear such a young man gone so early in life. That night on 14th my husband and I met for dinner and then we went to movie. After the movie we headed out and just before i enter my car ( we drove separate rigs) my husband approached me and with tears in his eyes asked me if I could do him a favor? I was confused..The movie was funny so why was he so sad ...??? He pulled something out of his pocket..It was piece of LEGO...(the one game that kids build things)..I didn't know where this was going , all I knew was that my husband was crying and he had a piece of LEGO in his hand...I asked what was the matter and "yes " i would do anything for him. He then said" Today at the funeral the family of Brandon Lee Howe had the box of LEGO he used to play with...He was a mentally challenged boy, since his operation on the brain at age of 5....,but his family never gave up on him..they raised him and never gave him away to any institutions. ( i knew at this moment that Tom was referring to the disturbing movie we watched and the movie that lead this blog going and the movie made me go immediately to Bulgaria)...His family  made his short life as enjoyable as possible...My husband picked up a piece of the LEGO (the favorite game of Brandon Lee Howe) and his wish was for me now to except this piece and take it back to Bulgaria. He said he will make me a necklace and have the LEGO on it.. and he wants me to wear it while i was visiting the Bulgarian Orphanages (institutions with mentally and disabled kids, kids were abounded from their parents due to their disabilities). He then said" I can't believe people would abounded their children due to their disabilities...Look what the Brandon's family has done for him...They never gave up on him..I had no words..I was hit by a truck..and didn't know what was happening...I was in shock...I cried and I 
promise to my husband that i will wear the necklace and I will be thinking about Brandon Lee Howe's life ...even though i never knew him..I'm sure he will be happy to see me visiting the children and helping with donations and even buy them logos ( Thank you for all the donations so far we are up to $962).. I'm sure he will also be sad to see those kids never had the quality of having a loving family like he did...In memory of Brandon Lee Howe...The movie of the Bulgarian's Abounded Children made a huge movement in our life... I'm glad to share this with you...I have attached two pics of Brandon Lee Howe..Like I said ..I never knew him..but his Lego piece will be with me...

"The begging letter" by my friend Silvia who is dedicated in helping raising more money for the orphaneges...Viva Dubai...

Dear All,

A friend of mine, Desi saw the situation of abandoned children in my home country Bulgaria and was shocked into taking action.

Of course there are many children in many, many countries that are suffering and this is just another situation.

We cannot help everyone and of course you may already be helping somewhere else which has just as much value.

I ask that you look at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCCZgYNvXTQ

It would be excellent if we could arrange something that would allow us to give money that we can be 100% sure would help these children. My friend Desi will be going personally to the orphanage to make sure that any money collected is used entirely for the benefit of these children. So, if you have any ideas that will help raise funds for this cause then it would be brilliant.

Meanwhile, I would like to arrange a girl’s night out with a difference, for everything we have on the night out, we put aside a tip for the abandoned children. You do not get anything for free, no one is paying for anything, for you, you are. We arrange it at a ladies night (so the drinks are cheap) we have a fun night and frankly, we probably will tip the taxi drivers more!

Must repeat, if you already have a favourite charity that you give all your donations to then DO NOT  miss out on the get together, do not change it and still come along for the fun. But, if after viewing the link you feel you have some extra to give that would be brilliant!

As Emirates Airlines says, please remember “a little change can change a lot” and a few dirhams could make a huge difference.

Once again and finally, I know that all of you probably already give to good causes so if this begging letter is one too many – no problem!

Whether you feel it appropriate to give or not, let’s get together at Healey’s bar at Bonnington Hotel JLT on Wednesday 23^rd  February at 7 pm (ladies night) socialise, be happy and if we happen to raise some money then “jolly good show!”.

Hope to see you all there

Silvia

I have the first donations in the amount of $92 thanks to my Bunco ladies

Today i was blessed, blessed with good friends that bealive in me and my journey. Thank you to Alla, Melody, Joanne , Kate,Lori, Ella, Elia, Janette, Madeline and Jan. Thank you for your donations in the amount of $ 92 . Thank you ladies you just don't know how much this trip means to me.

Bulgarian's Abounded Children and simply me..

This is where my journey began. Besides that I'm working as a REALTOR I do go to school full time. Couple of weeks ago i was doing a project for my English 102 class and we all know what that class require. Long, long paper. I wasn't sure of my topic, but i was pretty passionate about Hana. She was adopted in 2009 by my in-laws and every time i see her I'm blown away how much more she has achieved for so little time. My topic become an international adoptions and specifically "The puzzle me". But let's not get distracted here. So preparing my project for class i wanted to have a picture of Caucasian Couple holding an African baby or something like that, so i went to Google and search under photos (international adoption). I saw a pic of a celebrity couple and I clicked on it and then i read" After so and so watched the movie Bulgarian's Abounded Children on BBC so and so decided to adopt a child from Bulgaria. I immediately went and copy the name of the movie and i googled it. Sure enough there was such movie. I went on U TUBE and watched it and what i saw it's beyond imaginable. Then i watched with my husband and then i watched again and again and again. The movie on U TUBE is 5 parts and does have some revisited parts too. It was shot by a lady from England. The sad part is that this just recently happened in 2007. My husband cried like a baby and was asking me all this question why this and why that ,but i couldn't answer for him. Well I trucked down what happened to the institution in Mogilino. They have closed it down and they have moved the kids to Sofia (The Capital of Bulgaria). I have been in such a pain and shock that i have decided I'm going to Bulgaria and I'm going to look for institutions that are far away from the capital of Bulgaria. Institutions that have plenty of kids ,but not enough supplies ,food, toys,  and the most love and passion . Some of those children were left behind just because there were "blind " or "deaf"..Really? I bought my ticket and i'm dedicated , i had few people let me down of saying "what difference are you going to make?", but in my heart I know I'm going to make a difference and you my friends who decide to donate and help me you will be part of it too, because without your help i can't do it. So this is the plan..I have bought my ticket already , I'm flying out on the March 16. One of my former clients who became a very good friend of mine is letting me borrow her video camera ( Thanks Kate). I have found a list of institutions on http://www.svetlinka.org/detail.asp?ID=54&Grad=0&Oblast=0&ActionShearch=1&CgyID=12   that are in the bunnies all over Bulgaria. I did call two days ago to a place in Montana and guess what ...great success. I wasn't sure if they will even talk to me, but they did and the lady in charge said that they have 51 children most of them up to 3 years old only few 7,8,9 ( that are disabled and can't move from bed). I asked her if I could donate stuff and visit and play with the kids? She said "Yes", but we won't accept cash we can only takes supplies. She recommended after i arrive she can sent with me one of the housekeepers to the local store where i could buy what i wanted to donate. I asked her what they need and she said pampers, food(goodies) and small presents. So since I have family in Sofia I'm planning on asking my sister to borrow her car and drive to all the places my hearth finds. Paved or dirty roads. I'm not sure where I would end up sleeping, but I can always knock on some "BABA'S" (grandmother)door .My journey has just began...I'm so excited... I will keep you posted daily of what's happening while in Bulgaria and i will share photos . Please help me with some donations . It has to be cash. I'm not asking for much 5,10,20 dollars . I have talked to my real estate office and one of our Realtor's suggested i have a jar at the meeting so all the Realtors can donate some. I need some help and encouragement. Thanks in advance.