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.





Tuesday 22 March 2011

The Riches of the Poor

'Petite se riches melere'
'Children are the riches of the poor' (Haitian proverb)

On Saturday night, in a near-desert area, north of Port-au-Prince, an expectant Mother spiked a high fever. On Sunday, when her stomach was seized by gripping pains, her heart was overcome with dread. Please, Lord, not again. Italic

Erikson, was born 10 weeks prematurely in Cazale. He is is Mother's 4th child. The children who came before him all died in the days after they were born, or were miscarried in late pregnancy.

Erikson was born yesterday, desperately ill. We treated him in GLA's NICU for pneumonia and suspected meningitis. He was in a lot of pain.

I was up all night stabilising Erikson. He was on CPAP and was given high doses of IV antibiotics. He was also treated for seizures .

As I was typing up this post, I was called to the NICU. Erikson had stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated.

His Mother is a Christian lady. She has suffered tremendous loss, three times over, and yet, her trust in the Lord, and by extension, her trust in the GLA nursing staff, is absolute.

I cried out to God for mercy. I wanted to be able to send this mother home with treasure in her arms, a precious baby baby, strong and healthy. Her inheritance from the Lord.

Erikson died tonight. His devastated Mother will leave GLA with nothing but our prayers.

2 comments:

nicnacpaddywac said...

I am so so sorry. I can't imagine what that poor mum is going through; my thoughts are very much with her.

Anonymous said...

Oh, God of Mercy, fill the heart of Erikson's mom with you. Overflow her senses, carry her, hold her gently. Lord Jesus, please surround her with your breath. Help her to mourn in a way that does not crush her, but brings her closer to you. Amen

After having four miscarriages and one stillborne little boy, I know her pain is beyond measure, only God can fill the gaping hole left in her body and arms. He does and He will.
Esther