Sunday, June 28, 2009

Why Not a Local Kid?





I have had several comments on why I am not helping a local kid. Well, folks, the reality is that any person within the U.S. borders can walk into an emergency room and receive care. It is a byproduct of what we call the Hippocratic oath in this country. Regardless of some one's ability to pay, citizenship, color or religion, they are not denied medical care. Even though we are not a socialized country, we have a welfare system, social security and disability that pays for many of the essential needs of our citizens. It may not keep someone like a king, but it also doesn't pay so little that you are feeding your children patties of dirt and lard, which is common in Haiti (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/19/dirt-poor-haitians-eat-mu_n_168339.html). The little girl pictured above is 11 months old and weighs 8 lbs, 8 oz. My children were that weight about two weeks after birth. I would eagerly help any U.S. child with this degree of need. This little one was brought to a rescue center too late to be saved......
In Haiti, medical care is on a "pay only" basis. If you walk in a hospital you will receive care after you pay for it. You are also required to go to the stores that sell all of the supplies and blood you will need for the procedure and buy them yourself. You will then, maybe, be lucky enough to see an actual doctor, not someone who just says they are a doctor, cuts you open and leaves you to die. That is reality in many third world countries. The reality of Clepson's situation was that he lived with pain and continued infection in his eye from birth. He is now 12 years old. There was NO doctor in his country that could remove his eye and do the implant procedure. The technology simply does not exist. He lives in a society where many believe if he looks upon them he is cursing them because he looks different. He comes from a country where disabled children are starved or fed to the pigs because they are viewed as worthless. So, when you ask me why, the answer is because I cared enough.

2 comments:

Starrgirl49 said...

Because I have a dear friend who is a missionary in Haiti (works closely with Love a Child), and have been there to see for myself, I want to say, "GREAT answer!" It was right on the money.

Clepson, you're doing so well and being so brave! We're proud of you and praying for you each day! BIG hugs!

Incidently, when my son had his eye removed, he had stitches to keep it closed for a time. Of course, he was only two.

Martha Russell, Hereford, Texas

Kim said...

AMEN!