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 17 April 2011

Ordinary Wonders

When Kerven's was first admitted, his body was rigid. His limbs were so stiff that his legs 'scissored' at the knees. After a few days of treatment, the electrolytes in his blood normalized. Still, his muscles remained extremely tight.

He had a poor appetite, he was not digesting his feeds well and he was irritable and difficult to console. When he was not crying and writhing, he would slip into an exhausted sleep. The tension was clearly evident on his taut, bony face.

We soothed him as best we could and we prayed that he would receive God's healing and his peace. With gentle care, encouragement and good nutrition, Kervens began to relax. It took time and patience, but he did become more settled and alert. He began to suck better and his weight increased.

Now, holding him nestled in my arms, and hearing him coo, I am filled with wonder. It is a very normal thing, to cuddle a baby, and to hear them coo but it always feels special. This week though, I appreciate the beauty of everyday wonders in a new way. Just a short time ago, Kervens was anxious and fretful, and so highly stressed that he 'constricted', and became tense inside and out. Now he is contented and happy, and I am experiencing all of his baby behaviour, and the world he is awakening to, as a phenomenon, just as Kervens is.

2 comments:

mbs said...

What a beautiful picture. You can see his peace in his unclenched fingers. What a blessing. Smother him with kisses from Canada for me :)

Brittnei said...

I am craving that cuddle time. He is beautiful! Missing you all and missing those babes