I hope that you are enjoying this season of Christmas and time with family and friends!

I am back in Michigan and doing just that — enjoying the season.  In the past, Christmas break has been short (because the clinics are closed while I am gone). 

This year I felt I needed to extend the time away. Especially as things in Haiti have been filled with trials, unrest, security issues, and even difficulty getting out to do everyday tasks. 

Thankfully, the clinic only had to be closed one day due to the unrest in the streets. But the stress of it all does take a toll.

I am looking forward to a time of renewal while I am away for this Christmas season.  I spent 295 days in Haiti in 2019. I am thankful for your prayers and safety over the last several months when things were at their worst.

———

You may remember Roseberlin from my post on June 10th.  She was about 2 months old when she came in and only weight 1.58 kg (3.4 lbs).  She was sent to inpatient care for her extreme malnutrition.  Mom didn’t stay at the malnutrition center as long as they would have liked. But, Mom was, at least, attending a few appointments for weight checks — but then they disappeared. 

After some time, Mom finally returned to the clinic! And 8-month-old Roseberlin now weights 6.5 kg (14.3 lbs).

She is very underweight for her age and height. So in an attempt to keep Roseberlin healthy and her brain developing properly, she has been admitted back into the malnutrition clinic.  Please pray that her mom will follow the program. Roseberlin needs to be able to avoid the devastating effects of malnutrition.

———

Maternity clinic continues to be a busy program.  Probably about 60% of my moms will deliver before I get back to Haiti just after the new year. Please pray with me that they have safe deliveries without complications — and that their babies are healthy as well.

The last 2 clinic days for maternity patients before I left, I gave out just over 5,000 pills to get them through until I come back. 

Anemia continues to be a big problem for expectant mothers, and it’s a challenge to keep up with the need for Prenatal vitamins, Iron supplements, and the stool softeners. Many Moms are on for the high doses of iron.

———

“I love babies and could spend all day holding them!”  This is what I told them at clinic the other day during the opening education. But the problem is, when most babies show up at clinic, it generally means they’re sick, suffering, or have problems.

But despite this, I still love to hold them and to do everything possible to make them happy and healthy and give their parents the ability to care for their children. Life is difficult in Haiti these days. And being able to provide free medical care so the parents don’t have to choose between food and medicine is extremely important. And it’s saving lives!

Sometimes it’s still hard to provide for the needs of your children. 

An increasing number of people in Haiti have food insecurity.  That means they don’t know when or where their next meal is coming from.  This continues to increase the number of kids with malnutrition. Such is the case with Jenny.

Jenny is almost 6 months old and only weights 2.99 kg (6.5 lbs). 

Some of this weight is due to the amount of extra fluid she has in her body.  She has Kwashiorkor, which is from an extreme protein deficiency. In the picture above, you can see evidence of it by the swelling she has in her hands and legs. 

The edema in her legs is pitting, which means when you press on it the depression stays there when you remove your finger.  Jenny was very sick and was taken by HERO ambulance to an inpatient malnutrition center where they’ll try to save her.  All of the inpatient centers have been over capacity recently due to the increased food insecurity in Haiti.

———

As difficult as things have been this last year, it has been a blessing to be able to care for people, and especially the children, in Haiti. Lives are being changed, people are given hope, and kids are being saved because of your faithfulness to the ministry of Kelby’s Kids.  I am only the distributor of your love and kindness that you show through your support of this ministry which makes all this possible.

If you do not currently support Kelby’s Kids or are looking to make a year-end contribution, please consider being apart of this work in Haiti.

This little cutie says if you only remember one thing, it’s that Kelby’s Kids is making a difference in the lives of kids in Haiti and you can be a part of it!

———

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!

Until No Child Dies,

Kelby

(p.s. Earlier this month there was a snafu with our post office box. The problem has been remedied, and we’re able to accept mail at the box again. Please, if you attempted to mail us something — at P.O. Box 57, Reed City, Mich. 49677-0057 — please try again. The box works again.)