Denise

It was truly an amazing week in Haiti. Meeting the ladies who we would be teaching the class to, I was very moved by how eager and excited they were to work and learn something new. They wanted an opportunity to be able to take care of themselves and their families. It gave me a lot of hope for the future possibilities of what an art co-op could be in the mountains of Haiti and what it could mean for the people who live there!

One of the ladies who came to the class is Denise. She is a victim of the earthquake and is living in Cazale with Lori, who runs the clinic there. Lori actually gave up her own house so that several people who needed a place to recover would have a place to do so. A lot of people who were taken to the Comfort Ships for care with very serious injuries had nowhere to go after their surgeries and amputations. Thankfully Lori welcomed them in and they are doing SO much better now.

Denise was trapped under her house for four days. Even more amazing than that was her newborn baby, Annika, was with her. Her parents were also in the house but they did not survive.

Isn't her baby gorgeous?

Annika had to have her arm amputated because of severe injuries. Denise had many injuries on her arms and legs and also had a badly infected bed sore from being trapped for so many days in the same position.

She tried so hard to learn the process of making the bracelets during our class and was really good at it. She has nothing right now. She has clothes and food thanks to RHFH, and she hopes to be able to have a house for her and her baby someday.

I was privileged to be able to spend some extra time with Denise the day after our class and her positive attitude and smile were infectious. Even after everything she has been through, she has hope and a lot of that hope has come through RHFH and all they have done for her.

We will be listing the bracelets we made in Haiti in the very near future. The money will go to help Denise and other women like her.
Thank you for your purchases and for helping the women and children of Haiti!