Helping Babies in Haiti

Our friends at Real Hope for Haiti do amazing work to solve desperate health problems for families living in severe poverty. We are so inspired by the special care and attention they provide, and the hope they give to families.

Here's a story of a recent patient, from his mom's viewpoint:

"Thank you for helping me with my son, Bidjorry. When I brought him to the clinic for fever, they told me he was also malnourished. He got medicine for his fever and mamba to help him gain weight.

The nurse also told me several things that I can do to help him get better and keep him healthy. The nurse helped me resolve his problems.

I live in a rock and clay house with tin roof with my 4 kids. I used to sell things in the market. I got behind financially and had to pay one of my kid's school bill with all of the money I was using for my business. Now, I'm not making an income to help buy enough food for the kids.

I'm going to try to start it back up because I know that's what will help us all. Life isn't easy here." - Bidjorry's mom

We wish Bidjorry's mom the best in restarting her business, and are continually thankful for Real Hope for Haiti's help given to these families. Jake's Network of Hope provides cloth diapering kits for use in Real Hope for Haiti's clinic.

Since July of 2013, we've had the honor of walking alongside Real Hope for Haiti to help those in need. We've provided thousands of diapers, formula, clothes, toys and other needs, thanks to you. 

Your support has helped thousands of people, people like Princelenska and her son Job. Real Hope recently shared their story, and it's a joy to share it with you: 

Desperate and searching, Princelenska and her husband longed to find help for ther son, Job. His parents, both teachers, met and married a few years ago. Once Job was born, his mom stayed home to care for him, but he soon developed a horrible skin infection that covered his whole body. They went to almost every clinic and hospital possible, but they never found a solution to his skin issues. He was in pain, ate poorly, and soon became malnourished. 

Following a recommendation, they came to RHFH and were admitted for treatment. His mom never left his side and applied all the education and suggestions she received with an open heart. 

Even though others thought he would die, this mama wasn't going to give up without fighting for her first-born. That's what love does: it hopes, it believes, and it battles for the good of others. She was ready to give her all for him to live. 

Though medications and mamba (and diapers!) were used, the love of this mama healed her son. Her own mother, who died 6 yrs ago, gave her many life lessons: nothing in life is easy, don't focus on the difficulties but rather on the lessons learned, and have courage through it all. These words lit a fire of love that helped her to always be ready to do anything for her son. 

They would love to have more kids down the road but want to make sure Job has a good start at life before continuing their family. She asks that you pray that she would remain a faithful servant of God, that God would give her wisdom to raise him, and that he could one day grow up to be a doctor to help others that were sick like him. She prays foryou, and because of Job's recovery, knows how your continued support will be a blessing to others who are desperately ill. 

Thank you for the joy you bring to families like Princelenska and Job's. You are a true blessing and we are so thankful to have you as part of the Jake's family. 

~ Stephanie

Without options to otherwise feed the baby, this family expressed sincere gratitude for finding Real Hope for Haiti and saving the child's life.

From the families home, it is a 4 hour walk to arrive at the clinic. Her mother was unable to breastfeed, and the family had no funds to afford formula otherwise.

Here's the story from our Network of Hope partners at Real Hope for Haiti:

"This is my granddaughter, Ismaylove. Her mother has seizures and can't live by herself. I walk 4 hours to get to the clinic.

We live in a 3 room house. There are 8 children that live in the house. I love my family. I didn't know what to do for Ismaylove when she was born. Her mother couldn't care for her or breastfeed her, the father was unknown so he wasn't available to buy formula. I couldn't buy it either.

I brought her and her mother to the clinic and explained the situation. They gave us a big gift by putting her on the formula program. I don't know what we would have done without it because I didn't have many other options.

She is 19 months old now and a beautiful girl. She is healthy and I have hope that she will grow up well. Thank you to all that makes this formula program possible. I pray that you always find the possibility to continue to help others like us with this service. Thank you so much! God bless you!"

In Haiti, things can become desperate for children quickly. The country has a 62.8 child mortality rate, meaning 62.8 out of every 1,000 children under 5 die; compare that to 6.5 of every thousand in the United States (source: UNICEF)

Thankfully, independent organizations exist to work at improving the odds, incuding our partners at Real Hope for Haiti. RHFH runs a clinic and rescue center to support children with health complications and malnutrition issues. Jake's sends cloth diaper kits to support its operations.

The clinic recently coordinated a collaboration and sponsorship to save a little boy's life. Real Hope for Haiti shared the boy's story here: 

Tity is a 19 month old boy who came to clinic 3 weeks ago with edema involving his whole body, high fever and low oxygen. Turns out he was extremely anemic (hematocrit 10%) and had malaria. He needed a blood transfusion ASAP.

We talked to his mom about sending Tity to a hospital by ambulance for a blood transfusion. She said she needed to go home and talk to her husband first. So she left him at clinic.

He was placed on oxygen with good improvement in his oxygen saturation. He was also treated for malaria and the fever resolved.

Unfortunately, his mother did not come back. We were able to locate Tity’s father. However, he had no money to pay for a hospitalization. Blood transfusions are very difficult to arrange in Haiti. Fortunately, a hospital in Port au Prince said they could arrange for a transfusion AND the hospitalization would be sponsored.

So Tity was transferred via one of our clinic vehicles on portable oxygen to Cabaret, where he was then transferred to a Hero ambulance and taken to Bernard Mevs. He was hospitalized for several days, received multiple blood transfusions and then was transferred back to the Rescue Center.

His anemia had resolved. He was continued on treatment for the edema, which has now completely resolved. It is amazing how the pieces fell into place for this little one to receive the treatment he so desperately needed. Praise be to God!

In his short life, Donlove has struggled on and off with extreme malnourishment. Here’s his story from Real Hope for Haiti:

Donlove was brought to the clinic by his mother. Donlove has been sick for over 6 months now. He went to live with his dad for several months and got better. Once he returned with his mother, he got sick again and began developing kwashiorkor again. In fact, this makes 5 times that he has been through a time like this. 

The family are farmers and grow beans, corn and bananas in their gardens. The family lives in a 2-room home made of clay, rocks and tin. They do not have running at their home or a flush toilet, not even an outhouse. They get their water from a source that is about a 2-hour walk from their home. The family traveled 3 hours by foot and motorcycle to arrive at the clinic. He was started on the F-75 therapeutic milk and then graduated to the medika mamba program.

Donlove loved cars and truck. Any time he was playing with them he was happy. He also enjoyed being outside on a scooter or bike.

Thank you to Real Hope for Haiti for nourishing Donlove during his times of need. RHFH is one of Jake’s Diapers longstanding Diaper Drop partners, and we’re happy to have helped kids like Donlove to health with our cloth diaper kits.