I am back in Haiti!! It’s good to be back after so long away.
This was the first time coming into Haiti in 17 years that I had trouble with customs.
It’s obvious that people are having trouble getting by these days. Customs threatened to take away all of the prenatal vitamins and Iron supplements that I brought back for the maternity clinic. They said it was illegal (which they’re not). You can order from Amazon in Haiti and they are all available on Amazon. So, after some “negotiations” I was allowed to keep the vitamins. Good news for my Mamas!!
It’s been slower getting back to things this time since the clinics are not operating normally yet.
This is a good thing as it’s been more difficult than usual to readjust to the heat this time. My first night back it was 96 in my room when I went to sleep. It only dropped to 88 by morning. The concrete holds so much heat that radiates out of the ceiling and walls all night.
Today (Sunday) tropical storm Laura came though Haiti. There has been a fair amount of rain and some wind, but nothing bad where I am. Port-au-Prince (PAP) was outside of the direct path. There has been the typical flooding that comes with any significant rain, though. So, for many, it’s been difficult with the lack or drainage and flood control. The rain has cooled things off, though, and the temperatures today have been wonderful!
I have seen all of the patients that are still involved in maternity, malnutrition, and wound care. The newborn check-ups are always one of the best things.
This is little Jean Paul. He was born the day before my birthday on July 20th! He is a healthy 9.7 lbs today!!
The clinics will move back to the normal location on September 1 and new patients will be accepted again. Medical clinic will be delayed until Corona seems to be mostly in check (so we don’t become an exposure site).
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In May of 2019 Elisee Donlove lit a candle in his house not realizing there was a can of gasoline in the room. The gas flashed over and burned his home down. He had burns to his face, chest, back arms and legs.
He lived out in Jeremie, in the southern peninsula. The worst of the burns were to his chest, left shoulder and back. He came to PAP four months later began looking for additional medical care.
Karen let him stay at her compound. We continued treating his burns in the wound care program. He was unable to find additional medical care in PAP. He was very self-conscious of his burns which have now completely healed, but left a lot of scares.
The other day I was planning to go to the store with Jackenson. Jackenson asked me if I could do something for someone. I said, “Sure. What?” He said Donlove wants to go with us.
Jackenson told me Donlove bought new clothes the day before and he’s ready to go out (he hadn’t worn a shirt for about 14 months!).
The next day we loaded up and headed to the grocery store. On the way we talked about him going out. He said it has been 11 months and 2 days since he had been more than a few steps outside of Karen’s compound. He was thrilled to be out driving around the city. At the store we got the things I needed and I told him he could pick a drink and snack. He was very excited to get a bottle of Pepsi and a pack of cookies.
On the way home Jackenson let him set up in the front seat. We started talking about the experience and found out this was the first time in his 21 years that he had ever been to a grocery store or pushed a shopping cart. He had only used open street markets. He couldn’t believe all the food inside. It also was the first time he had ever worn a seatbelt in a vehicle.
Donlove and I after our big adventure around town!!
It was such a blessing to be able to take him out and give him a little taste of freedom as well as some new experiences. He plans to stay in PAP for a while. Please pray that he will continued to get better use of his left shoulder and that he doesn’t deal with too much discrimination from his injury (which is part of the fear that’s kept him inside). People here often look down on anyone who’s “different” or has a disability. Many people believe disabilities are a result of evil in your life.
That night at dinner Jackenson said that he was telling everyone the many details of his exciting day out with me. He told them “Kelby must have just bought a bunch of ice because it was so cold in his car!” So apparently it was also his first exposure to air-conditioning!!
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“Thank you” never seems like enough to say for your support of this ministry. I can’t do this without you! I hope you can have a sense of how thankful Donlove is, not just for the trip out on the town, but for the months of care that has allowed him to heal so that he can feel comfortable going back out into society. Because of you, lives are being changed, and they are forever grateful!
Until No Child Dies,
Kelby