July 25, 2011

It's been another busy month for COTP (hence the fact that this is once again over due)!  Two of our long term staff member, Amy and Jenn, left for a three week break, and Nick left yesterday for two weeks as well.

Admits 3:

Christelle was referred to us by Rose Merlin's Grandma.  Both of her parents, as well as 13 family members have passed away from Cholera.  Her Grandmother has been taking care of her and her 3 older siblings, but was struggling to provide for Christelle's needs.  She will stay with us for a few months to gain weight, and then will return to live with her Grandma.  She is nine months old and weighed 9# 14 oz.  She has already gained a pound!

We heard about Keshla through Mama Baby Haiti, another mission in Cap Haitian who had been helping her with formula.  Her Mother had a seizure while holding her and she fell to the ground causing lacerations to the face.  Keshla is a very healthy 6 month old who weighs 14# 8.4 oz.  Her Grandma is very involved in her life, and she will be taking her back in a few months when their family situation is more stable!

Jeff's Father is not around and his Mother recently left him with some neighbors who were unable to care for him as they were 14, 18, and 22 years old.  The neighbors brought him to us after caring for him for three weeks and asked for us to help care for him until either they or his Mother are able to.  They believe Jeff is about nine months old although he may possibly be older.  He is a very malnourished baby weighing only 14# 10.2 oz.  He also has several skin infections on his body.  In the short time that Jeff has been with us, he has already gained a lot of weight and is starting to fill in and isn't covered with loose skin.  He has been smiling, laughing, and playing since the day he arrived.  He can crawl but can not yet stand or walk!

Discharges 0:

COTP Grads:

Assmessi came back this week with His Mother.  He has been sick and didn't look very good.  We sent him home with serum, food, and milk, and asked him to come back in two weeks for us to check up on him.  Please pray that he gets better soon and that he continues to thrive in his parents care.

Adoptions 2:

Odelande and Rivaldo's adoptions are nearing the end.  They are only waiting on one more step before they can join their new families.  Please pray that this last step moves quickly so that both children can leave soon and that they transition well to their new homes.

Birthdays 1:

Anel celebrated his 3rd birthday.  Each day we continue to be amazed by the developments he is making!



Development:

Our kids are doing amazing these days!  Adlin is fully walking.  Edly and Fleurickson have taken a few steps.  Jerry is talking up a storm and began to crawl (which we are so thankful for).  Wilson has started initiating holding peoples hands and all of the Lion children's language skills have improved dramatically over the summer and are now often heard signing un-promted through out the day!  

Needs:

8 oz Bottles (really low)

Gerber (fruit purees)

Hand sanitizer

Liquid hand soap

Rice Cereal

Baby Lotion

Baby Shampoo

12 months- 2t boys shorts

Pudding and other soft snacks for the special needs kids

Bottle Brushes

Clorox wipes

First haircuts

In Haiti boys don't get their first haircut until after their first birthday.  Here at COTP, we honor that cultural rule.  We also ask permission from biological parents before we cut anyones hair to ensure that they don't want to grow their child hair out.  

Recently we had three boys receive their first hair cuts.  All were well over a year, but we loved their hair so much that we waited to cut it.  However it was finally time.  All three boys sat very well for their first cut and did amazing.  Below are some before, during, and after pictures of our amazing children!

Rodney

Before

Afro

During

After

Robert

Before

Afro

During

After

Davideson

Before

Afro

During

After

June 25 2011

Sorry that this post is so over due, I was back in the States for two weeks and was not able to update the blog.  A lot has happened here while I was gone.

Admits 4:

Sterly was admitted to our formula program in April, however after his first appointment, he did not return for about 8 weeks.  This made us worried and we were curious why he did not come back but had no choice but to do a forced graduation from the program.  Out of the blue he and his Grandma returned in May and informed us that he had spent a great deal of time in the Hospital.  During this visit we learned a lot about this families situation.  Sterly's father is really young and his Grandma is the one who cares for him.  She also cares for two of his cousins.  The family doesn't have a house or any work and aren't able to provide for his needs.  Sterly was admitted to our care shortly after this visit.  His Grandma has found some work sweeping peoples homes and hopes to be able to take him back to live with her in a few months.  Sterly has been doing really well in our care so far.

Ezekiel was abandoned at our gate two weeks ago.  We have tried to track down his family, but haven't been able to find them.  We believe that Ezekiel is about 2 years old and that he has cerebral palsy.  He stayed for a week in the volunteer house, but now is living in the bumble bee room, which is one of our special needs rooms.  Please pray that Ezekiel thrives in our care.

