I can remember the day we rescued Nelson like it was yesterday. Nelson’s father had been in Voodoo. Nelson could not walk or talk. His parents probably thought he had a curse on him. His belly was swollen with Kwashiorkor Malnutrition and he was miserable. Each day, his mother would grab him by one arm and plop him out on the dirt in the heat of the sun. He was dropped on the ground, usually beside a big hog in the village, and he always ended up on his knees, legs behind him, sitting on them! The kids would come by and smack him on his head and call him, “Pa Bezouin Ou” or “Pa Bezouin.” This means “I don’t need you, or want you!”

But that day, when I saw that little guy in the heat of the sun, I got angry!! My eyes filled with tears. I grabbed him up, went straight to his mother, and said, “Your son is going to die. Let me take him and he will live.” We brought him home to our orphanage and he began the long walk to good health! Soon, he could stand, and then walk! Then run! After he gained his health and was looking good, his father wanted him back, but, we got legal permission to keep him! Today, Nelson is 13 and in 7th grade! He wants to be a mechanic! He has brought us “great joy!” Thank you, partners! Another life saved!

Sherry