LesKatie’s family has been bringing her to outreach for the past 3+
years.
She has such a sweet spirit, a smile that lights up a room, & a giggle
that melts your heart. When she is angry or laughing really hard she has a cute
snort. LesKatie’s father brings her most of the time as I believe her mother
has a more consistent job. It is rare in Haiti that a father of disabled
child stays with the mother let alone cares for the child. It is common in Haiti that if a
mother has a special needs child the father will go impregnate another women
and if she has a non special needs child then it was the mothers fault and
leave. This is what makes LesKatie’s special relationship with her father even
more special! I absolutely love watching her father so tenderly care for her!!!
He is eager to learn how to provide his daughter with the best care. He gets
right down on the floor with LesKatie each week working/playing with her. LesKatie
has Cerebral Palsy which causes her muscles to be tighter than normal. Due to
contractures in both of her legs from high tone she is unable to stand up
straight. She is absolutely loves light up toys & will do just about
anything to reach for them even standing up as far as she can :-). Over the
past few years we have been working on preventing contractures from forming
with stretching/massage, standing & straightening her legs by using her
arms to pull herself up, playing with toys, holding a crawling position, and sitting
with head lifted in the air.
I had the privilege of visiting their home this past year. They live way
up the mountain (which may be another reason dad brings her as she is getting
big & heavier to carry). When I arrived LesKatie was laying on a blanket
outside their home with her 2 brother playing with a toy that they had borrowed
the week before from the toy lending program. They have a little home made out
of sticks and woven in leaves with a dirt floor. There are no doors just open
flow throughout. It is a nice house when it is hot but when it rains water
would run in and the floors would become mud. I had A LOT of fun playing with
LesKatie. I brought a light up fan and we worked on sitting, quadruped
position, and standing. While I played with her Presidue talked with Dad. I did
not have a translator but later found out that dad was a Masonry but was
without work & had few tools.
It was a blessing to be able to hire LesKatie’s dad on 3 occasions this
fall to help with Masonry construction projects that we had around the mission.
He is such a hard worker, does GREAT work, & gave a more than fair price.
The last job he completed we were able to bless him with new tools that will
help him in the future.
In October LesKatie had surgery to release the tight tendons in her legs
that prevent her from standing up straight & walking. After surgery she was
placed in cast up to her thighs. She stayed at the mission for 2 days after
surgery prior to going home. Her mom & dad took turns staying with her,
comforting her and loving on her. LesKatie was in her casts for 6 weeks. With
the casts on she was able to stand up straight and was starting to take steps.
She got her casts off just a couple days before I left and we fit her with foot braces to help to help keep a good stretch on her ankle & to prevent contractures from forming again secondary to her increased muscle tone in her legs. Immediately after putting the braces on she was standing up straighter than ever!!! Her family was taught how to stretch her and good exercises to do at home in between her weekly visits to outreach.
It has been a tremendous blessing to get to know this family, to work
with them, and to love on them. Please keep this family in your prayers.
·
Pray that LesKatie would continue to gain
skills, learn to walk, increase his core-strength & neck control, have
increased control over his body, and gain increased strength every week through
therapy
·
Pray for LesKatie’s family to grow in their love
for God and understanding of His word and In God’s word they would find peace,
hope, and encouragement.
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