Last week a good friend of ours came in to have a baby – we all followed her labour intensely. Seeing her pain, anxiety, and stress as her contractions got closer and the pain got worse till finally she was rewarded with the most beautiful baby girl.  Seeing the way the team worked and following her labour so intently was incredible (not for her). New life, beauty, innocence and joy of a new baby is such an incredible thing to experience. The love of a parent is life giving and life sacrificing, as a friend wrote to me the other day – ‘being a parent makes you realise how selfish you are, and how you would be prepared to give everything up for your child.’ Just as Jesus gave everything up for us.

As I write this I am reminded that Jesus was not born in a maternity ward surrounded by equipment, doctors and pain relief. He was born in a dark, dirty, smelly place, most likely a cave. This is a reminder that even in the dark and dirty of our lives, Jesus is present and can change everything. But sometimes he needs us to be his hands and feet, to love in the dark and dirty situations of this world.

At the Maison de Benediction we believe that Mums, dads and families are best for children. Children need unconditional love to help them grow into secure adults. Unfortunately in some places in Haiti there are many children who do not get enough love. At a local orphanage I visit it breaks my heart when I arrive and the children climb on to me, holding on to my arm, leg whatever they can hold, fighting for attention. But even more heart breaking are the children who don’t even try to get a cuddle, as though they have lost hope that anyone could ever love them. That is the dark and dirty where Christ’s love needs to shine. To love each child as though they were our own with that fierce love of a parent, just the way God loves us.

When I first came to Haiti I used to get angry at how a parent could abandon a child. However, I was gently reminded that we must not judge, as we have never walked in those shoes. Being a mum in Haiti is hard. You want to give your child everything, but you have nothing. You may be uneducated, no extended family to support you, abused by men, and then trying to bring up a disabled child. That is hard. So very hard. Harder than we can imagine. Often it is the hardest thing a parent will do, and they will do it with the intention to give their child a better life. I often look at our three children at the Maison de Benediction that we are responsible for after they were abandoned. How much they have grown, blossomed, made progress and what love and joy they give us. I wish their parents could know that and have peace. Like when the mother of Moses gave him up and then saw him flourish.

Last week I went with some of the Maison de Benediction staff to a local orphanage there we found one of our first children Joel (names have been changed) who we thought had moved to Port de Paix. Joel was about 1/3 of the size he used to be, his arms and legs were so thin my fingers touched when I wrapped my hand around them. We were told that he spends all day lying in bed and never gets to leave. God challenged us that we must love every child in the way he loves us, and as we would like to be loved.

Our community based rehabilitation team were set to task to find the family and talk to them about it. The mother – Janine explained her situation that the father of the child had taken the child to the orphanage but there was nothing she could do. Currently Janine is living in a room 2m by 1m with a man and his three children- this gives her somewhere to stay. Janine has just had another child ,but due to the fact Janine has little money for food the baby is struggling to breastfeed as there is not much milk. Janine is seriously slim and clothes fall of her. Janines boyfriend said he would not accept Joel to live with them. So told her she needed to find somewhere else to live.

The Maison de Benediction have now provided housing for her to move out and live on her own and will provide support in looking after her child at the Maison de Benediction and at home. The mother cried and cried when she knew we would help her. The child was taken from the orphanage today and is currently receiving medical treatment and support from our paediatric team. He will be on our malnourished childrens program till he can get back to a healthy weight.  It is a great example of our services all working together to support him. To begin with he will need to receive weekly care from the clinic, paediatric team, rehab team for physio and obviously the love of the Maison de Benediction. All to make a difference in his life.

Not having children of our own we have been re challenged to love every child as though it was our own.  As you kiss your kids tonight and hold them tight remember the challenge to love each child as though it was your own.” Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Thank you for supporting the Maternity, Paediatric, Clinic and Maison de Benediction who all have such an important part in changing the lives of Janine and Joel. If you would be interested in supporting the work of the Maison de Benediction please do contact me on reninca@haitihospitalappeal.org

Thank you

Reninca xxxx

I’m now back in the UK and enjoying spending time with our HHA team here.  We’ve got some incredible volunteers who humbly serve the appeal each week, doing all the bits and pieces that rarely get noticed, but are vital to the work.  It’s also been a real joy to welcome our new UK Operations Director to the team.  Anthony is a fantastic guy, who’ll be a real blessing to the team here.  He’s already on the look out for a new army of volunteers to help us fulfill our vision here, so whatever your skill set, if you’re interested in helping from the UK, please contact Anthony today:  anthony@haitihospitalappeal.org

