Haiti Journal Day #5

Friday, February 9, 2018

Honestly, I am so exhausted today. However, I want to write about the events of the day before I forget the details of today.

It was a night short on sleep as Hannah, Debbie Lynn, Kacie, and I took turns getting up with Eby throughout the night. He was woken up every hour from 10pm to 3am to try to get him to take some liquids. He is very, very sick but he is also determined not to take the formula or water. I only was able to get him to take about 1/2 ounce at 10 pm. Kacie tried at 11:15 to get him to take a little bit, and Debbie Lynn got Eby to take about an ounce at 12:30am. Hannah got up to check his temperature and try to feed him at 1:45am, and his fever had broke! Praise the Lord! Since his fever had broke, it was determined that when I got up at 3 to feed him, we could let him sleep after that. He didn’t take any liquids and his diaper was dry, but it was clear to see that Eby was exhausted. We all took a few hours of sleep from three to five am, but it was definitely a night short on sleep!

At 6am., Eby was still fever free, but he didn’t have a wet diaper and he was very resistant to taking fluids! We took Eby with us upstairs when it was time for breakfast along with the grandma and granddaughter. Eby was acting more alert, but he was very sleep and unexcited about life. Eby did take a bite of banana and a bite of bread, but he wasn’t crazy about eating! We had bread, bananas, and fried eggs for breakfast. We then offered Eby some eggs, and he loved those! He sat snuggled on Pastor Kevin’s lap eating eggs. We offered him water to drink, but he did not want anything to do with that! Eby’s grandma told Pastor Kevin that Eby wanted some coffee for breakfast! Um...No! The nurses and P.A.s were adamant about not letting Eby have coffee as that is a diuretic and this baby   needs to pee! No coffee for Eby, but Pastor Kevin said that is probably what Eby eats for breakfast...coffee and bread. This little boy is about two years old, weighs probably about 16 lbs., and is severely underfed, and is in need of some extra care. Unfortunately, his family is poor, and it appears that there are a lot of mouths to feed at home.

After breakfast, we gathered together the stuff we would need for clinic today in Seguin. The clinic will be held at the church (down the hill), and at 7:30am, we received word that the church was full. Our work was cut out for us! Emelie worked on gathering up some stuff to give to the grandmother and granddaughter so that they could take a shower. Debbie Lynn had an extra dress and shirt that she had planned to give away to someone. I had brought along an extra bag of clothes, and I found a skirt and pair of bike shorts that I could do without. Emma had outgrown some of her clothes, so I had randomly tucked those in my bag also. While the granddaughter is bigger than Emma, the leggings and dress might work out perfectly as a tunic top and capris. While I did like the skirt that I gave to the grandmother, I have a whole closet of clothes at home! I also had brought along a bag of travel size toiletries that were perfect for the two of them. They were very excited about taking a shower, and it  was nice to be able to offer them clean clothes to change into. It’s not to hard to figure out that they probably don’t have much back home as both of them took extra food at breakfast and hid it in the bag of stuff we had given them...it’s heartbreaking!

Time for another day of clinic! People were already in the church waiting for us, so even though every one was a bit tired, it was time to get to work. It’s a bit of a hike down to the church, but as we set up for the day we realized that we had forgotten a few things up at the mission house. I offered to take a hike up the hill to get the tongue depressors and extra vitamins. As I walked through the mission house, I saw Eby laying on the camp mat we had set up the night before for the family. The blankets were neatly folded up, Eby was sleeping, and the bag of stuff we had given to the family was gone along with the grandmother and granddaughter. I was in a predicament. Do I take the sleeping baby with me back down the hill as he is sick and unattended? Or perhaps everything is different in   Haiti and I should just leave him? I decided to walk back down the hill to the clinic to ask Hannah. As I walked into the clinic, I saw the grandmother and granddaughter. They had come to the clinic to say goodby. They looked so clean and refreshed after their showers. The grandma had chosen to wear the skirt that I had given her and the shirt from Debbie Lynn, and the granddaughter looked very cute in Emma’s clothes. They were returning to Chota and leaving the baby in our care. I know...it’s crazy  to me too! But around here Pastor Kevin said that they recognize that their baby will be well cared for and it’s one less mouth for them to feed. The baby will come down the mountain with us tomorrow and come back up with the team that is staying for next week on Tuesday. This baby has eight days to get well and be given a fighting chance at surviving!

I would take this baby home in a heartbeat if that were feasible, but his life is in God’s hands. This baby has been prayed over many, many times in the last 24 hours, and that won’t change even when I go home. God gave Eby a miracle in the fact that his fever broke, but he needs to drink and pee.

