Often by this time of year, I begin to feel a bit disconnected. Living here in the States and only going to Haiti once or twice a year makes it hard to stay focused. To remember why we do what we do. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak.
Wednesday evening, I got on Facebook and saw this –
“One of the precious twins in the daycare, Darline died today. Cami Franklin and I first met her on a walk in the neighborhood when she was just born living in a tin shack and in a horrible situation with four sisters and a mom with no job. We gave her mom a job, fixed her broken leg and have watched her grow into a precious toddler. They asked me if I wanted to come see her body in the shack a stones throw from my house. I knew I couldn’t handle it. Fighting poverty is full of sadness… but still worth it. RIP Darline… map we ou anko!!! This was the day I met her…” ~Shelley Jean
I will never forget this day. I had just arrived at Shelley’s hours before and we went for a walk in the neighborhood. One of the artisans had given birth to twins and we went to visit. I walked up the hill with Shelley’s kids and when I came down, here was Shelley holding two new ones! I snapped this photo as it just shows Shelley’s heart clear through. It’s always been one of my favorites.
The sweet mom looked so tired and took us back to her house. It was an area of Little Clarvil that I had never been before. A shack of a house with a tin roof and no windows. A dirt floor and one bed in the corner. No other furniture. It was so dark in there that Shelley had to use her cell phone as a flashlight so we could see. I was glad it was dark as I was working hard to hold it together. There were a couple of dirty blankets on the dirt floor in the other corner. Four other children lived in this little house and our hearts broke. Shelley gave this mom a job and the twins were in our daycare the next day. This was February of 2014.
This family had been doing so much better! The twins had grown into busy little toddlers and were doing well. Then to find out this week that Darline had died. Of a virus that here in the states would have been so preventable.
I sat and sobbed. I had met her. I had held her. I helped with the organization of the daycare so she had a safe place to be. It still wasn’t enough! This definitely snapped me back into perspective! THIS is why I do what I do. THIS is why I sell jewelry even if I think I am too busy or too tired or whatever excuse I can come up with! THIS is why I am on the Board of Directors. THIS is why I work on so many things behind the scenes. THIS is why I promote our Party Boxes and Fundraisers on Facebook. THIS. Just This.
The fight, the passion, the push – it HAS to continue. Families are at stake. Lives are at stake.
For more information about how you can help, visit our website.
Host a party – https://apparentproject.org/party-boxes/
Have a Fundraiser – /https://apparentproject.org/fund-raisers/
Collect Cereal Boxes – https://apparentproject.org/collect-cereal-boxes/
Shop on line! – https://apparentproject.org/shopping/
Or simply donate – https://apparentproject.org/donate/
Even the smallest thing makes a HUGE difference for these families!
Thank you –
Cami
