Skip to main content

A little girl in Haiti

Years ago a work friend of mine went on a mission trip to Haiti. While there they did some work at an orphanage in the capital city. She came home with photos to show me of a little three-year-old girl there with albinism. The girl had been abandoned by her family and the orphanage knew nothing about albinism. The little girl spent her days in the sun with no hat and no sun glasses.

We gathered information to send to the orphanage workers along with some hats and sunscreen. We sent them with the next mission group to go to Haiti from my friend’s church.

I remember at the time wishing I could scoop this little girl up and give her a safe home with someone who would understand. I wasn’t, of course, in any position to adopt – I’m not even sure if it would have been possible.

Over the years I’ve thought about that little girl when I think about how I wish I could have a family. Her photo is emblazoned in my brain. When I think of her I sent a prayer up to God to watch over her. It’s all I can do.

Today, I can’t help but wonder what has happened to her. She would be about nine years old now. Was she ever adopted? Is she still in an orphanage? What will happen to a kid like her in the current circumstances if she’s survived?

Do me a favor? Send up a prayer for this little girl in Haiti none of us know. She’s one of thousands, I know, but for me, she’s one.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ratner's Cheesecake

Here's another recipe from Toby! Thanks Toby......and I'll get the others posted soon! Ratner's Cheesecake and plain cookies Ratner's was a Jewish dairy restaurant in the lower East Side of Manhattan. This recipe, from my disintegrating, no longer in print Ratner's cookbook, is the closest I've ever gotten to reproducing the rich, heavy cheesecake my mother made when I was a kid. It's worth the time it takes to prepare and every last calorie. Dough Can be prepared in advance. Makes enough for two cakes. Can be frozen or used to make cookies – see recipe below. 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup butter 2 eggs 3 cups sifted cake flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients with hands. Refrigerate 3 -4 hours, or preferably overnight. Filling (for...
1 comment
Read more

Some good news about Pirfenidone

Below is a press release from Intermune, the company that makes Pirfenidone. They have essentially reviewed the various clinical trials going on, and decided that Pirfenidone is safe and well tolerated. That would pretty much go along with what we've observed in the HPS community as well. We have a few folks that have been on the drug since the late 90s and continue to do well. Of course, as a journalist, I do have to say consider the source - but at the same time, as someone in a Pirfenidone trial, it's good to know. Results of Comprehensive Safety Analysis of pirfenidone In IPF Patients Presented At European Respiratory Meeting - Analysis shows safety and tolerability of pirfenidone across four clinical trials - VIENNA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN ) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria...
Post a Comment
Read more

The next generation with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

I'm so behind on posting about the trip to Puerto Rico. Since the episode of Mystery Diagnosis on Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome ran right after we got home, it's been a little busy. These, however, are my favorite pictures from Puerto Rico. I know, not pretty senery etc - but these little guys and gals inspire me. They are the next generation of folks with HPS, and if we keep up the hard work, they will live better lives because of it. They motivate me.
Post a Comment
Read more