Another exciting new addition to our team is Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael, who has become HHA’s first patron, which we announced at our annual dinner dance.  Laura has been so supportive in the last year, and we’re really excited and grateful for her willingness to take this a step further and become our official patron.  You can hear more from Laura in our latest news piece: Downton Abbey Star becomes HHA Patron

Our Medical Director in Haiti, Dr Paul Toussaint was also recently presented with a national award in Haiti, honoring the work he’s done for paediatric care in Northern Haiti.  It was a great honor for him to receive such an award, and very much deserved.  His passion and hunger for justice in the area of paediatrics is truly inspirational, and it’s a privilege to serve with him!  Perhaps one of his greatest achievements in the last year has been the development of our neonatal unit which continues to provide life saving care to premature babies. 

A few weeks ago we finished installing a new electrical back up system for this unit, to ensure 24/7 electricity.  This has been an important upgrade to the system we invested in through support from USAID several years ago.  Thanks to Gulf for Good and The French Protestant Foundation, we were able to install a new generator, battery banks, and inverters, upgrading the hospitals electrical capacity which really boosts the services.  It’s hard to understand from a UK perspective how electrical power can be such an issue, but for many hospitals in Haiti, poor electricity can place patients at grave, life threatening risk.  Our upgraded system gives the doctors and nurses even more confidence that the foundations for good, quality care is a normality and something they can rely on.  A huge thanks to the team from ITEC who came and helped install this.

They haven’t been the only guests on site recently though.  The Swiss Paraplegic Foundation have also joined us continuing our SCI training programme.  We’ve also had The Walkabout Foundation join us, who spent a fantastic day distributing wheelchairs to many people. 

Along with many others, it was also a real privilege to welcome the UK Ambassador for Haiti and Dominican Republic to our site, who was very encouraging about the work.  Sadly I was already back in the UK, but Reninca enjoyed having the chance to show him around, and we’re very bgrateful for his visit.

We’ll try and update you all again soon.  As we said though, if you’d like to get involved with HHA from the UK, please do contact Anthony!  We’re keen to keep this momentum going!

With 74% of births taking place at home, women in Haiti have a 1 in 37 chance of dying during birth, and the country has the highest rate of infant and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere with 35% of all child deaths in Haiti taking place during the neonatal stage.

One year ago we opened one of the main maternity facilities in Northern Haiti with 22 beds, two natural delivery suites, a surgical department for obstetrical emergencies, and consultation rooms which provide a range of services including ultrasound. During its first year the unit was able to support over 2,500 women, saving many lives through the provision of quality care.

Laura said, “I’m thrilled to support HHA because their work is so inspiring. They put their money into the hands of people who need it the most and are doing fantastic work building a hospital and children’s homes that will last for generations. HHA is a small charity that is doing vital work and I am so proud to support them.”

Co-founder and CEO of HHA, Carwyn Hill said, “We’re absolutely delighted that Laura has chosen to support out work. We hope it will raise awareness of the health issues facing those who live in Haiti, as well as helping us raise money so we can continue to provide essential health services and save lives.”

If you’d like to join Laura’s lead and get more involved in the work, please contact us today: anthony@haitihospitalappeal.org

However, in the last few years we have had the privilege of witnessing this level of love through a unique and special group – our Community Based Rehabilitation Team (CBR), supported through BMS World Mission.  For the last two years they have been selflessly serving some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Haiti, those with physical or mental disabilities. 

I’ve had the privilege of following them in communities, watching them walk bare foot through stagnant, sewage water just so they could reach isolated families, surrounded in flooding, who no one else would visit.  I have watched them hold these children tenderly, with such sensitivity as if they were their own; and seen them advocate on these children’s behalf with an intense passion, driven by a hunger for justice and equality.  They cherish each child as if the children they serve truly were their own.  The results have been incredible:

- Over 190 children/young adults have regularly been supported through the programme in the last year, with over 1470 visits to families.

- There are 8 schools now accepting children with disabilities in the target zone, who previously didn’t accept disabled children

-  36 of the children couldn’t walk, but were connected through the team to our rehabilitation unit and now walk!  Another 20 people who had amputations were able to find prosthesis.

- In one community, a survey highlighted that last year 62% of families with disabled children suffered abuse on a daily basis.  The team said that had since fallen to 36% since challenging communities in schools, churches etc had happened, and that there is a noticeable change in the way people with disabilities are treated.

