Lionel…

This young boy is now 14 and in 7th grade. His story is sad because when he was young, maybe 8 or 9, his father got angry with him and held his hand in boiling water. A burn from boiling water is more serious than a charcoal burn. We took Lionel (Yonel), to a doctor and he was treated but one of the workers did not properly take care of his bandage changes.

As a result, his fingers grew together. We had tried to make one trip to a very good hospital in Haiti, but the day we went, there were dead bodies on both sides of the road, and our Haitian director told us “not to go back.” The gangs have taken over many areas of Haiti.

We found a good doctor in the Dominican Republic but, Lionel (Yonel) does not have a passport. In order for him to get a passport, he needs a parent or a relative. He has none. So, we are trying to figure out how to get him a passport, then, he will need a visa. We know that the Dominican doctors are very good! They will do a good job, “if,” we can get him over there.

Lionel is in 7th grade and does well in school. He has a bad inferior complex because he cannot play soccer or basketball, etc. like the rest of the boys. Lionel is a quiet, hardworking young man and very respectful. He does well in school… his favorite subject is math.

We would love to be able to give Lionel this surgery for his hand and fingers that he so desperately needs and deserves. God can make a way.

Sherry