A while ago we were contacted by a hospital who was interested in doing surgery for a child needing orthopedic surgery.  At the time we didn't know of anyone with this need, but God always puts the right people in our lives at the right time.  A few weeks after getting the email Ruth showed up at our gate with her parents.  Ruth is missing one foot and her second is deformed.  We began the med visa process for her and she continued to live with her parents for a few weeks before we eventually admitted her to COTP's care.  Her Mom is unable to breast feed and they don't have the means to pay for formula and unfortunately they live much to far away to be able to be admitted to the formula program.  Ruth will stay with us until we are able to take her to the States for her surgery.  Her parents love her dearly and are very excited to have her back in their care when her surgery is finished.  She has been staying in the volunteer house since she was admitted.  At 6 months old she only weighed 6 lbs and it was a struggle to even get an ounce in her at first.  Now she is drinking 2 ounces at a time and doing much better.  Please pray that she is able to get her surgery as soon as possible so that she can be reunited with her family.  Please also pray that she gains weight and starts to drink better!

While I was gone we also had another boy abandoned at our gate.  His name was Benson and he was much older than the children we normally take in.  He didn't know his exact age and kept changing it, but we eventually found out that he is around 8 years old.  Since Benson was so old, he was eventually able to show us where he lived and we took him back to his family.  Benson stayed at COTP for about a week before being reunited.  During his time here he stole many peoples hearts.  Benson was having sever stomach cramps, so we began treating him for worms.  We also took him to the doctors for a more through exam.  Benson is now living with his Sister, who is trying her hardest to take care of her little brother.  She loves him dearly and is doing all she can for him.  We have enrolled Benson in our school sponsorship program so that we can ensure he gets a good education and to relieve some of the financial pressures his family was facing.  Please pray that he does well with his family and that he thrives in his new school next year!

Discharges 0:

Birthdays 4:

Daniella and Chelie, two former COTP children recently celebrated their first birthdays.  When Daniella came she was 2 lbs 8 oz and Chelie was 1lbs 13 oz.  Both girls did really well in our care and were able to be reunited with their biological families when they were six months old.  Since then Chelie has been in the formula program, but was able to graduate on her birthday.  Daniella was admitted to the program, but her Father was able to apply for her nutritional needs, so she didn't continue in it.  Both girls came on the same day (which was Chelies birthday) so we baked a cake for them and celebrated their birthdays with all their old friends and nannies.  We are so proud of how well both of their parents are doing with them!

Rosemerline turned two and enjoyed celebrating her second birthday under the mango tree.

Fleurickson celebrated his first birthday yesterday.  He ate his cake very slowly, but still managed to make a mess all over his face, hands, and clothes!

COTP GRADS 1:

Love Mica came back recently with her Grandmother.  Since she was discharged she has lost 4 lbs.  We admitted her into the formula program to help her gain weight and to unsure that she does well in their care.  Already we are seeing an improvement with her health.  She is very well loved and we hope that with this extra help she will thrive in their care.

Needs:

Baby Wipes

Liquid Hand Soap

Clorox Wipes

Baby Lotion

Lactose Free Formula

Size 1-2 Diapers

Button down shirts for Theo/Nickensly

Fine toothed combs

Boy/Girl Underwear 2t-5t

Thanks so much for your support and prayers!

June 1, 2011

Admits 2: 

Rose-Merline was admitted to COTP last August as a severely malnourished fifteen month old baby. She stayed at COTP until January when she was able to be reunited with her grandparents.  During her time at COTP, she gained a lot of weight and caught up developmentally.  When she was reunited with her family, she was also admitted to the formula program so that we could ensure a smooth transition home and that she continued to gain weight and do well developmentally.  Each month that Rose Merline would return, she had lost weight.  The Grandma loves her dearly and wants what is best, but is unaware of what nutritional needs toddlers have.  We continued to educate her on this area, but Rose Merline continued to loose weight.  Rose Merline has since been readmitted to COTP.  She has been gaining weight well here and has readjusted really well!  She is currently living in the Bato room, but we hope to move her up to the toddler section soon!

Fritlin's came to us a few days ago because his parents are currently unable to care for him.  He is doing really well developmentally and has transitioned well to life here.  His parents are hoping to be able to bring him home with them in three months!  Please pray for this family and this amazing little boy!

Discharges 0: 

Birthdays 1:

Joshua recently celebrated his 5th birthday.  He was very excited as all of his friends and nannies gathered around under the tree and ate cake!  His nannies even enjoyed wearing birthday hats with him!

Development 2:

Rodney and Christella are now walking!  

