March in Haiti

I am writing from sunny Florida, resting and recharging at my home. Soon I'll head for Maryland to help my son's family when their new baby is born. Another grandchild! God is good!

Jessica is in Haiti now being me and Esther will come soon. The kids, staff and visiting moms and babies are in good hands. Thank you, Lord, for always providing what's needed, especially these wonderful women at this time.

Poutchino left Haiti on a medical visa! His shunt was removed on March 16th and has since been replaced. Four bacteria were cultured from his spinal fluid! I don't think he would have survived in Haiti. Thank God for Angel Missions getting the visa and Nancy Brickell for taking him home with her. Thanks also for Wolfson Children's Hospital, Dr. Philipp Aldana and his partners, and the many other doctors who have aided Poutchino. There is no doubt that they saved his life. I am deeply grateful.

Less than 3 months after what has been called the worst natural disaster of modern times we are pretty much back to normal. We've grown, of course. I finished the latest census just before leaving Haiti: 29 children (including Poutchino) officially under my care plus two infants and 3 mothers in tents in the yard and three nannies with their 5 children now living with us. It's a zoo! a really fun one!

We now have 6 children with HIV. Wilmerson, about 4 months old was orphaned in the quake. His aunt said she wants him back when he can eat table foods. Routine bloodwork revealed his HIV status. We enrolled him in the same HIV program as our other children. Since he is so young there is a chance he does not have the virus, only antibodies from his mother. Pray that he is disease free!

Just before I left, St. Damien's Hospital asked me to take a 2 1/2 year old boy with HIV. He was living in a tent city with his father. Wilson is the first child ever brought to us with a supply of clothes and personal items (including toothbrush, toothpaste and toilet paper!) It was hard for his dad to let him go but at my house families are allowed to visit as often as they like. (I would love for them to come every day!)

Wilson should have started AIDS meds months ago but they must be given every day without fail. If several doses are skipped, the drugs lose their effectiveness. Then new meds have to be given. Since the available medicines are limited the hospital won't start therapy until they feel confident that the caregiver will be faithful.

After the earthquake we were blessed with more supplies than I could have imagined! I wish I could name all the donors but I'm afraid I would forget someone so I'll give all the credit where it really belongs, to the Lord. The real church is made up of all followers of Jesus regardless of church affiliation. Our love for God extends to each other and to non-believers. When one of us is in trouble the others all rush in to help. It is a joy and a privilege to be a member of the real church of the one true God.

Dianne Groves and June Gardner spent several days in Haiti organizing the supplies we received. I could never have done it. Thank you, Dianne and June!!!


March photo album

Nancy and Christelle Brickell pull Poutchino in a wagon at Wolfson's. Nancy brought Christelle in when I was orphanage director in Bercy. She and Klay adopted Christelle a couple of years ago. Nancy also found Poutchino out in Bercy. She knew him before I did, arranged for his first shunt surgery, and is still involved in his life. Nancy has been a blessing to Haiti and its children. Poutchino couldn't be in better hands.

Poutchino with Christelle Brickell at the Jacksonville Zoo the day he arrived in Jacksonville, before going to the hospital. As a former docent at this zoo, I am thrilled that he was able to experience it.

11 kids, 10 infants and Emmanuella who is estimated to be 4 yrs old, live in the infant room. We could only fit 9 beds in the room. Ronald sleeps in a laundry basket. The twin girls, Naphtalie and Naphtalia, are so small they can sleep in the same bed. If anything goes wrong in my day a trip to the infant room makes everything better. You just can't help but grin.

Of our 29 plus children, most live downstairs. They love to have their photo taken! These were made on March 22 2010.

Chrislove is about 16 months old. She and Bobo were found at another orphanage after the quake. Both were severely malnourished and sick. After being treated at Heartline Clinic they came to us for further care since we specialize in malnourished infants. Chrislove has gained enough strength that she can stand up and is trying to walk while holding on to something.

Reubens and his mother also live in a tent in our yard. At 5 months old Reubens still weighs less than 7 lbs. We tried to help her learn how to breastfeed but she can't seem to sit still long enough. Fearing permanent damage due to inadequate nutrition, I gave up and started giving him bottles. This mother, Manuchka, loves her son and won't leave without him. They will stay with us until we have his weight in the normal range and he can thrive on foods she can give him.

Three tents are still up in our back yard. Arbolina, the mother of baby Ronald, lives there.
We moved Ronald into the baby room inside the house. Arbolina is mentally challenged. We don't quite know what to do with her but at least she and her baby are safe with us. We hope to find her family in the next few months. That could be hard because she doesn't know her last name or her age and because families often are glad to be rid of handicapped members. Pray for her.

Baby Nathaniel and his mother are staying in a tent, too. Nathaniel continues to have chest sounds that concern the doctor and he breathes too fast. It looks like his heart is on the right side of his chest. While that isn't always a problem, it looks like it might be for Nathaniel. We are getting more tests done.


Isna is with her new family, one of the many blessings that resulted from the earthquake. Here she plays games with her dad Jeremy, sister Tatiana and brother Jabin. Thanks to technology we get to talk on Skype. Her mom makes sure we get plenty of photos. I am VERY happy for this family.