Daphna’s dad died while she was still in her mama’s belly. Her mama delivered her and went crazy a few days later. The family kept her tied up for several months so that she would not hurt herself or run away. Daphna was admitted into the RC when she was 22 days old in July of 2006. She was a healthy baby and weighed almost 9 pounds. The family did not want to put her up for adoption but wanted help with her care until she got older.
(Daphna 22 days old)
Daphna returned home in May of 2008. She stayed with us in the RC for almost 2 years. She went home at 24 pounds. A happy healthy little girl. During that time her mother recovered and became well. Several churches in the area went and prayed for her weekly and she got better. We were all so happy that we were able to care for Daphna and that she could return home with her mama after an extended stay with us.
(23 months old going home )
Daphna returned to the clinic today. It has been about 2.5 years since we last saw her. She is very, very sick right now. She is currently a little over 4 years old and weighs 28 pounds with all the swelling from the kwashiorkor.
(Daphna currently)
This is Fabienne. She was admitted into the RC for the first time in July of 2007. She was 2 years old then and weighed 21 pounds. As you can see she was very, very ill.
(Fabienne 1st time)
Her legs split open in several places and most of her skin came off.
This is what she looked like after 1 week. She was in a coma for 5 days. We fed her through a feeding tube until she could eat on her own.
This is week 3 of being with us.
Fabienne lost 5 pounds of water during the first 4 weeks with us. She stayed for 5 months and went home at 22 pounds.
(Fabienne going home 1st time)
Fast forward to fall of 2009. Fabienne is back for a second time. She is 23 pounds and has kwashiorkor again.
(Fabienne 2nd time)
(She stays for 3 months and goes home at 28 pounds)
Fabienne is back again this week. She has kwashiorkor again and weighs 29 pounds.
(Fabienne currently admitted for the 3rd time)
This is Loudia. She is 7 years old and weighs 29 pounds. She has been malnourished and behind since she was 5 months old. She has 3 siblings at home. This is her 3rd time with kwashiorkor.
Her eyes are almost swollen shut from the kwashiorkor. The skin around her eyes is raw. She is in a lot of pain.
This is Lysmene she is 7 years old and weighs 29 pounds. During the earthquake a wall from their house fell onto the mother. She is now paralyzed and cannot walk. There are 4 other children in the family. The father is finding it very difficult to care for everyone. Lysmene is the sickest child right now. This is her 2nd time with kwashiorkor. She has had 2 siblings die from fever and diar.
So…….are you discouraged yet. I am. I am very discouraged and sad today. I do not want to feel like years of work is being wasted. I do not want to feel like I am spinning my wheels here. I do not want to go backwards, I want to move forward. I want change. I want these kids to live. I want them to be well. I want them to be happy. I want them to feel love. I want them to feel Jesus. I do not want them to return to the RC multiply times. I want them to stay with their families and be healthy. I do not want a parent to feel like they have to give their child to someone else to care for because they have no food. I want them to have dreams, I want them to not have to live in “survival mood” every…single…day…of …their…lives..until…they…die. I want so so much for each of them-but today that is not what is happening. Today we have many sick kids. They are literally fighting for their lives. They are on a fine line of life and death. This is real. This is our lives. We gladly accept this call that God has given us. We count it an honor to be here, to be on God’s side, to be pecking away at this life here in Haiti, to be making a difference one person at a time. But it is hard.
Sometime I have to give myself a project to get myself out of discouragement and back on tract. I want these 4 girls to live. That is my new project. Is that too much to ask for? I am putting their names on the list tonight for Mary to fill up their bowls with life saving Medika Mamba. I will be doing a new picture each week so you can see the change in their bodies and lives. All I am asking from you today is to pray. Pray for these girls, pray that they live, pray for healing.
So here they are Daphna, Lysemene, Fabienne and Loudia
WEEK #1
