This past Sunday was Father’s Day in Haiti.
You probably know that Second Mile Haiti Malnutrition Treatment Centers host a multitude of female caregivers. But did you know that sometimes we see dads too?
The percentage of male caregivers who spend time at our center is not high. But over the years, about 2% of all the caregivers in our Malnutrition Recovery program have been dads.
Phanol, is one such father who recently spent time at the center with his 18-month-old son, Erns Phanol Junior, or “Erns” for short.
Erns had been sick off and on for much of his young life. He’d been hospitalized at 7 months old and again at 9 months old with diarrhea and vomiting. Now, at age 18 months, Phanol knew that the signs he was seeing in his son weren’t normal.
As an 18-month-old, Phanol expected that his son would start to walk. But he couldn’t even stand. He had no appetite and was losing weight. Most recently, his body had started to swell.
When a nurse-friend of his family told Phanol about Second Mile Haiti, he jumped at the opportunity to help his son.
Phanol was born in Cap Haitien.
He grew up with his mom and dad and enjoyed his childhood as one of the youngest of eleven siblings. He did well in school and attended University before becoming a father.
Although things didn’t work out between he and Ern’s mother, Phanol didn’t see this as a barrier to being the best dad he could be.
He moved with his son closer to family where he continued to make ends meet by selling in Cap Haitien’s massive used-clothes market. On the side, he did tailoring and alterations—skills he’d learned while working as tailor’s apprentice in his youth.
Phanol saw his time at Second Mile Haiti as an unexpected gift.
Third grade is the average grade level completed by the caregivers who spend time at Second Mile Haiti—its why the education classes are so important and why the psychologists that teach them must be so very good at what they do.
Even though he had a university-level education—and many of the other caregivers had never learned to read or write—Phanol didn’t let that put any distance between them.
He participated fully, sharing his opinions, asking questions, and helping the instructors however he could, especially with the business and sewing classes.
During the 6 weeks he spent at the center with his son, it wasn’t uncommon to see Phanol at the chalkboard. His tutoring helped many caregivers learn the the math skills they’d need to be successful in business.
One elderly caregiver even took to calling him “my son” for the way he helped her just like a son would. She credits him for teaching her how to write her name.
According to Phanol gardening classes were his favorite and art therapy was a close second.
The mood of those afternoon art sessions really brought his son to life even when it was still early in his recovery.
After 6 weeks at Second Mile Haiti’s Cap Haitien Malnutrition Treatment Center, no one could deny the remarkable transformation in Erns.
It was time to celebrate Phanol and Erns’ official recovery.
Phanol had this to say:
I feel a level of joy I can’t contain. My child is better. I gained new knowledge especially about how to take care of my son. And I found a family.
The center helped me give my son the care he needed when he was very sick. It’s thanks to our time at the center that he is well now.
Before this I didn’t really know what my son needed.
I didn’t really know how to take care of him.
I learned what he needs from me to be healthy. I also learned about gardening and growing food. I was cared for too. And so, I can say that the center created many positive changes in my life.
There’s a lot more that could be said about Phanol. Through our Business Program, he’s launched a business and it’s going well so far. His cousin is helping him both with childcare and with the business. He hopes that it will provide some stability for his family—so that it’s never a struggle to give his son the things he needs.
We have a feeling we’ll be sharing more about Phanol in the future.
For now, Happy Belated Father’s Day to Dad’s everywhere.
Love from 🇭🇹
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