Shalet Godfrey

As taken from MSNBC weekly pictures: "Parents holding babies who drank tainted milk powders wait in line for ultrasonic exams in a hospital on Wednesday, September 17 in Wahun of Habie Province, China. At least 4 babies have died and thousands of children in China sickened after drinking milk products contaminated with the industrial chemial melamine". The picture may be hard to view, if so here's the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26891186/displaymode/1107/s/2/framenumber/7/

This is my little sister Tayli Brook, adopted 5 years ago. Within the past few years she has had a lot of problems with her kidneys, had a plethora of tests performed and seen some of the best of doctors in hopes of finding answers. Just recently, a friend of my parents who has adopted 2 girls from China has also had kidney problems. The Pediatric Center in Twin Falls, Idaho has been contacting all patients who have adopted Chinese children and are doing ultrasounds on them. So far out of 5 children, 3 of them have present kidney stones and Tayli being the fourth with kidney problems. These findings are heartbreaking. And as seen in the above picture the problem is worldwide. It is likely that most of these children were given baby formula with melamine in it while in the orphanages; the effects are life changing. If Tayli had stayed in the orphanage her kidneys (which have only functioned at 40% at times) would have eventually shut down. So it's been a blessing to have her here and to be able to give her the medicine she has needed to save the function of her kidneys and at most recognize the problem before it was too late.

If I could describe Tayli in just a few words they'd be meek, innocent, tender, amiable and so so sweet; she's quite possibly been the easiest to raise for my parents out of the 11 of us siblings. You're constantly in our thoughts and prayers Tay. We love you!