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 13 March 2012

Unfaded Beauty

We admitted a sibling set to GLA's main house late yesterday afternoon. This morning, with the help of a colleague, I recorded their vital statistics.

Anel, the little boy on the left of the photograph weighed in at 12lb 15.5oz and his length was 63cm. 
Wiseline, the little girl to the right weighed 13lb 14oz and measured 68cm in length.

Twins? The colleague asked.
'No.'
She gazed up from the admission paperwork, looking mildly surprised. 
We have been told that Anel is three months old. Wiseline is his older sister. She turned two at the beginning of March!

Her growth is severely stunted, and she is moderately underweight for her height. When I heard that she could barely crawl, I groaned inwardly. Children like Wiseline, whose tiny bodies have endured years of malnutrition can be extremely difficult to rehabilitate. Often, they have chronic health problems,  remain delayed in their development for years, and go on to develop learning difficulties in school.  Now that I've actually seen her though, I am feeling optimistic about this tiny girl's recovery. 

Her general health is remarkably good and she has surprising strength in her spindly legs. She has a good appetite, a brightness in her eyes and an openness to her new caregivers that makes me hopeful. So long as this child doesn't have any medical conditions that have contributed to her malnutrition, the chances are that she will adjust well to orphanage life, and go on to grow and thrive. 

Malnutrition has a way of stealing so much from children. One thing I am sure you will agree Wiseline has not lost, is her beauty. That is unfaded. 

'I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten' Joel 2:25

6 comments:

Jordana said...

Susan, They are SO beautiful. Are these two up for adoption? Or are they just temporary placements?

haglunds2haiti said...

what sweet faces. i am so sorry for her and pray that your care at gla can do her well.
cathleen

Marie said...

Glad they found their way to you! They are both super adorable! Praying for forever families for all the kids!

Leah said...

I wish I lived in another country that allowed me to adopt these two precious kiddies they are adorable ! I hope a forever family comes for them soon.xxx

Sha Zam- said...

My son. Was 2 years old. 16 (bloated pounds and 27(?) inches. Unbloated to 12 lbs. Stunted. Yes. Scared. Absolutely. Healing- Praise yes. In 7 months with care and feeding he grew 14 teeth, 5 inches and weighed almost 30 lbs. 2 years later, he thrives in school. Thrives on challenge. Overcomes obstacles including food issues, attachment problems, activity and sensory things... he and He over come them. He is now almost 5. Weighs 46 lbs and 44 inches tall. It has been a long hard worthy road. I wouldn't change it for a minute.

The Mahnke Family said...

Our dossier is now in the hands of our agency....we have our I-171...we are willing....we have looked at this post probably 20-30 times this week...trusting in God's plan!