Sometimes it is hard to put into words the difficulty we face daily with the cultural divide between America and Haiti. While many things are similar, there are some things that are SO extremely different. Last night something happened that I have been struggling with all day today... and will continue to struggle with for the unforeseeable future. Let me tell you the story:
It started last night as a bunch of us were settled down and watching Fried Green Tomatoes. Our newest year long nurse intern E'tiene (she has only been here 4 days) came running up to the house saying that someone was having a baby and calling for our other nurse Aubree. We all ran out of the house and came upon our pickup truck. Aubree saw the wife of one of our Haitian staff in the truck and found out she had actually already had the baby... at the hospital. She handed over a bundle of blankets and when Aubree unwrapped it she found the tiniest baby I have ever seen. She was only several hours old and barely 3 pounds. She was less than 7 months gestational and therefore quite premature. Aubree took the baby into the clinic and checked all vitals. Things looked OK but the baby was quite blue, very tiny, and had really low blood sugar levels. We tried to get the mom to breast feed the baby but she said she didn't want to because she hadn't showered. Culturally some Haitians don't want to breast feed until they are clean. We urged her to shower here but she wouldn't. Aubree told her in Creole that if she didn't feed the baby it would die. We asked her if she was happy to have her baby and she shook her head no and just replied, "It's small". Aubree tried to mix up formula and feed the baby with a dropper but that didn't really work. We urged her to breast feed and she almost tried but each time the other Haitian lady next to her would talk her out of it. Finally she left to return to her mud hut in the village.
We found out this morning that the baby died overnight, without ever being given a name.
There are so many things that I don't understand about this situation. The mom didn't want to take prenatal vitamins even though she had access to them. She walked miles to work each day in 110+ degree heat. She stood all day cooking food and selling food/drink items. Those things can't really be avoided. Women here don't get to lay around in air conditioning all day taking their prenatal vitamins and eating healthy foods.
Normally babies are delivered by a midwife but this mom made it to a hospital. Only to leave immediately after the birth. I found out today that there is actually a law in Haiti that the doctor is required to keep a preemie for at least 24 hours of observation. So did the doctor mistakenly release them or did the mom just leave? And why wouldn't the mom feed the baby?
I found out today that she (like many in the village) believe that babies that small are zombies and will suck the life out of the mom if they breastfeed. Really?! Obviously 99.9% of Americans would know this is ridiculous, but many Haitians grow up thinking this to be reality. And with little to no education (of any sort, let alone prenatal education) why would they think differently? I also found out today that the mom may have taken an herbal medicine to bring the baby early to get it over with. She didn't even want the baby. Now I know why she wouldn't name it last night.
I tell this story as an example but this happens DAILY. Two days ago we learned of a three year old boy that was thrown down a latrine by his mother to die. And Aubree was asked to take a different baby... something else that happens frequently. I have had several women approach me to take their babies.
I just don't know what to make of this. Last night a little helpless child was brought into the world with no chance. She couldn't fend for herself and the women who carried her had no desire to care for her. How can you make any sense out of something like that?
Thanks for sharing this story, Shelli. These kinds of moments are so difficult to make sense of.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it hard? These are the same myths and issues we try to educate women about at Heartline. It's heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteSO hard to read, I can't imagine having to live it. Thanks for sharing this Shelli. We are so proud of you guys and are continually praying for you all. Thanks for opening up as sharing this with us, we need to continue to allow the things that break God's heart break ours. Thanks for being part of that.
ReplyDeleteKerry Snyder
How do you make sense of something like that? You can't. And yet, He is still there. And all hope is not lost. Praying for you and the staff as you continue to face situations like this and have your life turned upside-down. May He make Himself known, and may His truth continue to infiltrate the long-held beliefs and customs of those dear people.
ReplyDeleteAaron: I noticed there were no comments to this. Amazing! Like you, I am sure all that have read this are in disbelief and cannot even comment. I am only commenting because I want to encourage you and your family to stay strong and continue to see God in all of this. I was reading in Romans 9 today things that reminded me that God's justice and our concept of justice are two completely different things. He has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and hardens whom he wants to harden (v.18). We are HIS creation, He is not ours. HIS ways are not man's ways. Continue to shine the light of Christ through your life, that those who see (who can see) will know that Life is a gift from Him and readily available to all who seek it. The "innocents" are provided for - I must believe that. I believe that God has allowed you to experience this to inspire you and us to let Him display his power through us and proclaim His name throughout the earth (v.17).
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