Beautiful baby

Do you recognize this little one?

Yes, it's Lovena, the baby I recently moved from Jubilee to Dorothy's. My friends took photos of her when they visited Dorothy's last week and I honestly didn't recognize her in the first photo! She looks great, chubby already, and her hair and skin have started to get that healthy glow that good nutrition always gives kids. I can't wait to see her myself in a couple months.

I love New England

Chop Point Camp, June 16th, 8:07pm EST

In the infirmary, beds are made and flowers are picked.

In the lodge, a dozen crazy counselors are practicing skits.

 In the camp store, drinks and treats are ready to be put on the shelves.

In the office, waterfront director Benjamin is working hard.

In the back office, keys are hanging on the keyboard, safely out of reach.

In the dining hall, the TO DO list is all crossed off...well, almost all crossed off.

In the woods, the sun is setting over the river.

Campers arrive in 36 hours!

America

In case you were wondering, I am in America now. I will be here for 8 weeks, working at Chop Point Camp in Woolwich, ME, pretty much the most amazing place on earth.

And in case you were wondering what my favorite thing about coming to America is, it's this:

OK, maybe there are a few other things I love about America, like flushing toilets or seeing my family or watching the Red Sox, but you have to admit, the food is just spectacular!

He just keeps growing

Puppies grow very fast. Every time I go away to Port-au-Prince, even if it's just for 2 days, Tug seems to double in size during my absence. He's got so much personality and so much spunk. Sometimes, he's the best part of my day with the slobbery kisses he plasters all over my face and neck whenever I come home!

Lovena's ride

Little Lovena gained weight for 2 weeks after the ultimatum we gave her grandmother but then she started losing. When she came in weighing 0.2 kg less than she had at the beginning of May, I decided that we were done. I spoke to Dorothy and got her permission to move Lovena to the infant rescue in Port-au-Prince where she would receive consistent nutritional help until she is older and able to fend for herself a little bit. Grandma and grandpa agreed without any hesitation.

Our friends from Coreluv, Clay and JTP, gave us a ride to Port-au-Prince. My brave baby was a champ - no crying, no temper tantrums, no rowdiness in the front seat. She did poop and pee all over Clay, but he was so smitten by her cute-ness that he hardly minded.



When we arrived at Dorothy's, Lovena got checked in and joined the other babies in the upstairs room. She was so composed that the nannies were amazed. It is great to have a cooperative baby but in her case, it makes me me sad. Her calmness reminds me that she hasn't had a mother loving her and caring for her; it is that fear of separation and loss of affection that usually makes children fuss when they first come to Dorothy's.

I'm glad she's there because I know that she will get excellent care and lots of love. But I will miss her. See you soon, baby girl!

Johnny J - 4 years at Dorothy's!

From this in 2008...

... to this in 2012!

Great improvement!

Do you remember what this foot looked like 3 weeks ago? (Click here if you want to compare those gruesome photos.)

Our lady has been coming to clinic for her daily dressing changes and we are watching this foot slowly heal. The best part is witnessing the change in our patient - when we first saw her, she was dragging herself to the ocean to commit suicide, but now, she walks herself to clinic with a cane and smiles the entire time she's there. I love visible results of our work!

Just around the river bend

JTP, our neighbor who works with Coreluv and the Genada's orphanage, took me to his favorite river spot a few days ago. It's a beautiful area, crisscrossed with irrigation ditches that are so overgrown they look like natural streams. Trees, corn fields, rice paddies, delicious mangos, towering mountain ranges, a deep swimming hole, wildflowers, and even a colorful scarecrow. It's times like these that I remember a simple and wonderful truth: I live on a Caribbean island!