We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes. -David Platt

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Baby Theodore

Baby Theodore got admitted to the hospital almost two weeks ago.  He was so severely dehydrated and malnourished when he first showed up that we weren't even sure that he would survive.  Almost eight months old, he was the size of a newborn.  Sadly, Teddy was also abandoned by his family.  But he got plenty of loving and TLC from all the volunteers.  Over the last week Teddy came to life.  He still can hardly drink anything from a bottle and gets all his nutrition through a feeding tube, but he started smiling and yesterday I got him to laugh!  Moments like that are the best part of being in Haiti.  He was doing so well that he was discharged from our hospital yesterday and transferred to a malnourishment center for long term care and he has an adoptive family waiting for him!

Teddy early on in his hospitalization

Baby Teddy, all smiles!

Teaching Teddy farm animal sounds with the iPhone :)

I went to get a coke and came back with a baby...


Yesterday morning I was heading to the gate to get one of the guards to buy me a coke.  When I got to the courtyard there was a lot of commotion going on in the street, just outside the gates of the hospital.  One of the Haitian EMTs checked on the situation and said that there was a lady about to give birth in the street.  Since, we aren't allowed to leave the hospital property it took some convincing to get the guards to open the gates for us.  But one of them escorted us across the street where the baby was delivered on the road.  Great luck that Joanna, an OBGYN, was working in triage that morning!  Joanna and Mitch stayed to take care of the mom and passed me the baby.  I ran her back to the triage tent to examine her.  Mom and baby both did great and went home that afternoon.  I told everybody, "I was just going to get a coke and I came back with a baby." :) Just a typical Saturday morning in Haiti!

Mitch, Me, Joanna, and Sanja with our special delivery

Healthy baby girl

Jim, one of the Haitian EMTs.  It was his first time holding a baby!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Back in Haiti

I've been back in Haiti for the past week.  I was so ready to get back down here.  As soon as I arrived I felt like I was back home.  There have been several new challenges as a result of funding changes and the loss of a major grant that was previously supporting the hospital.  Despite the difficulties and challenges there are also plenty of moments that bring a smile to my face and remind me why I'm here.  I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Port Au Prince this year!