Liz Warren, Program Assistant, July 30, 2012
As Hope for Haiti’s new Program Assistant, I had the privilege of visiting the Missionaries of Charity where Tiffany Kuehner and I delivered a brand new pediatric wheelchair to a very special young girl, Bethsaida Moise. After months of researching and planning with the help of Dr. John Sanko and the University of Scranton Physical Therapy Department, we were able to deliver the wheelchair in person. It was incredibly rewarding to see Bethsaida receive the gift here in Les Cayes.
When Bethsaida saw the new wheelchair and realized it was for her, her face lit up with excitement. Sitting in her new chair, she immediately picked up the technique of how to use it, moving forward, backward, and even turning it with ease. Jocelyn, another girl who uses a wheelchair and who has become a mentor to Bethsaida as she grows up, showed her how to move fast and do tricks in the wheelchair while all the other children watched in amazement. Pretty soon, she was racing off down the hall with the biggest smile on her face.
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| Bethsaida Moise with her new Wheelchair, as her mother looks happily on |
Bethsaida sitting on her school bench. |
Bethsaida with her mother Ivrose. |
Then, I had the chance to meet Bethsaida’s mother, Ivrose. The manager of the facility explained to us that Ivrose has faced incredible challenges, but has done everything she can to ensure Bethsaida receives the best care possible. The Missionaries of Charity provide education and care for Bethsaida, and Ivrose invests back in the facility as an employee. She took a short break from her tireless work to examine the new wheelchair with pride. We asked her if she wanted to take the plastic off the seat, but she said no, explaining that the plastic is a sign that it is new and beautiful for everyone to see. She was so excited to see Bethsaida able to move so quickly around the halls all by herself.
Born with a condition that prohibited her legs from moving, Bethsaida received a life-changing surgery coordinated by Hope for Haiti that successfully repositioned her legs so that she can now sit upright on her own. Because of the generosity of our donors, the work of Missionaries of Charity, and the dedication of her loving mother, Bethsaida has been able to receive quality care and has a chance to live her life to the fullest!