Little Milenne Died

Milenne was the little 4 year old girl who was seen by Global Health Ministry in the village of Gassin almost 2 weeks ago now.  Most of her little body was very swollen and she became increasingly listless and non-responsive as the day progressed. 

Milenne was brought to the clinic by her “Aunt” because, she said, both parents were in Gonaives at the hospital. Mom was pregnant with twins and their arrival was apparently imminent.

The doctor wanted to immediately send her to the children’s hospital in St. Mark (about a 3 hour drive) but the Aunt had no car. Besides that, she said that with the 1000 gouds we were willing to give her to get the baby to the hospital, she could take care of the little girl at home.  That’s when she was told to leave the baby and go find transportation. The photo you see in my previous blog of a white woman holding a Haitian baby was taken of Milenne while transportation was being secured.

Eventually, a man showed up claiming to be the father (it was later determined he was the godfather) and took the baby and the 2000 gouds (about $50) GHM gave him and promised to take Milenne to the children’s hospital in St. Mark.

Well, of course, he took the baby to the hospital in Gonaives where the parents were.(about an 1 ½ hour drive). (It wasn't really realistic to think the baby could go to a hospital in St. Mark. You can't just drop an adult off at the hospital, much less a child. The family must provide food, buy the meds, etc. etc.) Milenne stayed in the hospital for well over a week.  Then the doctors sent her home, saying there was nothing they could do for her.  She died on the bus ride home.

We learned all this today when the dad stopped by our house. (There’s no telephone service in Gassin).  What can one say?  He’d just lost one daughter but had 2 new infants who were evidently healthy, plus additional children.  The only time he smiled during our visit was when I asked him about the twins.  We gave him some more money and sent him on his way.  What else could we do?

Would Milenne have survived if she were in the States?  Who knows?  So far as I know, nobody even knows what killer her. But I can’t help but think of my little 4 year old grandson, the same age as Milenne, and how much different his life is from hers and the hundreds of millions just like her.  What kind of a world is it that tolerates this gross disparity?