Up for a challenge?

This post was written today on the MAT blog. 

Prayers…
Please keep praying for Baby Bear. He is holding strong for now but his back is definitely leaking spinal fluid. Bear has run a fever on and off. He is receiving medication daily to help keep an infection away but is definitely on borrowed time and we need everyone to keep praying for him. The passports for both children are possibly going to be ready Monday and if so- then they might be able to have Visa appointments and leave Haiti next week. If not, it could be the following week- please pray for the passport and visa NEXT week. Please also pray for his caregivers as they work to make the best possible decisions and to give Bear the best possible care.

Fedna continues to do great- praise!!

Wow! Wow! Wow!
Because of your generosity and kindness- we have already raised an amazing $975 towards travel expenses for Bear and Fedna. We are getting really close to our goal of $1500 (for two plane tickets from Haiti to Texas).

And a challenge:
We have had an anonymous donor offer to match dollar for dollar your donations up to $250! (Thank you anonymous donor!) If we can just spread the word and even let people know about how far your $5- $10 will go (it becomes $10-$20 instantly)- what a blessing that would be. If we can match up to the $250- then we have the $500 and we will have basically met our goal!

We will post an update on Baby Bear and the Challenge as soon as we have news.
Thanks again for all of your support and kindness.

The Medical Advocacy Team

So the challenge is there…..if you are interested you can go to the blog here.  Every dollar will make a difference in the life of Berlange (Baby Bear). You can make a difference!  We love the people that are involved with the MAT team.  They are very special to us and have helped us here at RHFH so much!  They will do whatever they can to find help for children in need of medical attention.  If you would like to donate you can click here

Going home…coming back

Life goes on here….even during the holidays

Mirlene died on Christmas Eve….

These next two kids are near death.  I thought they would die on Christmas…but they are still here

Guefton is having a low grade fever and his eyes are pointed up.(like in the picture)  We started meds and he is doing better but still on an IV.

Mackenlove #3 is not doing well at all.  His little legs have holes all over them where his skin is breaking down.  He was on an IV for 2 days and has a feeding tube in.

We talked to his mom on the phone and told her that he was in bad shape and would most likely not make it.  That was Wednesday and she showed up today (Fri).  When I asked her why she did not come right away, her response was that she was busy.

When a parent does not come back to visit their child, and they are ready to return home, we have to find them ourselves.  Deadline was admited in April of 2008 .  No one has been to see her in about 6 months.  So I sent a staff member to the village of La Digue to find the parents of Deadline. She was refered to us by Dr. Jen for a huge abcess on her backside and she was malnourished.  When admitted she was 16 months old and weighed 12 pounds. 

Here she is going home at 22 pounds.

 

So back to the story…when a staff member goes to find the parents, he takes a picture of the child with the mother that is taken when the child is admitted, we take down an address.  No this is not like 345 Pearl street or something like that.  The address here are for example….go to the village of XXXXX when you get there go to the Catholic church, make a right and walk past the mango tree, after you pass the mango tree ask for Jean.  Tell Jean my name and he will get you to me.  So that is how a parent is found.  Anyways…..when the staff member was asking for the parents someone asked him where he was from.  He told them who had send him and he was from Cazale.   She said can you come in my yard for a minute?  He said okay….when he got there he found a child that had been at the RC before

 Thsi is Michelot  in Nov of 2007.  He weighed 9 pounds and was 8 months old. 

He stayed with us until Sept of 2008.  Here he is going home at 20 pounds

In just 4 months he has lost almost 4 pounds and is in the beginning stages of kwashiorkor.  So they asked the staff member to call me on the phone  and see if I would be willing to take him back into the RC.   We answered with a big yes.  Here he is today.  

This is Elouikel. 

He was burned when he was a child and his hand healed like this

He had surgery done here in Haiti.  The y released two of  his fingers.  They are healed up now, so he is going home for a few weeks.  He will have surgery in Jan to release the other two fingers.

This is Siliane.  She had surgery done here in Haiti as well.  She has been staying in the RC recovering and waiting for her mother to come back.

Her mom was so happy to see her and was shocked at the change in her appearence.  Here she is going home this week.

 The next two are sisters.  This is Nithana.  She was 22 pounds here.

Almost four months later. Going home.

Here is her sister Nathacha.  Here she is at 23 pounds.

Going home at 30 pounds.

This is Viana at 17 pounds.  Her mom was scared as she had already lost a child to kwashiorkor. 

going home at 22 pounds.

 Adrien went home this week as well.  Cannot find his before picture. 

**So we had lots of children that returned home this week. When the ladies went to lay down the beds last night there were four empty beds.  They looked at me like they did not know what to do.  Four empty beds????We have not had a empty bed in months…But with clinic being closed for the holidays we are expecting that the first week of Jan will bring us more children. 

**They boys and Enoch left to stay in town until Monday.  They are going to go watch a 4 wheeler race…yeah..in Haiti.  The boys were so excited.  What will I do without them for 3 days? 

**There has been a host family found for Bear and Fedna.  These are our two children with the spina bifida.  The MAT team and Jamie are raising funds for tickets.  Check out there post if interested in helping to gets these two to the states quickly for surgery.

**Thanks to everyone that wrote about helping with the website. We are hoping to get started soon!

Jwaye Noel! Merry Christmas

Lots of things have been happening around here these past few days.  New kids, kids going home, kid that have died, major cuts etc.   I will update some in the next few days.  I SO APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU! I appreciate all of your prayers and encouraging words.  We will be spending christmas morning here in Cazale with the boys.  We pray each of you have a special, relaxing day with your families.  God bless you! 

