Children admitted this week

SHELDA

She is 2 years old and weighs 20 pounds.  She is an only child.  She is suffering with kwashiorkor.  She is currently on the Medika Mamba program.

DJOUVENS (anna you would love him )

He is almost 2 years old and weighs 11 pounds.  His dad died in an auto accident and his mom died in the earthquake.  He has been passing around with different family member since his mother’s death.  He is in bad shape and very small.  Ameyah is 2 months old and weighs more than he does at 2 years old.  He is currently on the medika mamba program.

ELINE

She is 23 months old and weighs 15 pounds.  She has 1 sibling that has already died and 3 that are living at home.  Her dad stood at the gate and cried when he left her that day.  She is currently on the medika mamba program.

CLEMENE

This is her 2nd time being in the RC.  She went home in Feb 2010.  She is 2.5 years old and weighs 24 pounds.  How much of that weight you do think is from the kwashiorkor.  Her legs are splitting open from all the pressure and look at the area around her nose.  She is so swollen and in a lot of pain. She is currently on the medika mamba program.

DASME

Dasme was in the RC for about 2 years.  We were unable to locate his dad during that time.  We were going to be placing him in a orphange the following week in Aug 2009.  That same week his dad showed up.  He has been living with an aunt since them.  He went home at 34 pounds and is currently 28 pounds and has kwashiorkor.  He will lose more weight before he begins to gain.  I love this little guy so much.  He is currently on the medika mamba program. 

VITALIA

She is 13 months old and weighs 16 pounds.  This is her first time with kwashiorkor.  She is currently on the Medika Mamba program.

The girls week #2

WEEK #1

WEEK #2

We had to put a feeding tube down for Daphna as she will not eat or drink anything.  Her right leg split open so that is why it has a bandage. Her arms are like that so she cannot pull the tube out.

Thank you for believing in us, thank you for stepping forward, thank you for praying, thank you for caring, thank you for donating.  There was enough funds donated to hire new nannies for 6 months to get us over this difficult period.  We are also thinking about hiring a nurse for the night shift. We are putting together some new toddler beds today and doing our best to make this work.  God is good!

Written By Keverly (the boys first teacher)

 

What inspires me – a memory of Haiti

Not so long ago, Alphonce was just a baby.  He ate, he cried, he loved attention just like any other baby, and I loved giving it to him.  His smile, oh that perfect smile – it was my favorite.  The first time I saw him, I walked into the rescue and his 5 month old, 8 pound body was propped up so he could see what was going on.  I made a face at him and his whole face lit up back at me, I can’t describe it.  He was such a charmer. He would of been a heartbreaker, I’m sure.  Instead, my heart breaks over his story.  

The thing is, he was born in a rural village in Haiti to a bedridden mother and a father who tried, but couldn’t support him.  He should have had two brothers, but they were both dead by the time he was born.  At five months old, his hair had not once been washed.  He was bathed and fed and finally began to flash that smile.  Alphonce was a fighter and we were all so convinced that he’d be survivor too.  I don’t know how long we were blessed with loving that sweet boy, but all of a sudden he wasn’t there anymore.  That morning his tiny chest pressed desperately up and down, so weak, fighting for life.  I can only say that it was painful in every way watching him take that last breath.  He was bathed, I braided his soft hair, and we wrapped him to be buried in an unmarked, overflowing cemetery.  He had so much to offer, so much life, and he’ll never get the chance to live it.  I rest in knowing that he is with my God forever, and will never again know the pain he experienced in his short life on earth.

At this moment, people all around the world are fighting for breath, starving for food and love, enduring death, poverty, and suffering.  They are not so far away, not so different from us.  Alphonce is only one, as is my sister, Daphca, who won her fight for life.  When I look at her, I am so proud of her spunky personality, her beauty, how smart she is.  We will never take her precious life for granted; we know it is a gift because we saw it almost slip away.  I, on the other hand, was born in America.  I’ve never wondered if I would have enough food to live, never worried about being abandoned or neglected. While I don’t wish that I knew what such a painful life is like, I want my heart to break for what breaks God’s heart.  I am blessed; we are blessed.  I don’t understand why, but that provides us so much opportunity if we take advantage of each day and don’t lose perspective of that gift.  

I never want to forget what a privilege it is to be alive.  Even more, I get to live in a sturdy building surrounded by wonderful friends, take hot showers, find medicine when I am sick, eat when I’m hungry, drink clean water, live a life so incredibly privileged that many of my friends could not begin to imagine it if they tried.  Not only am I literate, but I’m studying in my field of choice and will someday get to decide where and how I will live.  Never let me take that for granted.  Never let me complain about trivial things.  Alphonce’s memory, so vivid in my mind, the memories of many, many others who did and didn’t make it, as well as the strong children, men, and women who suffer still, are such inspiration to not waste this time.  We have to let our hearts be broken in order to live as we were created to live, every single day.  

I Saw What I Saw – Sara Groves

I saw what I saw and I can’t forget it 

I heard what I heard and I can’t go back 

I know what I know and I can’t deny it 

Something on the road, cut me to the soul 

Your pain has changed me 

your dream inspires 

your face a memory 

your hope a fire 

your courage asks me what I’m afraid of 

(what I am made of) 

and what I know of love 

we’ve done what we’ve done and we can’t erase it 

we are what we are and it’s more than enough 

we have what we have but it’s no substitution 

Something on the road, touched my very soul 

I say what I say with no hesitation 

I have what I have and I’m giving it up 

I do what I do with deep conviction 

Something on the road, changed my world 

Help needed

This is the first time in a very long time that I have turned away kids from the RC.  So far today I have admitted 4 and gave 3 children appointment to return in two weeks.  There are 3 more kids with kwashiorkor sitting on the benches waiting to be seen by the nurses.  I will make the decision about them soon.  The 4 that we admitted today will not be alive in 2 weeks without some kind of help.  The other 3 have a fighting chance to live if their parents will work with them.  We have no beds left in the RC.  Tonight we will be making beds on the floor with blankets and whatever we can find for the remaining kids.   

