Meet Sara Star
Sara Star was born in San Jose on February 17th, 2006. She came into our world a few weeks early and with all the complications of a premature baby. The morning after her birth, Sara Star was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the San Jose Children’s Hospital where she spent her first 5 weeks fighting for her life. Admittedly, a very difficult period for all of us as life as we knew it – stopped – and took a different turn. We did not return to Punta Uva until Sara Star was released from the hospital.
Emmanuelle recovered very well from the C-Section and is now back to her usual form!
During these difficult 5 weeks, Sara experienced a list of medical challenges – but at every turn, we were nothing but extremely impressed by the medical world in Costa Rica. We feel Sara received excellent care by the nurses, doctors and facilities – MUCH better than one can expect in most US facilities today! Maya was able to visit and meet her sister only 3 weeks after her birth. This was a very special and emotional experience for all of us – Maya in particular.
Life in San Jose Anyone that has visited San Jose knows that it is not the world’s most desirable city. However, when given the opportunity to scratch the surface, there does exist a better city! We were fortunate to have several close friends in San Jose helps us tremendously as well as Emmanuelle’s mother, Josiane, who stayed with us the entire time. Maya missed school but spent many afternoons in the Sabana park riding her bicycle, horses and ponies, playing with her girlfriend Charlotte and going to amusement parks. We also took a few half day excursions to some of the local tropical gardens and volcanoes. I never thought this was possible, but we now know how to drive and get around in most of San Jose – where the streets have no name!
Return to Life in Punta Uva Five weeks after Sara’s birth, she was discharged from the hospital and we wasted no time in returning to our little paradise. Manuel’s mother, Regine, also came in for a few days to celebrate and spend time with the rest of the family. Once Sara got out of the hospital and returned to the jungle, she completely improved and turned around. Today, she is progressing very well and showing improvements on a daily basis. Her parents are not getting much sleep at all and feeling like zombies – but that is normal – for a few months!
The Big Sister For the past few years, Maya Soleil has been begging her parents for a little sister. Now that she is here, we have a very happy and proud big sister! Maya loves her little sister and takes excellent care of her. She helps us bathe her and now changes Sara’s diapers and feeds her all by herself.
…and The White Spot??? We are sure that there are a few of you just asking yourself one big important question since you’ve opened this page: ‘What is that white spot on Sara’s head?’ Answer: It is a piece of ordinary white paper, chewed on and compressed as a tiny ball and simply put on her forehead. The purpose is to stop the hiccups that babies so often have. How does it work? We have no clue – but it is an old Costa Rican grandmother’s cure – and it seems to work sometimes!
