I am a missionary who has fallen in love with the country of Haiti. I travel to the most poverty stricken area of Haiti, Cite' Soleil where there are high rates of Typhoid, Malaria, HIV etc. I provide medical care at a clinic where patients line up for blocks (walking from miles away) for lifesaving treatment. My role also includes wellness education for prenatal care, well baby care, as well as simple tasks such as hand washing. We provide all the medications, treatments infant formula by buying within the country of Haiti (in an effort to stimulate a struggling economy).
On my first day of one mission, I met a sweet little baby who was reported to have not eaten for four days. The response to my question regarding the age of the baby was alarmingly, “Four days old”. This little one was unfortunately abandoned by an overwhelmed new mother and never learned how to take in fluids. A bilateral club foot/hand deformity appeared to be too scary for her to handle when handicaps often translate to short life spans and are viewed as a “bad sign” by parents. I fought and fought to teach this little one to eat so late in the game but was unsuccessful. Losing this itty bitty baby would have been entirely preventable with proper nutrition, education, and support. Sorry folks…I have great difficulty wrapping my head around that. In addition to our medical roles, I am very active in personally ensuring education and supplies reach some very special kiddos who have touched my heart in the area of Cite’ Soleil.
Prior to being involved with our annual medical clinic in Cite’ Soleil, I provided care in an acute care Cholera Hospital at the spike of the post 2010 earthquake Cholera epidemic. Amazing things happened during these missions as Cholera has been brought under control once again with medical treatment, new water systems, and community education.
On my first day of one mission, I met a sweet little baby who was reported to have not eaten for four days. The response to my question regarding the age of the baby was alarmingly, “Four days old”. This little one was unfortunately abandoned by an overwhelmed new mother and never learned how to take in fluids. A bilateral club foot/hand deformity appeared to be too scary for her to handle when handicaps often translate to short life spans and are viewed as a “bad sign” by parents. I fought and fought to teach this little one to eat so late in the game but was unsuccessful. Losing this itty bitty baby would have been entirely preventable with proper nutrition, education, and support. Sorry folks…I have great difficulty wrapping my head around that. In addition to our medical roles, I am very active in personally ensuring education and supplies reach some very special kiddos who have touched my heart in the area of Cite’ Soleil.
Prior to being involved with our annual medical clinic in Cite’ Soleil, I provided care in an acute care Cholera Hospital at the spike of the post 2010 earthquake Cholera epidemic. Amazing things happened during these missions as Cholera has been brought under control once again with medical treatment, new water systems, and community education.
