Each day in Haiti, looking for food is like looking for gold. Food is becoming more “rare” each day in Haiti, especially with the recent earthquake and problems of insecurity. Mothers who try to sell their tiny items in the markets are abused by bandits, who take their little bit of money, or their items to sell. This makes these mothers afraid to go out and work, and as a result, more children have malnutrition.

This little baby boy is Cime Andrid, and he is 18 months old. His mother, Edna Ealus, has three children and is a street vendor, or “machann” in Creole. When she “does” go out, her husband Fritz takes care of the children. When the mother is with the children, her poor husband does a job called “pote” (pronounced potey). He carries heavy burdens for people everywhere on the streets for a small amount of money. When he leaves his area, he comes in late at 6:00 or 7:00 pm, and then Cime’s mother goes to buy a little bread to make a soup for the children.

They come from an area near Fond Parisien called “Nakou.” In Nakou there is a drought, and even if they make a garden, it will be difficult to harvest because the land cannot produce anything. Before they get water, they have to walk several miles. They live in a house made of rocks, and when it rains, they sleep “sitting up” because the house leaks.

Madamn Edna came to our Clinic to find out what caused her child to be vomiting for 15 days, and the baby could not stand and became very thin. When Dr. Barhtelemy did the test, it showed that Cime had severe malnutrition and was seriously ill at 7.3 kilos. He was also dehydrated. This frightened his mother and she became so sad and had tears in her eyes. She agreed to let Cime go into our Malnutrition Clinic for treatment. The nurses told her that they would start with the treatment, medicine, and a “special food,” so that he would get well. The nurses explained that with this “special food” and milk he will gain weight, and when he reaches a good weight, he can go home and come back each week.

Madamn Edna realizes that her child won’t have to suffer anymore because he is in the hands of “Love A Child,” and he is also in the hands of God! She realizes that he will have the best of 24-hour care, and good nourishing food and special milk. He will have other children to play with and plenty of toys! He will get several warm baths each day, and nice clean clothes, and the best thing is that the Lord is watching over him! Soon, he will be a normal, playful child, getting into mischief! We serve a great big God, who watches over His children! We so appreciate every little Grandma, and every person who gives large or small to help keep this Malnutrition Clinic operating! These little lives are “in your hands!” Thank you so much. Sherry