What a year that 2020 has been! It’s had many crazy, exciting, sad and funny experiences, stories, situations, and types of patients — and that’s not to mention the whole Covid-19 thing!
I have been blessed by your continued goodness and generosity throughout this year that has allowed the ministry of Kelby’s Kids to continue.
I know for many it was a sacrifice to continue to support this ministry through 2020 and I pray that you will be richly blessed because of your faithfulness. Because of you, Kelby’s Kids was able to continue to bring hope to so many through free medical care that not only brought physical healing but also the hope of Christ!
Despite getting locked out of Haiti for several months this summer when the airport closed, I was still able to be in Haiti serving for 210 days this year! Things were different for most of this year but I was still able to provide limited general medical care, while still having malnutrition, maternity, and wound care clinics.
I look forward to being able to return to a normal medical clinic. Life is so difficult in Haiti for most people. Being able to provide free medical care — so they don’t have to decide if they will eat or get treated for a medical issue — is a blessing you and I are able to provide.
Oftentimes clinics may be combined for multiple purposes to benefit the patients. It’s not uncommon to treat underlying medical problems or injuries at the maternity or malnutrition clinic. Recently I had a mom come to the maternity clinic who, at her first appointment, weighed 88 lbs.!
Because of your generosity, not only does she receive free prenatal care, she also gets medical care — AND receives 15 pounds of food at each visit to the clinic. This all goes toward give her and her baby the best chance at being healthy!
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A couple weeks ago, Wisline made her last regular appointment to the malnutrition clinic. She has been in the program probably longer than any other child. She has Cerebral Palsy, and it’s a struggle everyday for her grandmother to care for her. It was a blessing when another organization was willing to sponsor her and her grandmother so that Grandma could devote her time to caring for her instead of trying to go out and earn money for food —while carrying her. She couldn’t live on the medical peanut butter from the malnutrition clinic forever.
Hopefully not goodbye, but see you later!
She is non-verbal, but would always light up when I hold her and talk to her. I always enjoy holding her for a few extra minutes, while giving Grandma’s arms a little break. She has gotten so big and Grandma struggles to carry her now. For the last 5 months I have been giving grandma money every week for a taxi. She had to move to a safer neighborhood which is farther away and would walk and carry her about 2 ½ hours one way to get to clinic.
I have to admit, I was a little emotional watching her head out the door for the last time. I always looked forward to seeing her. Grandma said she would come back with her to visit. I sure hope that she does!
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The other day a mom brought to daughter to the malnutrition clinic for the first time. While she was setting out on the porch waiting for her turn there was a lot going through my mind. Because when her turn came, we were going to have a serious talk. . . .
It was obvious by the pattern of the injury on her face that this was intentional and was clearly child abuse. The baby’s face had been forced down into something hot that burned her.
Mom admitted that she knew what happened, and that it was probably intentional.
Child care is almost nonexistent in Haiti. Often times the kids are just left home alone.
One day, while Mom was trying to find work, she left her baby with her sister. Her sister, in turn, left the little girl in the care of her 17 year old son.
When mom picked her up, she was burned and the 17-year-old had no explanation. She stated that she would not leave her at her sisters home again. Thankfully the burn is healing well and she is gaining weight in the program! And, hopefully her scars will fade in time.
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Although Haiti has been spared from the initial predictions of how Covid would affect it, there is still a lot going on in Haiti. There continues to be a lot of political unrest, violence in the streets, gang activity, and kidnappings.
Please continue to pray for Haiti! Pray for my patients (some live in terrible areas, and deal with violence on a daily basis), the ministry of Kelby’s Kids, and myself.
Part of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I live in the area of the red dot just above the airport.
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Great News! The twins have doubled their Birth weight!!
Nothing better than family being together during the holidays!
Shnailens (the boy in my right arm) and Shnailie (the girl in my left arm) have doubled their birth weight and are healthy and doing well!
Miriole (mom) is also doing well and we have been able to resolve all of her issues from her poorly-done C-Section. After 10 months she was discharged from the maternity program the day before they were going to the countryside to visit family for Christmas!! It’s so exciting to see — after all the effort — that a family is together and happy! By God’s grace, after sever pre-eclampsia, delivery twins early by C-section (which had complications), and very low birth weights, everyone beat the statistics in Haiti to keep a family from experiencing heartbreak and loss!!
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I hope that you, as you read this blogpost — and others from this year — get a sense of joy in your heart to know that good things are still happening in this broken world. I hope that each one of you who support Kelby’s Kids through your faithful prayers and financial giving know that you had a part in each of these stories. If it wasn’t for you, this ministry could not continue to serve in Haiti.
If you are looking for an organization to support with your year end giving I hope that you would consider supporting Kelby’s Kids so that we can start 2021 strong and continue to bring hope to so many!
I hope that each of you had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a very blessed 2021!!
Until No Child Dies,
Kelby