This afternoon, I set aside some time to write thank you notes to the folks that support our family as we minister here at HOPE (I am notoriously bad at this, 3 months to do!). I often invite one of the girls upstairs into our apartment for some special quiet playtime when I have some paperwork to do. We keep a dollhouse and some other special toys upstairs for these special times. Today Lovely came up to play.
Lovely is three years old. She came to HOPE when she was 17 months old. We were actually picking up Monese when the lady of the house told us she had a sick baby that was probably going to die. Would we take her? She weighed 13 pounds and was so sick. She had stick-like arms and legs, swollen joints, a bloated belly, brittle orange hair and dark dry patches of skin that flaked off when she was touched. I remember crying as Tim drove us to the hospital, sure she would not last the hour long drive (I spent 15 years as an ER nurse before coming to Haiti so it took a lot to shake me up). She was literally one step away from death.
We made it to the hospital and went directly to the emergency room, which was literally a room with 40 year old questionable equipment. Our hospital experience is a story in itself but Lovely was ultimately admitted for treatment that included 2 IVs for rehydration, multiple antibiotics and other medications and a unit of blood. After five days, we felt we could care for her safely at home and brought her home to HOPE.
Fast forward 1 ½ years, plenty of love, nutritious food and God’s great mercy and we arrive at today.
Lovely played with the dollhouse for a while before searching out something a little more exciting to get into. Any of you that have spent time with a three year old know how persistent they can be at finding trouble. We finally settled on pushing a chair up to the kitchen sink, filling it with water and adding cups, spoons, ladles, sponges and soap. Lovely has passed an enjoyable hour playing in the water and my thank you notes still need done.
God is good, all the time.