OT...student/Haiti | Arthritis Information

 

I feel the need to tell you about one of our kids, and to please ask you to pray...

Our school secretary sponsers children from other countries who need medical care.  We have a boy in sixth grade that we call "lil man".  He loves this nickname by the way.  If I am not mistaken, he is 14, but looks 10.  He is from Haiti.  When he was two he was in a cart with other family members that somehow overturned, killing many of them. His leg/foot were broken so badly that the foot was turned completly around...I mean all the way.  He also has nothing left to his knee.  Drs were shocked at the MRI here in the states, there is not reason for this child to be walking.  Anyway, he has been here since the start of the year having multiple surgeries to turn his foot back around.  In Haiti, his deformity is seen as a curse and he was beaten and abused regularly.  His father could not afford to send him to school, much less medical care.  This is a man who loves his son and he saw the US as his hope.  This child is blossoming here.  His host family has multiple kids which are all very popular at school so he just fit right in. 
Then we get the news of this earthquake.  Our secretary has already sent out emails saying that he is not handling this well at all. He remembers them from the past.  8/10 people live in poverety where he is from-no building codes obviously.  Or buildings....He is talking about bodies, death......Worried about is family that is there.  No communication and the death toll is expected to be huge.  Combine this with the fact that he is so very torn anyway.  He came from  living in awful conditions, but it was home.  He has been in this tiny middle school (400 students) in the mountains of VA.   First time ever in school-and he is so bright!  He is supposed to go back in about 2 months-hard under good circumstances.  Now....is there even anything to go back too?  One of the charity workers is flying out today to try to find or establish contact with some member of his family.

So, please pray for our sweetheart.  And please pray for his host family.  In all honesty...they want him-forever.  She was already sick to her stomach about sending him back.  But, family is such a strong bond.  I don't even know what the answer here. 

rocckyd2010-01-12 22:54:51

((Rebecca))

Here's the story of our sweet boy.  He was interviewed by many news affiliates today.  He told them that he was sure his dad was dead.  His house is right by the Presidental Palace that keeps being shown on the news.  rocckyd2010-01-13 16:05:15Prayers for this lil man, his host family and his family in Haiti.  Such a tragedy!   From the American Red Cross website - Earthquake in Haiti:

" . . . There has been an outpouring of support from the public. To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti."


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<> Bless his heart...he is having an awful time.  Can't even imagine what is going through his mind.  This young boy has my prayers....As I follow this story on the cp and thou the news and look at the people, no where to go, families or whats left of them, trying to sleep on the streets, children covered in dirt......and  then I look at my grandchildren  and thank God they are safe and happy, with a warm bed to climb into.......Give your kids a big hug and think about what these people are going thur and say a special prayer for them and help if you can.
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