She is a sweet baby girl that we have been blessed to get to know over the past few months. She and her mama started in our progam in the 1st class back in the 2nd week in February.
Her mama is a wonderful lady. She and her husband, Serline and a new baby have all had quite a few struggles over the past year.
When Serline was just 6 months old, her mama unexpectantly got pregnant with her baby brother. When the baby was born, mama knew he needed her milk to survive, so she stopped nursing Serline, herself still a baby and still needing mom's milk to thrive. As the months past, Serline's health deteriorated. By the time we met her, the end of January, she was in poor health to say the least. She was suffering from Kwashiokor, a form of malnutrion that occurs when the body lacks protein. She was swollen, listless and had VERY thin, reddish hair. All signs of the disease. Truly, it would not have been long before her body would have started to give up.
Her mom has brought her to the clinic faithfully. She slowly and steadily gained weight and appeares a little healthier every time we saw her. It took the full 12 weeks to reach her goal weight. Even now, mom still comes to the clinic on Saturday mornings for prayer, worship and to learn the nutrional education that will allow her to make good food and lifestyle choices that will hopefully keep Serline's brother out of our program. A thing we very much desire. Our job here is the work ourselves out of a job. With the gift of training and education, in addition to the Medika Mamba, we work to give them the information they need keep their families healthy with better food and basic care choices.
In the past when I saw Serline she was quiet, still and had a vacant look. But, not this month!
We were so surprised and blessed to see her last month! She was bright eyed, alert and filled with energy and love!! She was just pure joy! She was babbling to us as we talked with the families. I lifted her out of her momma's arms and she gave us a smile that melted my heart. She played back and forth between Jeremy and I.
During the Mamba distribution...we played some more. This time, she took steps between her mama's arms and mine! Soo sweet and precious to be a part of this! This little angel, at 18 months old, is now chattering, playing and walking for the 1st time!!
Serline's family's story, is the very reason we started this clinic. We know that education can change the future of a child, family, communittee and country. We know we can only do this one relationship at a time. We know that this is the what Jesus calls us to. To love one another and allow Him to work out the rest. That is what we are trying to do at Fearless Warriors and in our clinic in La Victoire.
We pray that there are many great stories like Serline's to share with you in the future. We pray that we can continue our work of putting the tools and education in the hands of the families that need it, to allow them to build up their familes and communitees! We pray the funds will come in to allow us to purchase more Medika Mamba and to pay our nurse, health agent and pastor to continue training, couseling and spiritual teaching with these families. If you would like to be a part of futures like these, check out our video on a previous post or use Donation button on the right to become a monthly sponsor or make a one time donation.
