Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Comings and Goings

One thing that is often misunderstood about the House of Hope is that not all the kids who come here stay indefinitely.  A big part of our work is providing temporary care for kids who are in rough shape physically, mentally or emotionally.  Most of these children and youth need a few weeks to a few months of concentrated care until they are ready to return to their homes.  

This transitory part of our ministry is what has allowed us to care for and bring hope to thousands of children and youth in Haiti since our founding in 1956.   The more permanent placement for some of the children at the HOH started back in the year 2000.  Cultural shifts in Haiti meant that some of the children who came to us came from unsafe environments and were unable to return to their home situations.  The majority of kids who come to the HOH though return to their homes as soon as they are able to so.

This past week was a special home going of little Madeline.  

She came to the HOH in March of 2017.  A three year old little girl swollen with malnutrition...
This week, she was able to return to her home with her father.  She responded well to the treatment and care here at the HOH and looks much healthier...
While it is always a little bittersweet to see these children we have come to love leave us, we are always thankful that they have a family that loves them and is waiting for them. 

As is often the case, we don't have a lot of time to think of the children who leave us.  There is always another one waiting for our love, attention and affection.  This past week we were blessed by the addition of a new baby to our family.
Judson is 5 months old and is also swollen with malnutrition.  His mother passed away and he has not been able to receive the care he needs.  

He has come to the right place!  He is presently being showered with about as much love, care and attention that anyone could handle.  His arrival brought out the normal jockeying for who gets to be the "mom", "dad", "sister", "brother", "godmother", "godfather".... every social position one could ever need filled.   He seems to be adjusting well so far and we look forward to watching him thrive over the months ahead.

A quick update on Jamesley.  He is doing a lot better.  He was able to go to school today, and his bleeding seems to have stopped, so that is a definite improvement! 

We appreciate all the different ways you are a part of the things that go on in our big family.  Thank you for your part!

Monday, February 12, 2018

Look At Me Now!

One of the most exciting things to do at the House of Hope is to look at before and after photos of the kids who come in so very sick.  There are always some dramatic changes and we often don't realize it because it happens so slowly and we see them every day.  This week we did a few comparisons of some of the kids you've prayed for and supported over this past year.  The changes are incredible and we wanted to share them with you.

The first of these is Dorothy.  I know I haven't written about her for a while, but she is doing really well physically.  She still has a tough time mentally, but has such a bubbling joy pouring out of her for the simple everyday things of life -- like food!  Here she is...
Another one who really struck us this week was Moise.  You'll remember he came to us as an newborn baby back in late October.  He was tiny, malnourished and extremely fragile...
He started to do really well.  Growing.  Healthy.  Then in January he got sick and we really thought were were going to lose him...
Thankfully, he pulled through.  We were so grateful for all of your prayers for his precious life.  When we looked at his picture taken this last week, we were all taken aback.  Moise is doing incredibly well...
It's always amazing for us to see the difference some time in the House of Hope can make in the lives of the kids who come to us.  We recognize that all of this is possible because of the incredible team we have standing with us in this special work.  And most of all recognize that we are very blessed by God to be able to be part of His work at the HOH.

Thank you so much for your part in supporting us, standing with us and helping us out in the many ways that you do.  Please continue to pray for Jamesley.  A doctor from our partnering hospital is traveling in the US and has the special Factor for Jamesley, he will take it back to Haiti this weekend.   Hopefully, by this time next week we will have his bleeding under control.  In the meantime, pray for wisdom for the doctors this week and for patience and comfort for Jamesley as he has some tough days ahead of him yet.

This week is a week of holiday in Haiti, so that means the House of Hope is a busy beehive of activity.  You might want to keep Linda and her sanity in your prayers as well!  We appreciate you all and hope you have a great week as well.

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

An Update

We are so thankful for your prayers over this past week, and want to update you a bit on what's been going on at the HOH.  

Linda had a successful trip to Port-Au-Prince and the eye doctor.  The doctor was able to give her some medicine that has already started to clear up her problem.  The trip down and back was quite stressful as they had multiple break downs on the vehicle both going down and coming back.  It is becoming very evident that we need to start looking at getting a better vehicle for situations such as there. That's certainly something to pray about!

Now, on to Jamesley.  He had to go back into the Operating Room once again this past week.  We were not able to find the exact blood product that we needed to help him be able clot better, but we were able to get him some that we hoped would help.  Unfortunately, he is still bleeding, so it didn't work out so well.  That's the bad news.... now for the good!

The LA Kelley Communications Foundation has gotten us clotting factor for Jamesley in the past through their Project SHARE.  Thankfully, they have agreed to send us some more for him.  A doctor from our hospital is in the US and will receive the factor to take back to Haiti in a week or so.  Hopefully, this factor will give Jamesley what he needs to stop bleeding and heal.  They have also put us in a waiting list to get more of this extremely expensive treatment in the future.  They have been such a blessing to us -- there is no way we could pay for this treatment on our own.  It has improved Jamesley's quality of life so much over these past 2 years, and we are thankful that we will be able to receive it again.  Please keep him in your prayers...

We are so grateful for all the many partners we have that make bringing hope to our kids possible.  That includes you and the part you play as well!  Thank you!