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, 1 April 2012

Dachka: An Orchid Transplanted

The first thing I noticed about my new baby were her dainty features. Her tiny eyes have a slight upward slant and are framed by elegantly shaped brows. She has a button nose and although she is pale, her skin in flawless. Her's is an exotic and fragile kind of beauty that took me by surprise, as though an orchid had been transplanted into the nursery. A flush of colour and a faint perfume were my first impressions of her.

The second thing I noticed, a second later, was the flat bridge of Dachka's nose. Next, I saw her low-set ears. I took her bony hands in mine. Turning them over, palms upwards I noted a single crease, cutting straight across each palm.

Dachka is four and a half months old and she weighs 7lb 3.5oz. She is significantly malnourished. First I saw that she was beautiful. Next I saw that she  had Down's syndrome.


7 comments:

Colleen and Jussi said...

Love spending an afternoon with you, even if it is via cyber space. Your spirit and your concern for all things in His precious sight make me so happy to call you friend.

Dizneluver said...

(((((SUSAN)))))

Dachka is GORGEOUS!!!

I can't wait to meet her in person...I will be down next week for three weeks. Let me know if you would like for me to spend extra time with her while I am down :)

loving God, Loving Haiti, Loving Dachka!!

Kelly D <>< :)

lalalulapilula said...

es un angelito de Dios. y si el lo puso en tu camino, es por que eres la persona indicada para protegerlo.
muchos besitos.
Lula :O)

Marie said...

She is gorgeous! I didn't see the Down's Syndrome either.

lifelearner said...

Bless you, Susan, as you looked at Dachka through Jesus' eyes...
Thank you for sharing. She is beautiful!
Wendy V.
Mission, BC Canada

Asha said...

What a little miracle. She is such a gift.

Valeria Jaramillo said...

ES HERMOSA! QUISIERA ADOPTARLA, SOY ARGENTINA...ME PODES AYUDAR Y DECIRME COMO HAGO?GRACIAS!!