Toys for Christmas at the Rescue Center

It is an amazing thing you have done. Earlier this year, you helped fund provide toys for the children at the Rescue Center at Real Hope for Haiti. The children are so joyous to have toys to play with, and their eyes sparkle with delight as they roll the little cars around. 

Blandine is one of the children you're helping. She's now 5 years old, and struggles to walk due to an unknown medical condition. But this doesn't slow her down! She has a bright, contagious smile and sure loves to scoot around and play! 

Two years ago, at the age of 3, Blandine weighed just 22 pounds. She was brought to the Rescue Center by her aunt, and they traveled 5 hours by both car and moto to get to the Rescue Center. Her mother died from cholera when she was an infant, and her father hadn't been seen in years. She lived in a 1 bedroom house, made of rocks and tin, with 6 other people. They do have an outhouse, however it's a ten minute walk to get water. On the day she arrived, she hadn't eaten anything and the day before she had only rice and sauce. When she was admitted, she had been suffering from diarrhea and had been vomiting for days. Her body was swollen from kwashiorkor's disease. 

She was admitted to the Rescue Center, and early notes from her stay indicate that she was "one of the saddest kids we've had in a long time." In these early days, she refused to make eye contact or even raise her head up to look at others. 

Slowly, she began healing at the Rescue Center. She's been there for almost two years, and today she is cheerful and her smile is a true joy to behold. Blandine has special needs, and is unable to walk. She gets around by scooting and crawling.  She's also started speaking and her mobility is slowly improving through physical therapy and loving care.  It is such a joy to see her today, smiley, full of life and hope. Such a vast difference from her arrival.

Thanks for helping Blandine and others just like her! 

~ Stephanie