Saturdays at the RC

Every Saturday around 3:00pm all the kids get weighed. It usually takes about an hour and a half. All the kids on the Medika Mamba program are measured also. There are groups A-F in the Rescue Center and the kids are brought out according to their groups. Most of them get used to it after a couple of weeks here and know the system. At the new RC I've been weighing by a staircase where the kids are told to sit and wait for their turn. Its a bit chaotic but it works pretty well :) All but 3 kids in the RC gained this week. Praise God!

After I weigh the kids, I do data imput for the Medika Mamba(MM) program. Each child on it has a chart, and after switching the pounds to kilograms, I place them on a standard deviation chart and record it in a spreadsheet. We keep track of the edema for the children with kwash as well. Factors such as fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, and whether the kid is finishing their daily dose of MM are also recorded weekly. The Standard Deviation (SD) chart is arranged by age groups and sex. Many of the children with kwash will come in as a 3SD for kids their age because of the swelling. While losing their water weight they go down to -3SD, and then begin gaining. Many of the kids with marasmus don't even make it on the chart when they are first admitted to the program. For example, Darlens (who has been on the Medika Mamba program for 11 weeks now) is still not yet a -3SD, although he has gained over 2 kg since he came.

Every week I make a new bowl for each child on the program, as their amounts change by their weight change. New kids are admitted weekly and as children reach the median for their age group for weight and height they are graduated from the program so every week there is a different amount of kids on the program and MM used. This week there will be 23 kids on the program (23 bowls that I refill with their daily dose of Medika Mamba each night). The most we've had on the program at one time was 34 kids. Our little babies with kwash or marasmus are placed on the program and the peanut butter is mixed with their milk. The kids are fed the MM before breakfast, at 10:00am, before lunch, at 3:00pm, before dinner and after if they havn't finished their bowl by then. They also eat the meals provided at the RC. There is no lack of calories available to these kiddos!

I'm thankful to be a part of the work RHFH does in Cazale, and for all they offer to the people of Haiti. I couldn't feel more blessed to be where I am at this year! These kids have become my life since the earthquake and God continues to teach me through them. On the 20th Licia and the boys will come back and I can't express how excited I am. It will be nice to get back into the swing of things, and get to teach the boys again :)

COL 3:15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one  body you were called to peace. And be thankful.