It was late on a Thursday afternoon when Rosemene, 26, arrived at the Malnutrition Treatment Center with her niece, Melissa. She’d travelled more than 2 hours to get there.
As our team evaluated the one-year-old it became instantly clear that she couldn’t stay. She would first need intensive care at a nearby hospital—at least for a few days.
We would support them while they were there, pay Melissa’s hospital fees, and make sure her aunt had money for food.
When Rosemene heard of our plans to send them to the hospital, she was distraught.
She thought about how long she’d been trying to nurse her niece back to health. She thought about the money she’d spent so far and knew she couldn’t afford whatever hospital fees were in store. She started crying.
In a whisper we heard her tell the one-year-old, “I don’t think there’s anything else I can do to save you.”
What Rosemene hadn’t understood was that a nurse from Second Mile Haiti would accompany them to the hospital and help them get settled in.
She hadn’t understood that her medical fees would be paid for and she’d have money in her hands for food and other essentials.
Six months ago Rosemene lost her sister—the baby’s mother. Before that her mom and dad died. And only one week before she arrived at Second Mile Haiti, her brother died unexpectedly.
There were now 5 children living under her roof. And the small amount of money she made working at a nearby business wasn’t enough to support them all.
The kind of support Second Mile Haiti was now offering her, was so outside of her reality, that that it wasn’t sinking in.
There were no guarantees, but Melissa still had a chance.
At the hospital, Melissa received the emergency care she needed and when she returned to our Treatment Center, she continued to improve rapidly.
Rosemene now understood what we had tried to convey on Day 1.
At Second Mile, there was an entire team of people who cared not just about her niece’s survival, but about her well-being too.
Thanks to your support, Rosemene found a reason to hope and a new family to walk with her on this journey called life.
Melissa is thriving in her care.
As always, we are so glad you’re walking with us on the Second Mile.
Thanks for reading!
❤️ from Haiti