Needs:

Baby Wipes 

Liquid hand soap 

Baby lotion 

Hand sanitizer

Diapers, All sizes

8 oz bottles (used for Formula program as well)

Medical Visa's

Lately COTP has been very blessed to be able to help facilitate several children in our area to receive surgery through the medical visa process.  It is often difficult if not impossible for children to receive surgery here and their only option is to go to a foreign country to have these done.  The paper work process is challenging and hard to navigate.  Luckily we have the resources to help them with this process.  We would like you to met a few of the kids that we have been blessed to help in the past few months.

Loudjenka:  Amy, one of our nurses, met Loudjenka and her Mom at the local hospital in November.  Her Mom approached Amy and explained that her Daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition, and she needed help finding a way to make sure she was able to get surgery.  Amy wrote a few emails and we began working on her passport so that she could go to the Dominican Republic for her surgery.  During this time we admitted her to the formula program to ensure that she stayed as healthy as possible in the mean time.  There were several times through out this process that it seemed impossible, but God always pulled through and provided for this little girl.  In February Loudjenka, accompanied by her parents, Amy, and Jenn crossed the boarder and was on her way to Santiago for surgery.  While there the doctors did and ECHO, which revealed that the hole in her heart was closing.  Loudjenka would not need surgery at that point.  However, Loudjenka and  her family went back to the DR two weeks ago for another appointment, and this time was scheduled for surgery.  She is still there recovering, but over all is doing really well!

Loudjenka during her first trip to the DR.

Tania: Tania and her Mom were referred to COTP by Rony, one of our adoption workers.  She was desperately in need of a cleft palette surgery, and at 6 months old only weighed just over 8 lbs.  After several emails with out any response back, God provided us with a person who could help.  One of our volunteers was friends with a board member of the LEAP Foundation who comes to Haiti Frequently to preform these surgeries.  We finally were able to get in contact with the organization and they were very excited to help out Tania.  Tania, her Mom, Jenn, and Tori all hoped on a plane and headed to Port Au Prince in the beginning of May to meet the visiting surgeons.  While there, Tania received surgery for her cleft lip.  She will need to return in July for surgery on her Cleft Palette, and the team has agreed to do that one as well while they are back in Haiti.

Tania when we first met her.

Tania after her first surgery

Guerlin: Guerlin came to COTP with his Mom several times last summer because he was sick.  Amy began to believe that he might have a heart condition, so he was admitted to COTP for a few months so that we could monitor his health.  During this time we were able to take him to Port Au Prince for an ECHO, where we verified that he does in fact have a heart defect.  Guerlin's health was stable and he was able to be reunited with his Mother.  He has been in the formula program ever since so that we could continue to monitor his health.  After months of email, phone calls, and appointments, we finally had his passport and all of his paperwork in place for him to go to the DR for surgery.  Guerlin, his Mom, and Amy went to Santiago to met the visiting team (the same one who worked with Loudjenka) and he was scheduled to have surgery their second to last day there.  However, he woke up that morning with a fever and was not able to have the surgery.  His Mom still has not lost hope and is doing all she can for her son.  Guerlin will be going back to the DR in August when the team returns and will hopefully have the surgery then.

Guerlin and his family when he was discharged from COTP

Guerlin and his Mom in the DR

Marck:  Marck was admitted to our formula program almost two months ago because he was extremely malnourished and not gaining weight.  At 4 months old he weighed just over 6 lbs.  Even in the formula he continued to not gain weight.  During his visit, Tori began to feel that something more was going on with Marck.  At first we thought it was pneumonia, but after checking his stats and a breathing treatment, we felt it was his heart.  Marck has been staying at COTP for the past 3.5 weeks and is on oxygen 24/7 to ensure that his Stats stay high enough.  We had some visiting doctors come out and do an ECHO on his heart.  They found that he does in fact have a heart condition and that he needs surgery.  We have began the paperwork process and are trying to get his passport so that he can travel to the DR in August with Guerlin.  Marcks Mom has been by his side the entire time and is a very devoted and loving Mother who would do anything for her son.  His father often talks about Marcks future and how he hopes he will be a preacher and speak 4 languages!

Marck with his Mom and Dad

Marck celebrating Haitian Flag Day!

Jerry: Jerry has lived at COTP for almost a year now and is desperately in need of a surgery to place a shunt in his head to release some of the pressure that is caused from  his hydrochepulus.  Jerry now has a passport and we are working on the last little details to ensure that he will be able to travel to the States to receive his much needed surgery.  We are hoping he will be able to leave soon!

Joseph: About six weeks ago Joseph was admitted to COTP.  He has already gained 5 lbs during his short stay with us and is such a pleasant little baby.  Joseph has cataracts in his eyes and a prolapsed anus.  He is in need of surgery for each of these and the longer he waits the higher the chances are that he won't gain his sight.  Joseph's passport should be finished soon and we are hoping he will be able to travel to the States ASAP for his surgery.

