During a recent Sunday service at New Community, a church with about 100 members located in Waldorf, the pastor announced a new priority for the congregation and its ministries. The nine-month-old granddaughter of a church member is enduring severe medical complications after being born without a complete set of Chromosome-1. Pastor Willie Hunt made the decision to share the resources of the entire church community with the baby and her family.
Soon after her birth in April 2008, the baby Seniya had an emergency triple by-pass heart surgery and tracheotomy. As Seniya recovered, her mother stopped working outside of the home in order to care for her new born and her other children full time.
To compensate for the lack of income, Seniya’s father took on two additional part time jobs. However, the family of five has difficulty making ends meet. Unfortunately, because Seniya’s father makes over two-thousand dollars per month, the family is required to pay back money previously received from Social Security on the baby’s behalf.
Members of New Community Church have gone door-to-door asking neighbors and local business owners to support the baby. Concerned residents and community members carry photos of the ailing baby and copies of a letter her mother wrote from the infant’s perspective.
Because Seniya’s condition is so rare and requires so much medical treatment, caring Southern Maryland residents are committed to getting more help for the baby by sharing her story with the entire city and the world.
The church has also started the Seniya Diane Fleming Fund and contributions can be made online by visiting: http://newcommunity-cogic.org/seniya.html.
Seniya is being cared for by doctors and nurses at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Because her condition does not match any other known cases exactly, there is no official name for her illness. However, one doctor referred to it as the Seniya Syndrome.
Those wishing to help or contribute time, services and/or money are encouraged to contact:
New Community Church Of God In Christ
12435C Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf, MD
Phone: (301) 843 -0551
Online: http://newcommunity-cogic.org
For more information on Seniya’s condition, contact Ann Lyle at using the email, media@caringforseniya.com
