Good evening / Bonswa!
There have been some wonderful moments this week, and today was no exception. The preparation for ABC was completely fabulous!! Even having experienced it, I still can't believe it. Thank you all for your prayers...that is the only explanation for today's events! A brief summary: about 9:00 last night we received a call that the 2 children we were expecting for the taping were not going to make it. The children were at the border in the Dominican Republic, displaced after the earthquake, and there was no way to get them back to Port-au-Prince in time.
An hour of scrambling ensued! Even as we left for the hospital this morning we had no idea how things would go. About 7:45 AM in walks a precious 8 year old girl with a pair of primary colored crutches and an orange t-shirt that read "pretty cute." Pretty cute, indeed. The prosthetists arrived about 30 minutes later, and by noon Reynan was walking up and down stairs on her new prosthetic limb. While waiting, she was jumping rope on her one remaining limb, and about 10 minutes after they fit her new leg, she was jumping rope with 2 legs. I've never seen anything like it!!!!
And if you think that was amazing, about noon another adorable angel arrived, a 4 year old girl who one of the hospital translators remembered from their time working in a tent city. He had gone out on a motorcycle taxi at 10:00 last night to the tent city, found her tent, asked her if she was interested, then went back today to pick her up. By 4:00 she also had a new leg! This little girl, Lorusemie, lives in a tent city, yet her school uniform was bright white and ironed, and her one shoe was shined. What a mother she has!
We could not have found 2 more delightful girls if we had this planned months in advance. It was a long hot day for them, yet they were smiling, cheerful, playing with everyone, and incredibly patient with the entire process. This small segment will air at the end of the Extreme Home Makeover Show on May 5. Mark your calendars!
We also celebrated our first day seeing patients in the new outdoor PT clinic. It was nice to have a breeze and more light (hardly any of the lightbulbs in the hospital work, and occasionally there is no electricity anyway!). One of our outpatients has been coming all week, and after we did most of her treatment, I wanted to take her indoors for a few minutes to finish a few things with her lying down (only chairs outside). She balked, then told me she was scared to be inside because the ceiling fell on her in the quake and she preferred to be in open air. Even being here, I still underestimate the ongoing emotional toll...
Please continue to pray for my amazing friend, Janean. She will be in Haiti through April 24. Her throat is occasionally scratchy, but overall she is feeling better (thanks for the prayers!). She is an awesome therapist, and it's been a real blessing to share this special time with her! Our co-worker, Heather, and her friend Kirsten arrive tomorrow. I know they also will treasure your prayers.
This has been quite a week, and I leave Haiti with incredible memories. Tears of joy, admiration, compassion, and wonder have filled my eyes frequently. The people here inspire me, and I can't wait to show you all my pictures!
Bondye bon! God is good!!!!
Ky
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