Hannah went up the hill to get the baby, and I went back up to see if she needed help. She was trying to get Eby to take some liquids, and he was resisting. He felt warm, so Hannah went back down the hill to get the thermometer. When she came back and checked his temp, it was normal. He was probably hot from all the blankets he was wrapped in. We gathered up some blankets and headed down the hill. I carried Eby, which made Hannah nervous, but honestly, it wasn’t too bad. I was carrying a very precious bundle, and I would’ve hurt myself before I let anything hurt him. We arrived at the clinic and made Eby a little bed under the table. Hannah said that we had to start getting him up every 45 minutes to fed him. If he didn’t start peeing, the team would have to try to get an IV in him.

At 10:30 am., I gave Eby to my dad as he needed a job. We put an ounce of pedylyte in a bottle and dad worked at getting him to take it. Eby is so slow at taking liquids and it took over 45 minutes just to get hike to take an ounce! We let Eby go back to sleep, and then we work him up about noon. His temperature was elevated again, so he was given more medicine, which he tried to refuse. I decided to try to give him pedylyte through the syringe instead of the bottle. Corey wanted to see if the baby would take formula, so I went back up the hill to get it. As I came down, I passed Pastor Kevin coming up. He was on his was to see if the cooks would make Eby some fried eggs. Since that  worked this morning, we might as well try again. Pastor Kevin said that “our baby” might eat eggs if we offered them to him. It’s funny how Eby has become the baby of the Parakaleo team! Eby was not interested  in formula, but as soon as the eggs showed up, Eby perked right up! I handed him the bowl, and he actually hung on to the bowl with one hand and ate with the other hand. He seemed to be perking up as the medicine kicked in, but as soon as I tried to get him to drink from the syringe he would push it away. After watching him feed himself for a few minutes, I asked Faith to pour some  water in one of our sterile urine sample cups. I handed the cup to Eby and he drank it himself! Huge deal! It was as if the whole team stopped worked as cameras and cell phones were whipped out to take pictures of Eby. He probably thinks that these white people are a special kind of crazy! Eby did not want to let go of the egg bowl even as he got sleepy. I think that this baby is so hungry that he doesn’t want to relinquish the bowl for fear of losing his food-heartbreaking!

There is never a lack of hand to hold Eby around this team! This little boy has stolen our hearts. He has probably never been held this much, loved on this much, and he is certainly prayed for by every  member here.

At around 3:00 pm, we woke him up again to offer food and liquids. He does much better when we wake him up enough to hold his own cup. He isn’t drinking much like maybe 1/2 ounce at a time, but it is something. Sweet Eby ate the rest of His now cold eggs, took a sip of water, and snuggled down to sleep. It’s as if eating and drinking zap him of his energy. Corey suggested giving Eby a Childrens vitamin as he ate his eggs. Eby took one small lick, and put it in his bowl. He then proceeded to eat every bit of the eggs, but refused to touch the vitamin! This boy is resilient and stubborn- probably what has kept him alive this long!


Joe carried him back up to the mission house after the clinic was over. We actually had a fairly short day as we were done at a little after 4pm. That was nice because we were all tired! We didn’t see anyone that was overly sick today, but we did see two kids that had rocks stuck in their ears! Corey and Faith managed to get the rocks out, but I’m sure it was not the most pleasant experience for the kids! Also a bunch of these kids have the same type of viral rash symptoms we saw in Bay d’Orang. We saw 206 people today, so it was still a full and busy day.


Eby ate eggs again for supper. It seems like he really likes eggs, and they are a complete protein. Eby did have a wet diaper at about 4:00pm, which was a huge relief to all of us. He seems like he might be making a turn for the better, but I wish that he had some expression about life. It’s almost as if he’s depressed. He shows no interest in anything. At two years, he should show signs of stranger anxiety, but yet he shows no expression to any of us. He eats a little, drinks a little, and goes back to sleep. He did walk after supper tonight, so that was a big deal as we now know that he can do It!

I’m tired. I have more that I should write in today’s journal, but I’ll just have to touch on some highlights from the day. We had prayer and praise time after supper, and it was so encouraging to hear  testimonies from the team members. Truth be told, I’m exhausted, and if I tried to give a testimony I would resolve into tears. This I know, since I tried! I do know that God gave me a very special gift when He provided the way for me to be on the team this year. I don’t take that opportunity lightly, and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart. The week isn’t over yet, but we are heading down the mountain tomorrow after the morning clinic. I’m excited to see what God will continue to do.

Highlights:
*Listening to the praises of the other team members
* Eby walking after supper
* God’s goodness in sparing Eby’s life
* Three of the men on the team are dads that have their grown children serving with them on the team. That’s exciting! It gives me a vision of what I can work towards and pray for in my own children.