more on Plumpy

I am happy to report that plumpy nut is doing very well. I spent a couple hours with him this afternoon. Perhaps I am bias, but I do think he and I have a little bond. Although I know that is a bit delusional, because he is an equal opportunity lover. He is learning to stand (see below) and is smiling fiercely. He has gained over 2 kgs already…and is thriving. He continues to capture the hearts of our staff.

Justin made a little clean space play area for him, with a rug and chairs around him so he can’t get out… he wrote up a little note on a clipboard that says “please do not walk on my rug with your shoes.. signed, Peterson.” It’s quite endearing, his little wing in our clinic. Our numbers continue to decline, though we are getting more sick children than adults. We are treating about 25 patients, and we continue to pray that cholera is on its way out.

plumpy-nut Peterson

Peterson came into our lives over  a week ago.

He had cholera. He and his brother were brought in very sick. Mom, barely 24 years old, moved between two beds. She is pregnant, 5 months. Her house was destroyed in the earthquake and she lives in a humble tent.. a small, hot space with one bed and a small corner full with meager belonging. A pot, a toothbrush, a towel.

I can’t quite explain what happens when someone captures your heart immediately. Peterson and his mother have done this. The first time I held him I had a pang in my heart, deep, and I started crying. Holding him elicited such an emotional response, i had to walk away so others wouldn’t see my tears.

Peterson has a heart condition.. VSD. He is one years old and only weighs 5 kg. He had another sibling who died from the same thing, we believe, recently. His broken heart has made it impossible for him to grow as he should. We discovered this heart condition when he came in to be treated for cholera. He is cured from cholera, but is staying at our clinic under the watch of our team so can start gaining weight. He is eating lots of plumpy nut and protein, and is on antibiotics.  Justin was able to take him and his mom to a specialist to get a test done on his heart which was sent back to the states for review. He also has a strong affinity for this child, who sucks his two middle fingers just like Justin did when he was a baby. It’s quite endearing.

We are moving along the paperwork to see if he is a candidate for the Children’s Heart Project that our organization has… but it’s complicated. Taking a child out of Haiti comes with many logistical challenges.