Visiting Orphan Fights for Her Life at Children's Hospital

HOUSTON, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- An orphaned girl from India who was honored at a State Dinner hosted by Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee last Monday and a private reception the following day in the home of Carl Lindner, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, is fighting for her life today at National Children's Hospital in Washington, DC.

Eleven-year old Shyamala Peddibotla was admitted to the hospital Thursday night with complications from what appears to be diabetes and an infection, which, despite antibiotics having been administered, precipitated a fever that remains at a dangerous level. Shyamala was on an international goodwill and peacemaking trip highlighting the humanitarian work of Global Peace Initiative and its founder, Dr. K.A. Paul.

The trip has been suspended as her eight friends, all from the same orphanage in India, and a female Senator from the upper house of India's Parliament, who was accompanying the girls on the goodwill mission, all remain in a nearby hotel anxiously awaiting her recovery.

Apprehension about the girl's illness is compounded by the fact that the three caretakers who were to accompany the nine orphans, all girls aged 10 to 12, are still awaiting visas to the United States, even as they received visas to the other countries visited by the orphans. Shyamala's caretaker, who has been her overseer for the past five years, was among those flown back to India after being refused admission to the U.S.

The hospital is expected to issue a written statement updating the girl's condition later today. The statement, along with information on how to send cards or gifts to the child and how to donate toward her medical expenses, is posted on the group's Web site, http://www.globalpeacenow.com/. [A physician's letter describing Shyamala's condition is also available on the Web site.]