I need everyone to pray for these kids.  Pray for them to live.  Pray for their families.

I need you to pray that the families that have kids that are ready to return home come and pick up their kids so that we have room for other.

I need you to pray for our staff who are overwhelmed and doing there best to take care of everyone.

I need to hire extra staff members for at least a month.  We need to hire 7 new nannies immediately–like today.  We are doing the best we can with the resources we have at this time.  For these 7 staff member I will need $100 a piece for their pay.  This is only a total of $700 that I need to raise immediately.  If you can help with this urgent need please email me at licia@realhopeforhaiti.org  Please pray and share this need with others.  If we can raise more that $700 that would be great and we could take in some more children.  Overwhelmed and praying for miracles here at RHFH.

links

Read here an Article about Haitian Students moving to Senegal.

I do not understand why God keeps blessing me each year with great, wonderful, loving teachers for my boys.  I am so, so thankful for Keverly, Anna and now Mary.  She has a blog that you can check out here.

Elita

On Monday I posted the picture above of Elita.  She had been improving and doing so well.  Yesterday morning she became ill and died this morning at 3 am.  It was neurological.  Something was going on inside of her that we  could not help.  We could only try to comfort her and make her more comfortable.  She screamed on and off all yesterday afternoon and evening and began having seizures around 9pm. 

As I gave her a bath this morning and prepared her body for burial this afternoon I am again discouraged.  I do not understand why these things happen.  I used to try to figure them out.  I used to be upset about it.  I even have questioned God.   But ….to do what we do every..single…day…we must trust God….and know that we know that we know….He is in control of every single part of our lives.  He will help me with my discouragement. It is not easy, this work He has called us to do.  But we will continue to press-on.

Joshua 1:8-10 (New International Version)

⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

kwashiorkor reposted

Here is some good info for Kwashiorkor.

Kwashiorkor is a form of malnutrition caused by inadequate protein intake in the presence of fair to good energy (total calories) intake.

Causes

Kwashiorkor occurs most commonly in areas of famine, limited food supply, and low levels of education, which can lead to inadequate knowledge of proper diet.

Early symptoms of any type of malnutrition are very general and include fatigue, irritability, and lethargy. As protein deprivation continues, growth failure, loss of muscle mass, generalized swelling (edema), and decreased immunity occur.

A large, protuberant belly is common. Skin conditions (such as dermatitis, changes in pigmentation, thinning of hair, and vitiligo) are seen frequently. Shock and coma precede death.

The incidence of kwashiorkor in children in the U.S. is extremely low and only rare, isolated cases are seen.

This is typically a disease of impoverished countries, and is often seen in the midst of drought or political turmoil. Improving calorie and protein intake will correct kwashiorkor, provided that treatment is not started too late. However, full height and growth potential will never be achieved in children who have had this condition.

Severe kwashiorkor may leave a child with permanent mental and physical disabilities. There is good statistical evidence that malnutrition early in life permanently decreases IQ.

Risk factors include living in impoverished countries, countries in political unrest, and countries affected by frequent natural disasters (such as drought). These conditions are directly or indirectly responsible for scarcity of food which leads to malnutrition.

Symptoms

• Failure to gain weight and failure of linear growth
• Irritability
• Lethargy or apathy
• Decreased muscle mass
• Swelling (edema)
• Large belly that stick out (protrudes)
• Diarrhea
• Dermatitis
• Changes in skin pigment; may lose pigment where the skin has peeled away (desquamated) and the skin may darken where it has been irritated or traumatized
• Hair changes — hair color may change, often lightening or becoming reddish, thin, or brittle
• Iincreased and more severe infections due to damaged immune system
• Shock (late stage)
• Coma (late stage)

 

Treatment

Treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition. Shock requires immediate treatment with restoration of blood volume and maintenance of blood pressure.

Calories are given first in the form of carbohydrates, simple sugars, and fats. Proteins are started after other caloric sources have already provided increased energy. Vitamin and mineral supplements are essential.

Since the person will have been without much food for a long period of time, starting oral feedings can present problems, especially if the caloric density is too high at first. Food must be reintroduced slowly, carbohydrates first to supply energy, followed by protein foods.

Many malnourished children will have developed intolerance to milk sugar (lactose intolerance) and will need to be given supplements with the enzyme lactase, if they are to benefit from milk products.

Expectations (prognosis)

Treatment early in the course of kwashiorkor generally produces good results. Treatment of kwashiorkor in its late stages will improve the child’s general health, but he or she may be left with permanent physical problems and intellectual disabilities. Without treatment or if treatment comes too late, this condition is fatal.

article provided by  http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/kwashiorkor/overview.html

These two girl….

are feeling much better after a few weeks of medika mamba!

ROSELANDE

ELITA

Ameyah-2 months old

We often find little toys beside Ameyah when she is sleeping.  Trey says he does not want her to be by herself when she sleeps

kwashiorkor-repost

What is kwashiorkor? Click here

Mackenson after 2 weeks on the medika mamba program.  He has gone from 19 pounds 8 ounces to 16 pounds 12 ounces. This is good not bad.  His little body is trying to recover and get back to normal.  He must lose this “water weight”  to begin the process.

Interesting article on kwashiorkor

Approximately 50% of the 10 million deaths each year in developing countries occur because of malnutrition in children younger than 5 years.

In kwashiorkor, mortality tends to decrease as the age of onset increases