Thursday, February 3, 2011

Michilove Noel - My HERO!

Mich was grinning as we left the dentist's office yesterday, February 2nd, after his 5th visit. Why? "He didn't pull any teeth!" I'm not surprised: at his last 3 visits over the last 3 weeks, 6 teeth have been pulled. Some were broken off and not easy to remove. It was very hard on Mich.
Mich has lived with us since shortly after the earthquake last January. His mother is very poor. When we first saw Mich in 2007 he was extremely malnourished. His bones and teeth were affected.
The only time he cried in fear since coming here was the night before his first major tests at school in December. Once I assured him that we don't beat children for bad grades he was fine. Heartbreaking that a child would expect abuse for less than perfect performance but that is not uncommon in Haiti!
Speaking of school, Mich is in first grade at a Christian school nearby. In this country where less than half of all children go to school, ever, that is amazing. More amazing is how seriously he takes his schooling. We often see him working on his lessons with the nannies.
Despite all the hard knocks Mich has faced in his life he faces every difficulty with a courage that blows me away. How many 14 yr old boys would go to the dentist knowing that several teeth were going to be pulled without a word of complaint! I think I would whine at the very least.
Mich's courage blows me away but God's care for him is even more awesome. The great Lord God of the universe saw this little boy in Haiti and had me leave a good job and home to come to Haiti to help him. Praise the Lord!
Dr. Mondestin explains to Mich what is going to happen and why.

Mich gets his teeth cleaned for the first time in his life at his first dentist's
visit on Jan 6, 2011.


Dr. Mondestin is also trained in orthodontics

Mich's teeth were damaged by malnutrition. Here is a copy of his dental treatment plan.

Despite everything, Mich has a smile that proclaims his joy in life

Mich's ribcage was dangerously narrow

Mich had 21 badly healed broken bones


Mich July 2007, 10 yrs old

Leila Paul Dec 2005 - Jan 2011

"We have a 5 yr old girl who has been in the hospital for 2 months" said Mdm Phadael, the social worker at the HIV clinic where our children are treated. "Would you take her home with you when she is released?" I was hesitant. We take babies and small children. Older children have different needs. Brenda and I agreed to see her. We walked into the hospital room and fell in love. Yes, we agreed to take her.

Leila and her mom came home with us on November 17th along with 15 prescription medicines to treat AIDS, tuberculosis and a heart problem. Leila's mom signed her over to us without any visible emotion. Leila showed no emotion when her mom left. Sad, we thought.

We grew to love Leila with her silky hair, gentle ways and elfin smile. We noticed she had trouble walking due to pain in her legs and pelvis and back. The doctor commented that she had been really sick. In December she started having stomach pain, so much so that the doctor prescribed a medicine containing phenobarbital. It didn't help much. After another couple of weeks she started having fever every day. We took her to the clinic several times. The doctor came to our house. Tests were run, antibiotics prescribed. Her appetite failed.

On Sunday, January the 9th, she wouldn't even take fluids. The doctor came to the house and sent us to the emergency room. While waiting to be admitted, she died in the nanny's arms. I couldn't believe it when they called me with the news. The doctors were also surprised. The week after her death we learned that Leila's white blood count was only 830. A low normal count is around 4000. Her immune system had failed.

Leila lives with her heavenly Father now. She is free of all pain and sickness. She knows HIS love in a way we back on earth cannot comprehend. I miss her - we all do - but I wouldn't bring her back for anything. Thank you, LORD, for allowing this precious child to be in our lives and for the opportunity to give her unconditional love in her final days on earth.