- 67 churches have received disability training, which has encouraged the integration of persons with disabilities into faith communities.  For example, church attendance for disabled people in 10 churches subsequently over doubled, and one now has 47 members with a disability.

- The team have also taken children with life threatening disabilities to PAP to receive life saving operations.

The list could go on!  When these stats translate into real stories, we can begin to see why the command to ‘love others as ourselves’ is so urgent.  Just as one example, Benounon is 12 and lives with her father who is severely disabled.  Sadly her mother died during delivery.  They live in a tiny room without electricity or water, with nothing but an old mattress on the floor.  When Benounon was introduced to us, she was found at home, chewing on a piece of wood because she was so hungry and they had no food.  The CBR team have been able to connect her with our respite home and a local church who now support the family.  Without the CBR teams help, this family would have been one of many left to struggle alone.

Sadly, the designated funding for this project has just come to an end, and regrettably with the economic situation as it is, this is one programme at present we’ll sadly be unable to continue.  We’ll certainly be doing all we can to raise funds to re-initiate this urgent work, but from this month, this wonderful programme will tragically be coming to an end.

It’s hard to know what to write when facing such frustrating realities.  I wanted to write in honor of these incredible guys who have sacrificed so much, and I think the stats speak for themselves.  I also wanted to write as a voice for those 19o+ families who’ll dearly miss this support, and be a voice on behalf of them.  It’s amazing what a difference can be made when we truly love others as ourselves.

Rather predictably, that leads us onto a final challenge.  If Benounon were our own child, to what end would we now stand and do everything within our power to ensure she continued receiving care.  If she weren’t a distant story, an example of poverty, a statistic.  If she were truly our own child, what would we do?  I have no doubt that if these 190+ children were our own, the response would be vast and far reaching.  Perhaps the answer to that question, is the exact kind of response Jesus had in mind…even for those we may never meet.

One of the most common statements our Haiti field workers face when they return home and meet with supporters interested in HHA, is… ‘I just wish I could help more and come to Haiti, but it’s just not possible at the moment.’  The reality is, that for most people, the biggest difference they can make isn’t in Haiti.  The period of large investment in Haiti post earthquake and amidst the cholera epidemic is now truly over.  Whilst we’re privileged to have some fantastic long term funding partnerships, the survival for most of our services once again relies entirely upon the individual fundraising efforts of our supporters.  So…if you’re one of those people who have never been quite sure how to help, here’s a few exciting ideas for you this Easter:

Haiti Hospital Appeal Dinner Dance:

It’s fast approaching, and on 26th April we’ll be holding our Annual Dinner Dance.  It’s always a great night, with fantastic food, live music, an auction, raffle and presentation.  Come with a group, or on your own, but don’t miss this wonderful celebration as we raise money for our Maternity and Paediatric Unit.  Tickets need to be purchased in advance.  Contact us today: Michelle@haitihospitalappeal.org

Something fun and crazy:

One of our loyal supporters called Colin, has dyed his beard red to raise money for HHA!  Colin has been to Haiti several times, but makes sure that when he’s home, the battle for those we serve continues!

Could you follow Colin’s example and do something a little crazy for HHA?

Perhaps even more crazy – HHA TOUGH MUDDER CHALLENGE:

On 8th June, we’ll be participating in the first HHA Tough Mudder Challenge.  Not for the faint-hearted, this 12 mile, army obstacle course is as you can imagine…very hard, and very muddy!  Never the less, we have a team of about 8 people signed up so far, and we’re looking for more!  Want to know more, then visit the latest blog to see the video, visit The Tough Mudder Website, or contact:  Carwyn@haitihospitalappeal.org

Run Run Run – LONDON MARATHON and LONDON 10K RUN:

The London Marathon is fast approaching, and this year one of our supporters will be running it for our Maternity Unit.  If 26 miles is too much for you, worry not!  On 14th July we’ll be having a team take part in the British 10k London Run!  We’re looking for people to join our team, so please get in touch today.  For more information check out the official website, or contact: Carwyn@haitihospitalappeal.org

Please get in touch today if you’d like to join any of the above teams, or set up your own fundraising event!

We’ve shared a good time here, and yesterday had the privilege to help lead a service for our Rehabilitation patients.  Many of them miss the fellowship of being part of a church whilst they are with us, and so each Sunday our chaplaincy team support them with a special hospital service.  It was moving speaking about new life and new hope, looking on at the faces of so many individuals who have themselves overcome almost certain death, now enjoying a new lease of life. 