Luke 2:8-19

8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

 13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

 15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

 19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

A few years back

present

A few years back

present

a few year back

present

Prayer

Lori’s husband, Charles, has been sick for the past few days.  Will you pray for him?  He is having fever, headaches, backaches, vomiting,etc.   Two malaria test have been negative.  Thanks so much!

Web-site

Any one out there know of a good person that could help up update our website??  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Email me at licia@realhopeforhaiti.org

happenings this week….

Lissa died on Thursday afternoon.  Little babies usually do, their bodies can just not take the shock of Kwashiorkor on their system at such a young age.  She was 3 months old and weighed 4 pounds.

This is Makenlove #3 he is 21 months old and weighs 19 pounds.  He has kwashiorkor, vomiting, fever and cough. 

The kwashiorkor is so bad that his legs are splitting open.  He is eating fair and this is his first time with kwashiorkor.

This is Rosemonde. She is 12 months old and weighs 10 pounds.  She is suffering from fever and kwashiorkor.  She makes child number 8.  The family states that the mother went crazy after Rosemonde was born and died a few months ago.

This is Mirlene.  He is 6 months old. He weighs 5 pounds.  His mom said that did not want to breastfed him.  So she decided to give him sugar water and flour.  He has had kwashiorkor one time.  He has lost his suck reflex.  We are working with a syringe to get him to drink.  He is in bad shape. Will you pray for him?

This is Frandes.  He was burned at his home with with hot water.  He is 20 months old. He lives a 6 hour walk one way from the clinic.  So he is staying with us for daily dressing changes until his burn area heals.

This is Sophia.  She is 3 months old and weighs 7 pounds.  The mother died right after she was born.  Dad (in picture) has been trying to feed her but needs to go work in the fields to provide for the other children.

Remember Rosalie???  The one that had the terrrible, huge, infected  heal.  She was going to leave to have her foot amputated the morning after the flood. This is her foot when it started falling apart.

This is the day the back of her heal fell off.

Here it is today. Nothing but a miracle and Roslie thanks Him for it everyday.

Here is Kelly at his new home.  He is putting a decoration on the christmas tree

This is Berline.  She has been here for several months.  Her dad comes and visits every Tuesday.  He stays the whole day and cries the whole time. He said if she would die he would not be able to live.  He loves her so much and is going through so much with losing his wife (Berline’s mom). 

 

She is doing fair and gaining weigh slowly.  We talked and both felt it would be better, emotionally for the dad, if she returned home. He does not live that far away and can get here if she is having some type of problem.  He was so thankful and I think she will do great with her dad.

Needs being met..

I wanted to let everyone know both the needs below for sewing  uniforms and the replacement chairs have been met!  Praise the Lord! 

Psalm 96:10-12 (The Message)

 10 Get out the message—God Rules!
   He put the world on a firm foundation;
   He treats everyone fair and square.

 11 Let’s hear it from Sky,
   With Earth joining in,
   And a huge round of applause from Sea.

 12 Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
   Animals, come dance,
   Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

 

uniforms and replacement seats

The material below was donated by someone in the states.  It is all scrub like material.  It has been making its way to Haiti over the past few weeks.  I believe that it is all here now and we are ready to start sewing!  We are going to start out with dresses for the girls.  We will then work on shorts and shirts for the boys.  I have found three ladies here in Cazale that will sew the dresses for me.  Each dress will cost $1.07US.  I am having them make them by the dozen.  So I will be able to get a dozen dresses for $12.84 US.  Each ladies is working to get two dozen done before the end of the year.

Here are what the models of the dresses look like.  They are simple and cool for this hot weather.  It you are interested in helping with this project please let me know.  licia@realhopeforhaiti.org I am hoping for $77.04 to be able to make 6 dozen dresses for the girls.

R emember this wonderful feeding table that was donated last year?  Well shortly after the flood, it feel apart–water and termites were to blame.

I kept the seats and the recent team that was here welded a new table for us.  This is after the holes were cut.

Here are what the new tables look like!  Yes, I love them!

We are in need of four more seats to complete the two tables.  That would make 12 extra seat for the younger kids that are to small to sit at the tables.

Here is a picture of some seats that we can buy. Here is the link to a site that sells them.  They are on sale right now.  With shipping each seat will be $30.59.  I am hoping for four seats at a cost of $122.36. 

 

Thanks to all of you that wrote about bringing the papers for Berlange and Fedna in for us.  We have found someone coming in within the next few weeks. 

Also we have found someone to transport the wheelchair to  Anderson, where it will be packed on the next container. 

The picture of Rosena was purchased today as well

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

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Proverbs 3:12-14 (The Message)

 5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
   Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
   your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
   give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
   your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
   don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
   a father’s delight is behind all this. 

Artist for Hope

I have written before about Artist for Hope. This organization is raising funds for RHFH.  They have a portrait of a child in the RC that is for sale here.  All proceeds go straight to RHFH.  Check it out!

Berlange needs a host family

We are so excited about the funds that have been raised in the past few days for the paperwork and visas for Berlange and Fedna.  Praise the Lord!

We are still in need of two things right now:

1. a host family living in the Austin, TX area for Berlange

2. someone that in traveling to Haiti in the next few weeks to hand carry in the paper work from the states

If you or anyone you know are interested in doing either of these things for us please let me know at licia@realhopeforhaiti.org