One thing that has amazed all of us Staff at COTP is how loving and devoted each of their parents/grandparents are.  Loudjenka's parents will fight to make sure that their daughter receives the care she needs, Guerlin and his Mom have an incredibly close bond, Marck clearly loves his parents and they would do anything for their son, Jerry's Mom has made difficult decisions based on what she feels is best for him, and Joseph's Dad and Grandma visit often and are always over joyed to see their beautiful boy.

Helping these little ones with their medical needs has been a lot of work for many people here and in the States, but I strongly feel that each one of them would do it again and would say that they feel blessed for being able to be a part of their surgeries!  Please pray for each of these children, their health, and their families.

May 14 2011

Admits 1:

Judeline was admitted Wednesday May 11.  He and his family had come to COTP several time over the last few weeks and he has been loosing weight.  Judeline is older than we would like to take, but felt that he needed to be here.  His Mother passed away recently and he has been living with his two older sisters.  They currently do not have the means to take care of him and are hoping to get their housing situation figured out soon so that they can take him back.  Judeline is a very sweet pleasant young man.  He began playing with toys his first day here which is very rare to see.  Although he is quite, he speaks a lot and answers questions when he is asked.  He is living in the Alligator room at the moment and seems to be adjusting well to his life here.

Discharges 3:

Moise was able to be united with his adoptive family earlier this week.  His parents live in Cap Haitien and were so excited to take home their little baby.  Through out their adoption process they came and visited him often.  We had a going away party for him with all of his friends and nannies.  Before it started his parents called and told us we didn’t need to dress him because they were bringing him a special outfit they wanted him to wear.  We are confident he will do well in his new home!

Moise with his parents and Cousin

Magdaline (Maggie) has lived at COTP for about 6 months and on Tuesday her biological family came and asked to take her home with them.  It’s always our first goal to reunite families if possible and we do all we can to make this happen.  We are beyond happy that Maggie will now be able to grow up with her family, however she was just matched with an adoptive family a few weeks before which makes this a difficult situation.  Please pray that Maggie does well at home and for the family who was planning on adopting her.

Deborah came to COTP about a month ago with her Grandma and Aunt.  At the time she was very sick and malnourished, however she quickly improved here.  She went from being really picky and not eating anything, to being the best eater in her room.  She even began to play and smile.  However last week Deborah had really high fevers as well as vomiting and diarrhea.  We put an IV in her and gave her tylenol, but her fevers stay at 104.7, so we rushed her to the hospital on Saturday night.  Unfortunately she passed away the next afternoon.  Please pray for her Grandma and Aunt who loved her dearly and were planning on taking her home in a few months.

Birthdays 0:

Developments:

Lousianna is now sitting up and Adlin’s legs are now strong enough to stand and crawl!  Please pray that he starts walking soon!

COTP Grads:

Frandley came back to visit earlier this week with his father!  He is doing really well, gianing weight, and can now fully walk!  Frandley is huge and bonded well with his father!  Praise the Lord for these things!

Needs:

Through out my time here, I have learned that God will always provide.  We were down to about a day supply of rice cereal, but last Thursday we received several boxes in the mail, enough to last us 1-2 months.  Time and time again God has provided for COTP just when we needed it!  Thanks to all of you who help make it possible for us to provide and care for our babies!

-Baby lotion (we are down to 1 bottle)

-Baby Wash

-Size 3 diapers

-Childrens Tooth paste

-Liquid hand soap

-Rice Cereal

Up and Running

As of Saturday afternoon our solar panels are up and running!  It was a very exciting day and we all celebrated as we made the switch.  The entire project from start to finish went as smooth as we could have asked for.  Our team of electricians have worked hard and completed the project in an incredibly timely manner.  They are still here for a few more days and have been continuing to work on other electrical projects around the compound.

A few of these projects are putting outside lights all over the compound so we can see at night, upgrading our network, and installing two solar hot water heaters on two of our different buildings.

Being able to run off of solar is a huge blessing to COTP and will allow us to pour even more into our babies as our monthly budget will now be lower.

Once again we would like to thank each and every person involved in helping this project come to fruition.  There are so many people who have donated money or held fundraisers to help cover the costs of this project.  Several companies have donated supplies or given us an incredible discount to help keep the costs of this project down.  And of course there is the team that came down and helped install the panels!  We would also like to thank everyone who has prayed for this project as we have seen God's finger prints all over it and could not have asked for this to go any smoother!

Moving the inverters upstairs.

The Invertors in the new Building

The Charge Controllers

Moving the Batteries

The Battery Bank on the Roof

All the Panels installed!

Solar Hot Water Panel

Solar Hot Water Tank

Parts Department!