In a small village on the edge of Lake Azuéi a poor mother tries desperately to keep her baby alive. His name is Jean Bayden. The Lake separates Haiti from the Dominican Republic. Haiti is in much worse condition than the Dominican Republic and the crime rate climbs higher each day.

Bayden’s mother has noticed that his body is swollen and bloated, and he has no energy. She knows he is sick, and she is “scared to death!” Why? Because she already lost two children and she doesn’t want to bury another child.

She finally has decided to take a small fishing boat and get her baby to the doctor at Love A Child. She has heard good reports about how they are saving the lives of many babies. She feels this is her “only chance” to save Jean Bayden. So, she makes a “price” with the boatmen and tells them that her baby will die if she cannot get him to the Clinic at Love A Child. The fishermen agree to take her in their boat, for a small price…

On her way over, with her baby cradled in her arms, she thinks about her life… There is no way to grow a garden where she lives because the soil is very poor. The springs are dry, and the saltwater cannot be used to grow anything. She lives in a tiny “house” covered with mud. There is a small piece of tin on the top to keep the rain out, but they have no mattress. She and her baby sleep on a pile of dirty clothes. There is no freshwater or spring, to get water from… the “lake water,” is everything to her.

When she arrives at the Jesus Healing Center, the doctor must examine Jean Bayden and make a decision as to what to do for him. He cannot give her medicine and food and tell her to take him home because he will need IVs, special milk, etc. The doctor tells her she has to take her baby to our Malnutrition Clinic and leave him there until he reaches a good weight.

It was a tough decision, but she knows that this would be her “third child to die,” if she doesn’t leave him…

“Several Weeks Later…”

After several weeks, Madamn Bayden made the trip back to Love A Child Malnutrition Center. What a surprise!! Jean Bayden looked so much different!!! She was given special foods and milk to take with her and also some “Feed My Starving Children” food for when he eats different foods.

Thank you, partners! Another life was saved!!!

Sherry

P.S. Thank you to those of you who send in cute little girl dresses for our Malnutrition Clinic… We also really need baby and toddler boy clothes!

If you would like to buy them and send them, or if you have used baby boy clothes, please send them to:

Love A Child
12411 Commerce Lakes Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33913-8664
239-210-6107