Emerson Simplice - Plastic Surgery

Emerson Simplice was born with a severe cleft lip/palette/eye. People would tell his mother to throw him away and to let him die. Emerson had good parents. They were both christians and wouldn't listen to those who would insult Emerson. His mother would go to prayer services at the church she attends in Petit Goave and pray for help for Emerson. In 2007 Emerson's father came with him to Port-au-Prince and came to Coram Deo in search of help. A mission in the United States that finds surgeons to donate medical care found a hospital that would treat Emerson for free. The hospital and surgeons waived any costs.

On October 13, 2007 Emerson traveled to the United States.

He had 2 surgeries to repair his cleft lip/palette and eye.

The surgeons said that Emerson would need further surgery on his right eye in the future.

In 2008 Emerson returned to Haiti and to his family in Petit Goave. Since that day his family has kept in contact. They are very grateful and call us from time to time to say hello. Emerson's eye was bothering him and his father brought him to Port-au-Prince. There was a visiting eye surgeon from the United States helping to do surgeries in September 2013.

Emerson had a surgery to close his eye partially. Because of his congenital malformation he has no eyelids and can't blink. Plastic surgery is necessary. The University of Miami plastic surgery team looked at Emerson while they were doing plastic surgeries at Bernard Mevs Hospital. They took photos of him and will be doing fund raising to bring Emerson to the United States for surgery. We give the Lord thanks for this contact.

Leap Foundation

A short video about the work of the Leap Foundation around the world :)

Christelle - Cleft Lip Baby

Christelle and her mother live in Cap Haitien. Her mother came with her to Port-au-Prince searching for medical for her daughter and to begin a new life for herself. The father of her child abandoned the family. People she met on the streets of Port-au-Prince led her to Coram Deo.

In October Dr. Hobar and a Leap Foundation medical team came to Hopital Espoir to perform plastic surgeries. Christelle was one of the babies selected for surgery to repair her cleft lip.

This is Christelle one week after her surgery :)

Christelle and her mother live in a refuge camp near Airport Rd. She sleeps inside a church within the refuge camp. Pray that she can find work to support herself and Christelle. Inside these tin walls is the church she attends and a place to sleep at night.

Mylanda Louis - post-surgery

Mylanda Louis was discharged from Bernard Mevs Hospital yesterday afternoon. Her face now looks like any other baby. Her mother is very happy!

The surgeon did a great job at repairing the cleft lip. In a few months she will have a 2nd surgery to repair the cleft palate inside her mouth.

Pray for babies who are born with congenital defects. A cleft lip can be repaired. So many children around the world do not have the opportunity for this type of surgery and live their lives with disfigured faces. We give the Lord thanks for plastic surgeons who come to Haiti to repair cleft lips and palates.

Cholera

CHOLERA OUTBREAK - DELMAS 31 Our neighborhood has been going through a cholera outbreak this week, specifically in the Cite Jeremie area. One of our students family was hospitalized at the Medecins Sans Frontieres Cholera Treatment Centre and early this morning we rushed a family member of Milo to the Cholera centre. We are reinforcing to our students cholera prevention tactics and using a lot of bleach for cleaning everything. Several of our students live in Cite Jeremie. We are wiping down walls, benches and tables inside the school shelters everyday. Pray the outbreak passes. Cholera is easily treatable but is deadly if action isn't taken quickly to prevent dehydration. People in the neighborhood have said that 6 people died in the area near the Food For The Poor mission. Below is a good video about cholera and Haiti:

Gertrude Charles - Face Mass

 

Gertrude Charles is a woman who lives in Cite Soleil. She came to the medical clinic that Dr. Karen McCarthy and her medical team from Jacksonville, Florida was holding here at Coram Deo in September.

We brought her over to the state hospital located on Delmas 33, Hopital La Paix. After bloodwork and xrays the surgeon planned a surgery to remove the mass growing on the right side of her face. Yesterday, she was admitted to hospital for surgery. Pray that the mass is benign and that it can be completely removed.

Mylanda Louis - Cleft Lip Baby

Anna Marie is a young mother who lives in the Mirebalais region of the country. Monday she went to Port-au-Prince to try to find help for her baby, Mylanda. Mylanda was born with a cleft lip. After reaching Port-au-Prince and talking with people she met on the street she ended up coming here to Coram Deo. We called Maguy of Project Medishare and she told us to bring the mother and child to Bernard Mevs Hospital. An american plastic surgeon was doing surgeries at the hospital this week.

Mylanda will be getting surgery today for her cleft lip. We give the Lord thanks for another open door for medical care. I can't wait to post an "after" picture of Mylanda's new face :)