Babies

home title Posted by JBA Haiti on Jun 28th, 2007 | no comments home title

Part of what I enjoy most about mission life in Haiti is the babies. I get to be Mama Cheryl to literally hundreds of children. My reward- more hugs and kisses than you can imagine.

This is Dourison (held by Juna who loves babies, too). Dourison is almost 3 months old and is the newest addition to our Haiti family. His mother is mentally ill and unable to care for him. She has abandoned him for days at a time. He is in very good shape for his situation- what a blessing he was brought to us so soon.


Taking in a new baby, interviewing the relatives, and evaluating the situation, is one of the most difficult tasks I have to do. While the children are a blessing, listening to someone who loves a child talk of their inability to care for him and then plead for help is almost unbearable. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions.

This new baby is Garsandy. He is less fortunate. He is suffering from severe malnutrition. Although he is 2 years old, he is unable to pull up, stand, or even sit without being propped up. He will have a long recovery back to full health. We are thankful we are able to care for him.

When children are sick or hurt I’m glad I can be there to hold them and mother them and cry with them.

This baby is the child of one of our employees. He was very concerned because the child had a fever for several days. In Haiti, I’m Dr. Mom sometimes! It’s OK- it gives me a chance to get to know the whole family and when they know I really care about them they are ready to hear that I’m only giving the same love Jesus gives me.

After checking the baby out, I felt confident that he only had a cold. So why were these parents so concerned? In Haiti, where immunizations, doctors and medicine is so hard to come by- it is common for a child to die before his 5th birthday. A fever in an infant is terrifying when you’ve seen so many babies die- maybe even one of your own.
They are always grateful for whatever help I can give them- even if sometimes they are hesitant to accept that nothing is seriously wrong and want some kind of medicine to be sure their baby gets better. I think I might feel the same way. I try to use the opportunity- while I have their attention- to educate them on good care, nutrition, and disspelling harmful traditions.
This is John, another of our workers, and his son John Sley who lives with his grandmother. John asked to bring the baby in for me to look at, saying he is always sick. I can tell right away from the swelling and condition of the baby that although he does have a fever & cough, his big problem is kwash (severe malnutrition). John says the grandmother feeds the baby, but since he’s sick he just can’t eat or drink anything. It doesn’t do any good to argue. He really believes what he’s saying is true. I go to the kitchen and mix some infant formula in a sippy cup and bring it to him (Thank you to all of you who’ve donated these things!). John Sley takes the cup & gulps it right down. It is difficult to understand how someone who loves their children could be so neglectful- but after living in Haiti for some time now I’m coming to see it isn’t so much neglect as ignorance… and by the way, John does love his baby! I try to impress on John that if this isn’t corrected John Sley will soon die. To try and make sure he is properly cared for ( I really don’t know why he isn’t getting any food) and to help John realize that I’m not just going to take his baby and raise him for him, we agree that John should bring John Sley in for several hours each day, so that we can provide formula and monitor his progress. He is improving already… the fluid is slowly coming off. Praise Him!

It’s not always a horror story. Many moments (and even some whole days!) are joy-filled. Sometimes I get to be present for the birth of little one. Now nothing is more precious than that!



I get to be there to teach them new things and see the world through the eyes of a child again. I especially love the firsts. I get to play games, puzzles & toys; teach them how to hit a ball, sew a skirt, and how to swim. I even take them on their first ever trip to the beach and show them jellyfish, pufferfish, starfish and conch shells.

I get to see the excitement on little faces when I pass out school uniforms, or shoes, or even better- a special gift from a sponsor back in the U.S. This is Lonise who is sponsored by the ladies from St. Matthews Baptist.
I get to be Mama not only to the children in the orphanage and the school, but everywhere I go- out past the well, walking through the village, trekking up the mountain, sometimes even in Cabaret- children smile and wave and call out “Mama Cherie”!
 Another favorite time is Sunday mornings. I get to hold many little ones on my lap and love on them, let them help me find my place in the hymnal or my Kreyol Bible, listen to them giggle as I try to sing and pray in Kreyol, and best of all tell them about JESUS!
I can’t thank you enough for providing funds and practical, basic necessities for taking care of babies. You really are His hands & feet (and maybe even laps!) in Haiti. If you’d like to get your church involved by collecting needed items or sending a team to rock babies, just give me a holler!

Needed now: crib sheets, formula, peanut butter, book bags, $$ for school books
Sponsors needed for Dourison & Garsendy

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