Neo-natal unit saving lives!

The expression ‘your help can truly save lives’ can perhaps become a little cliche in the charitable sector.  Whilst it’s often true, the fact that we hear it from NGO’s so often can switch us off from the incredible truth it represents. 

It’s a statement myself and Jonnie proclaimed after our first visit in 2005 when we saw the needless and completely unnecessary death of a girl at the only government hospital in Haiti’s second largest city.  It’s a statement we again proclaimed when witnessing the tragic loss of a baby, a grandson of one of our Haitien friends, who couldn’t get his grandson to hospital in time.  Since living in Haiti since 2008, the tragic reality of seeing children’s lives lost in the most un-just of circumstances has almost become a normality.  Most painfully, the tragic loss of Grace at the start of this year drew myself and Reninca into a deeper place of anger and desperation for change in Haiti.  Again, in the weeks that followed her funeral, we called upon people to draw alongside HHA and continue ‘helping to save lives.’  Well, in the last few weeks we’ve witnessed the truly incredible beauty of that statement, not as a cliche NGO slogan, but as a living, life saving statement.

Just in the last few weeks I’ve witnessed three babies who’s lives have undoubtedly been saved by the support you’ve provided us with.  Just over a week ago one mother came to give birth at our maternity unit.  Having lost her previous child in delivery, the staff were aware this was a potentially high risk birth, and as they carefully monitored the progress of mother and baby, realised this baby was showing signs of distress.  Within minutes the mother was in our operating theatre receiving an emergency c-section.  The baby was successfully delivered and provided immediate neo-natal support with oxygen etc.  Had this delivery happened at home, it’s very possible the child and potentially mother could have died or been left with a life long disability.

A few days later and another baby was delivered with a C-Section, in another high risk birth.  When the baby was delivered by the surgeons, he’d stopped breathing.  Our team were quick to respond, and within moments, after tiny heart pumps and resuscitation, the little babies life was saved, the blue colour of his lips fading, and his body awakening into the world.  Again, had this baby been born at home, he too could have so easily have died or been left with a life long disability.  Even today, one tiny premature baby fights for his life in our unit, 32 weeks old.  Again, his life represents the remarkable change that you’ve helped us to achieve in Haiti, thanks to the grace of God.

This week has proved that with your support the provision of care at HHA is saving lives in a manner some perhaps thought was once impossible.  It’s something that gives us all hope, something that we can rejoice in, something that reflects a dramatic shift in our work in Haiti.  However, these remarkable and miraculous advances have truly only been made possible by the generosity of our donors, and whilst the opening of these units mark the completion of one need, they also present a whole new chapter of challenges.  The financial situation in the UK continues to affect charity’s like HHA, and perhaps now more than ever, we need your support in this epic journey again.  In the building of these units, perhaps one off donations towards construction seemed the most obvious way people could previously jump on board.  However, with the staff and patients we now have to support, we’re in real need of regular donors.  Individuals who would be willing to contribute towards this work on a monthly basis.  Whether that’s just a few pounds a month, or £15, £30 etc, it’s currently our greatest need.

In light of all that’s been achieved in the last weeks, Reninca and I really would love to pass on our deepest thanks to all those who’ve made this ‘dream’ a reality.  It’s been a difficult and long journey, one that’s not been without troubles and heartbreak, but…this blog we hope shows, that for those who’ve joined us in this epic journey, it’s been more than worth it.  We hope and pray that this little update would again inspire you by the difference that can be made, and that in the rejoicing, we’d all be encouraged to continue making the sacrifices we have.

If you’d like to become a regular donor, please do drop us an e-mail, and we’ll happily talk you through it:  carwyn@haitihospitalappeal.org