My time back in Michigan for Christmas and New Year went fast, but was a much-needed and refreshing break! I have been back in Haiti for over 2 weeks now and things have been busy.
One of the most exciting things has been all the babies that were been born through the maternal health clinic while I was gone!
One of the moms who delivered while I was gone was Fabienne.
She has been coming to the clinic since May. When she came in for her first appointment, she brought a friend with her. It isn’t completely uncommon, but doesn’t happen often. Her friend served a specific and valuable purpose — Fabienne is both deaf and mute.
This presented some difficulties in communication during her care. Not only did I have to use a translator to translate English to Creole but then a second to translate Creole to sign language and then back (which I am still unsure was official sign language or just what had to be created to get by). So, it’s hard to know how much was lost or understood.
But I am happy to report that little Angie Sophonie was born healthy and without complications and was 3.08 Kg (6.78 lbs)! She and her mom were doing well when they came back for their follow up appointment!
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At the first two maternal health clinics after the new year, I had 11 new babies come in — and there are still more that need to have their follow up appointment. Some of them were having trouble with nursing their babies, and others have issues with basic care.
We work with then to improve those issues as well. Through the photo below, I wanted to share with you some of them so you could be blessed by the results of your partnership with the ministry of Kelby’s kids!
There is no way to know how many moms or babies may or may not have survived their deliveries without the maternal health clinic, but we know we’re making a difference. Thank-You for being a blessing to these mom’s and babies!
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The day I returned to Haiti, a medical team came in, too.
It was a blessing to have a team come in and see a large number of patients to get things caught back up after the clinic had been closed for several weeks. They did four clinics in our area at two different locations, and saw nearly 450 patients. They were a blessing to me and to the community.
There are always people who are curious about what the American’s are doing when a mobile clinic is going on. These two little cuties were no exception; watching in the back doors of the church through the fence.
One of the patients at a mobile clinic needed a breathing treatment and the church didn’t have power at the time. Their nebulizer machine happened to have a 12-volt option, so I was able to use the my vehicle to power the machine.
This was in addition to being able to transport hundreds of pounds of their equipment. And supplies to-and-from the clinics for them, so they did not have to hire a vehicle to do that, or carry it down the street by hand.
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It had been too long since I had checked up on Doodley — especially with being home over Christmas. When we arrived, we found out that they had moved. The neighbors knew who I was, and were quick to help. They made phone calls and even rode with us to the new neighborhood they lived in. Doodley’s family was very happy to see me, and I was happy to see them. If you remember my post from August 26, 2019, Doodley was the baby that I delivered at home who was not breathing. After several minutes of CPR, he was alive, and he hasn’t looked back!
Doodley is going great! At 5 months old now he has tripled his birth weight and is a healthy and happy baby. He fell asleep right after I got there. His mom said, “how did you do that?!? He always fights me before he falls asleep!”
I hope that we will have a special bond that will continue for many years to come.
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I read this morning that “the strongest evidence of love is sacrifice,” as we see in John 3:16. I am thankful for God’s sacrifice and love for me! I am also thankful for your sacrifice (love) which allows me to love on the children and people of Haiti through medical care, as well as to share about God’s love (and sacrifice) for them!
I look forward to what 2020 will bring for Kelby’s Kids as together we bring hope through healing!
Until No Child Dies,
Kelby