Yesterday was definitely the hardest day so far. We first did water therapy with 6 special needs kids from Gertrude’s. Then we went to the General Hospital in Port-Au-Prince.

We went to pick up the kids from Gertrude’s right away in the morning. The age ranged from about 4 to 13. All of the kids had been abandoned because of their special needs. Some had cerebral palsy, none could talk but all were very aware of what was going on. They were all ready to go, suited up in their swimsuits. When they got in the tap-tap, they were full of smiles and laughter. The team brought them to a hotel by our Guest House. We got to the pool and all got in… the water was freezing! Some of our buddies thought it was cold too!  Our team made lots of new friends. We splashed water on them, rubbed their tense muscles, and many more (hopefully) comforting, relaxing things. The experience was absolutely amazing. My Auntie Brenda and my partner, Christine, was a joyful bundle of love inside a broken body. She had the cutest little laugh and the biggest smile. TO DIE FOR. It was so hard to bring the kids back to Gertrude’s where they didn’t have the proper care that they needed. The crowded room, with few staff that worked so hard to care for the little kids. One little boy, who couldn’t hold his back or neck up, had a wheel chair that was straight up. Unable to meet his needs.

Next we went to the General Hospital in Port-Au-Prince. I had no clue of what to expect. I was really nervous. We pulled into the green gates of the hospital, the inside crammed with beautiful, needy, anxious Haitians. We were led by one of Healing Haiti’s staff, Wilson, into a hot, dark, desperate, sick room filled with poor, sick, and dying children from the ages of 0-15. There are so many other words that could almost describe this place but just cant. We brought in care packs (filled with 2 rags, 2 bars of soap, 1 tube of tooth paste, 4 tooth brushes, 1 comb, 2 packages of peanuts, and 1 granola bar) that were in black bags. The people were so desperate for love, joy, comfort, and essential things that we always take for granted.  We tried to hand out the packs only to the mothers/fathers of the patients, but other people there ended up getting themselves one. The 15 yd by 3 yd green hospital room was filled with kids getting IVs, malnourished kids, and just sick kids. About ¼ of the babies had a mother/father by them. One little baby, with no teeth (to give an approximate age range), had both of his legs in a cast with a little blood on it. My mom and I immediately connected with the little guy. He had the cutest little face with the curliest black hair. I cannot get his face out of my head. He was damp with the heat of the musty room. The baby had wrapped himself up in a little blanket in his metal crib in the back corner in the room was abandoned. I was glad to see that the mommas who loved the babies across from him made sure that he had supplies for his bottle, a new blanket, and a onesie in his tiny crib.

I don’t ever see that I will forget this day…

KE BONDYE BEINOU

- Annie Moen (11 years old)