Whilst some patients got discharged this week, others arrived, including one young paraplegic guy who our ambulance team had picked up from another facility where he was just lying on a wooden bench.  When I saw him the first day, he was in a terrible state, having clearly been unable to care for himself, arriving with no belongings or family.  It was a joy though as we gathered everyone for the service on Sunday to find him clothed, with a new hair cut, and being looked after so well by the team.

Just across the way and there was more hope of new life on Easter Sunday.  The little 28 week premature baby who’d been bought to us a week or so earlier, weighing just 800 grams, continues to battle away, and is progressing well.  ‘She’s getting bigger!’ exclaimed one of the paediatricians joyfully this morning!  Saving such babies was once just a dream of Dr Toussaint, but once again, we’re seeing real change, as justice starts to flow more and more.  It’s strange to think that this time last year, we officially opened our Maternity and Paediatric Unit, and what a year it’s been since.

Last year over 2,400 children were cared for, including over 100 babies in the neonatal unit, and over 2,500 women.  Considering our designated funding for these critical services ended in December, it’s a real testament of our supporters generosity that these services still continue, whilst we try and secure some longer term funding.

Perhaps at this time, the most important place where the battle for these lives needs to happen, is in the homes and communities of people outside of Haiti, and we’ve seen some amazing fundraising efforts recently.  Our dear friend and loyal supporter of HHA, Colin, has dyed his beard red to raise money for HHA!  Amazing.  You can support him here:  SPONSOR COLIN

My brother is also preparing for the epic task of 26 miles in the London Marathon in a few weeks, and Reninca and I have joined a team of crazy HHA supporters doing the Tough Mudder challenge in June.  Check the video out below, and let us know asap if you’d like to join the team.  If not, you can sponsor us here:  SPONSOR RENINCA AND CARWYN GET VERY MUDDY

There are so many ways we can fight for the lives of the people we’re serving, without even having to come to Haiti!  This Easter, join the fight with us.

If you’ve been inspired by what you’ve watched, why not share it with a friend, become a regular donor, or make a donation today.

Or, on 26th April 2013, we’ll also be holding our Annual Charity Dinner Dance, at The Warren, Kent, kicking off at 7pm.  With great food, live music, an auction, raffle, and presentation from some of the team, it’s going to be another fantastic night.  For the last few years this has been our biggest fundraiser, and with tickets at only £45 per head, it’s well worth coming to.  Whether you’d like just a few tickets, or a whole table, we’d love to welcome you.  Be sure to book your tickets soon.  For more information contact: michelle@haitihospitalappeal.org

However, in the last few weeks a few harrowing stories have reminded me afresh of why we’re here.  One visiting team we partner with, who stay at our Volunteer village, attended the cities Government hospital, where they were introduced to a new born baby who’d just been found, abandoned in a black sack on a pile of rubbish.  Disturbingly, the baby had been left there all night, and her lonely cries had attracted some of the local dogs, who in their own desperate struggle for survival had eaten the babies foot off.

Just a few days or so later, and as I sat working one Sunday afternoon, the harrowing sounds of mourning rang across the hospital site.  A young teenage girl had been bought to us in a critical state.  Sadly, the family had taken her to a near by witch doctor first, who our medical director said had caused a great deal of trauma upon the girl.  Tragically, after such trauma, she was beyond saving, and died surrounded by her broken family.

The daily tales of need can be intensely harrowing here, and are a constant reminder as to the great need of why we’re here.  Perhaps just as troubling for Haiti, though obviously in a very different way, is the deeply concerning reality of NGO’s in North Haiti, who find themselves struggling for survival.  Even in the last few weeks we’ve been in direct contact with two groups, one international charity which has run out of funds to continue and is closing, and another in Haiti which is pulling out having exhausted all options to find a way to stay.  Budgets are being slashed, as the world economy continues to punish the most vulnerable, and the continued negative press Haiti gets, does nothing but to enforce people’s charitable fatigue.

To see the direct impact this is having on HHA is a constant concern upon our hearts, especially when the programmes are truly making such a difference!  Even in the last few days we’ve had a hearing specialist with us, who had the chance to provide hearing to several people for the first time.  You can’t beat the smile of an elderly man able to hear his daughter for the first time in years, or of a man who comes to HHA and receives his first proper wheelchair!

