In Septemeber 2008, I traveled 6000 miles to Haiti's Kenscoff mountains. My mission: to care for some of the orphaned and abandoned, the sick, malnourished and premature infants of this beautiful but beleagured Caribbean nation.





Sunday 3 October 2010

Bye Bye Jeff!

He came to us weighing 3.5 pounds. He was 8 days old and he hadn't been fed since he was born. He was dehydrated, hypothermic and struggling to breathe. We sent him home this week.... He weighed almost 7lb!

Jeff was our second CPAP baby, a living breathing miracle. He came so far in his sojourn, with us, at GLA's intensive care nursery. We will miss Jeff, but we are pleased to have been able to send him home, strong and healthy, to his family.

Had his Mother carried him to term, Jeff would have been born right around now. Many Haitian babies are born weighing 5lb or less, so Jeff is bigger, better nourished and more robust than many of his contemporaries. His young Mother, who was sometimes less than thankful for our work with Jeff and with her, was all smiles and gratitude when she left the orphanage with him.

I believe that we have made a difference in his life - to his chances of going on to live a healthy, productive life. I think that to some extent, Jeff's Mother appreciates this too!

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