Renata
Renata was introduced to NLLB Founder, Linley, in February of 2008. Renata's parents were very poor and had 5 children. Her father was much older than his wife, and had been widowed years earlier. He had 10 adult children from his first wife. He was a fisherman, using his small wooden dugout canoe. They live on a lake. His wife helped with fishing and growing a few simple foods for the family. Often in remote areas with the poor, children are left on their own while the parents go out to work, often children as young as 4 are left to look after the younger children.
​
Renata was an infant and was placed on a grass mat near the cooking fire as her parents we out to gather food. It is not uncommon for infants to be left on grass mats by the cooking fire to keep warm. Her 5 year old brother was in charge of caring for the younger children. A small spark started a fire on the grass mat Renata was laying on, he brother noticed the fire and ran and hid. NLLB has seen 6 children/young adults with similar burns and stories.
​
Due to the poverty of the family, Renata recieved minimal medical care and was sent home when funds ran out. Over time, Renata's burn scars pulled her little foot to the front of her leg. As she grew, her leg/foot began to pull/tighten. She learned to walk on the heel of her tiny foot, which resulted in a limp.
​
NLLB contact Healing the Children (HTC) in Michigan/Ohio for assistance with Renta's condition. HTC funds foreign children's medical care. They arranged for free medical care in the United States and found a host family for Renata to stay with. Rentat's foot would require years of medical intervention through surgeries and therapy. On August 27, 2008, Renata left Indonesia for the States to receive the much needed and complicated treatment for the reconstruction of her foot. She had had numerous surgeries and continues to be cared for by Healing the Children. NLLB often connect organizations and individuals in order to arrange care and help for those in need.