And whilst the elderly are enabled to rejoice, so to are the little ones.  Yesterday evening we had 9 babies in the neonatal unit, including one tiny 28 weeker (who’d greatly value your prayers!) who is only 800 grams.  There’s so much going on, and perhaps the easiest way to share the heart of these services is through our latest video which we’d love you to watch!  Please check it out now!

If you can watch it for a few minutes, please consider also sharing it with your friends, family or colleagues!  There are good things happening in Haiti, but in order for them to continue, your support is now more critical than ever!  Please consider making a donation today or getting involved.

Aside from anything else, on 26^th April, we’ll be having our Annual Charity Dinner Dance, and we’d love to see you there!  Want to find out more, please e-mail michelle@haitihospitalappeal.org

Thanks for your continued support, and please do keep battling on with us!

In Haiti, women are the bedrock for families and communities.  Women will literally go without food so their children can go to school.  However, despite the key social foundation women provide, according to some reports, they “are the most disenfranchised and marginalized portion of the population.”  Everyday, as a women, I’m inspired and moved by the women I work with, and in celebration of International Women’s Day, we thought we’d share about some of the inspiring women we work with.

Louina is one of our child care team, and works tirelessly at the childrens home. She is always in the background busy loving, caring and cleaning the children. She is also foster mother to one of our abandoned children. The child she fosters is severely disabled, and continuously struggles with sickness, which can cause a great deal of discomfort and crying.  Louinas patience, resolve and love is overwhelming. She never complains, and works without ceasing.  Louina to me represents the capacity of a woman to give.

Immacula is our administrator and is a strong, gracious and kind lady. She shows the strength, intelligence and love of a woman, being first to start work, and least to leave work.  Immacula to me represents the strength of a woman

Jeanine is one of our staff, who has a spinal cord injury, which has left her partially paralysed. Her resolve and dedication to succeed is overwhelming. She has encountered more difficulties than any of us will ever face, having been left paralysed through the most harrowing of circumstances. However, she never gives up or moans, but goes on life, succeeding in all she sets her mind to, and giving her best everyday.  Jeanine to me represents the resolve women have to overcome difficulties and trials.

Madam Bwa to me represents the heart of a woman.  She lives in one of the poorest slums of Cap-haitien. She has an incredible love for every one in her community and does everything she can to help people in her community.  With almost non existent finances, so somehow manages to provide multiple services to her community, saving lives everyday, choosing to stay within the slum, so she can serve those she loves.

Lastly, Christina is one of our cleaners who serves and loves in such a humble way. She is constantly singing and praising God, working well over her scheduled hours to ensure the hospital is clean and tidy to give an excellent service.  She is one of the most dedicated women I’ve ever met, who takes joy in giving what she can, and despite having so little, gives in abundance.  Christina to me represents the servant heart of a woman.

We thank God for women and all they continue to do in Haiti.  On this special day/weekend (with Mothers day on Sunday too), please join with us and make a special donation to honor an inspirational mum or woman in your life.  All donations over this weekend will support our Maternity work, and enable the women above, and many others, to continue saving lives.  Please make a special donation today.

Even in the last week as many of you may have read, countless lives have been saved or transformed!  One young lady called Marie came for a consultation at our hospital, and was informed that she needed urgent, life saving surgery.  Despite initially declining due to the fear of surgery, through the love and support of our team, she changed her mind, was successfully operated on, and returned home last week! 

Just a few days ago, another lady came into the hospital giving birth.  When her baby was born, he wasn’t breathing, but was quickly resuscitated thanks to the quick and professional care of our doctors.  The baby is now recovering well in our neonatal unit.

These are just two stories from the last week.  In 2012 we supported over 2,500 women through our Women’s Health work, and the numbers keep increasing!

As many of our supporters have done in the past, we’re asking people this week to make a one off donation towards our Women’s Health work, to celebrate International Women’s Day and Mothering Sunday!  It could be in honor of a mum, grandmum, aunt or another special woman, or perhaps in memory of someone you’d like to remember this week.  Chocolates will quickly be eaten, and flowers will last a few days, but a ‘Gift in kind’ towards our Maternity work will leave a life long impact!  Please consider making a gift today, in honor of that someone special.

You could also help us this week, by using these two wonderful occassions to spread the word of HHA Women’s Health activities.  Tell your friends and family, tweet, facebook, engage your school, church or business!  Lets do our part to celebrate this special week, and support some of the most vulnerable women and mothers in Haiti.