Sorry about no blog for a few days folks but we have been a ‘little bit busy’. Getting the last few things hooked up in two new houses, putting the finishing touches on them both, purchasing needed items that can actually be found in this area for them both, moving things into both houses and then helping the children adjust to the separation of boys in their house and girls in theirs, along with the regular work load here has kept Jessie, Seth, and myself rather occupied.
Seth, however, has ‘finally’ finished his blog that I was able to add photos to and send off today. I will do my best to get this one finished and posted as well. Hopefully I can get it written faster than Seth did as I do not fear the internet. Fear the internet – No! Frustrated with the internet – Yes! To live in Haiti one must learn to accept and tolerate a lot of things. Seth being a weightlifting champion, world war II fighter pilot, and inventor of the IPhone, will learn, as a means of survival away from family, to not only tolerate the internet but to embrace it. He has certainly proved his ability to ‘learn all things and do them well, as you will see from his blog.’
This blog will feature “Ti Luckner”. I had planned on blogging about Leica here too as these two children love each other dearly, and have been a ‘twosome’ since Leica joined our family. Since July last year, however, when Karma joined us the ‘twosome’ has become a lovely ‘threesome’. They play very well together, really enjoy laughing and having fun, and Leica and Karma both like to look out for Ti Luckner at school and help him with things he cannot do for himself. I have decided to write about Leica and Karma another day. It is taking a long time to find photos, etc. I am starting with Ti Luc because some of you who have been following my updates and blog since I have had Ti Luc, have been asking to see more photos of him. I appreciate your interest in and your prayers for him.
The adoption is still in process and I ask for your prayers specifically towards that end. It is has not been in the hands of the lawyer for some time, but in the hands of the government. Ti Luc and I really want this to go through so that he can travel to eastern Canada with me in July for the Springdale Reunion.
Ti Luckner (Ti Luc) came to me when he was 7 weeks old and weighed 3 1/2 lbs. At that time he was not Ti Luc but Alexandre (later called Alex by his siblings here at the orphanage.) He was born premature, with early labour being brought on by stress. The city of Gonaives was flooded in a hurricane and his mother, father and their three children ended up on the roof of their house hoping for help. His father and the three children were washed off the roof and out to sea at night in the wind, rain, and flood waters. Ti Luc’s mama, a little over six months pregnant, sat on the roof crying for help. She was rescued and carried to the hospital in this area where this precious little boy was born. Ti Luc was at the hospital receiving help until I brought him to HATS, a very little baby that could be carried in one hand. (One name that comes to me when I think of Ti Luc receiving help at the hospital for the first seven weeks of his life is Samantha, a young woman working there short term, who saw that the baby boy was cared for. ) He was too little and in need of far too much care to enter the children’s home, so into my place and into my heart he came!!
It was quickly obvious to me that my baby boy had problems as he was not developing normally. He could see nothing, and could hear nothing at 7 and 8 months. I took him to a pediatrician in PAP for advice on where to go and what to do to help him. The doctor’s advice was totally unacceptable to me and I certainly let him know that. He told me to put him one side and choose to help a child who could be helped. He told me my baby would never see, hear, talk, walk, or learn anything. I was upset and I told him my boy would do all those things and he would do them well. I believed what I told the doctor and I held unto that belief always.
Ti Luc (Alex he was then) was prayed for a lot by many people. The scripture about ‘praying without ceasing’ became very real to me as my every waking thought and prayer was for my boy. One month after the visit to PAP Ti Luc blinked in response to a camera flash and a few weeks later was visibly startled at the noise of a door blowing shut. That was a celebration and praising God time here on the compound. He has continued to develop and grow in every way. One year ago, Ti Luc started walking. Now he walks, runs, dances, and plays soccer. He falls but has learned now to roll instead of falling on his face. He is strong in his lower body but weak in the upper. He has a fantastic sense of humour and loves to laugh, hide, jump out at people, and make lots of noise. Ti Luc has lived with me from birth and I have been going through the adoption process for him for the past two years. He tells people that when Mama goes to Canada again he is going too. I sure hope so!!
Ti Luc is a very special boy, now 5 1/2. He has amazed the Haitian people in this area, who thought, like the doctor, he would amount to nothing. He continues to amaze everyone with his abilities. He is in the Prescolaire 3 class at our school, along with Leica and Karma. He learns well, remembers what he learns, speaks and understands Creole and English, and is learning French. He is now learning to read French and doing well. He knows his letters, numbers, colours and shapes, but does his writing on the blackboard, or in an exercise book, with his feet. He is becoming more proficient daily at using a pencil, pen, chalk, and crayon with his toes.
I thank God for this precious boy and for choosing me to be his mama. God has a plan for his life. It will be interesting to see what Ti Luc does in the future but I hope it will be something for the betterment of his people in Haiti. Thank you for all your interest and support for this precious boy since he has joined this family.
~Mama Karen and Ti Luc
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