Sweet Melissa

If you have been reading my posts then you may recall my post the mentioned a precious baby girl Melissa. I have mentioned her a few times, but for those of you that are new I will enlighten you.

When I was in Haiti the first time back on March I met the sweetest baby, Melissa. She was 13 months old at the time but looked as if she was 8 or 9 months. She has down syndrome and a severe heart defect, but she is a diva through and through. I instantly fell in love with this child. We weren't around her too much, but I was excited for the chance to see her again as I arrived back in Haiti in July. She was being adopted my a sweet family in Alabama, Jack and Dr. Jenny Chapman. Here is a breif account of Melissa's story.

 My favorite picture of her! I took this one of the first few days back in Haiti. Such joy

Melissa was found malnourished and sick, by a team of doctors back last fall. Jenny was on that team. Melissa desperately needed heart surgery, and her birth mother lover her so much and knew she could not provide the care for her she needed and let her be taken in. When nothing was working out Jenny talked with her husband (who had never been to Haiti) about adopting her. So the process began.

Not long after she was found

Jenny would make several trips to come spend time with her daughter and work on the legal part of the adoption. If you are unfamiliar let me just say it is crazy insane to adopt from Haiti! While Jenny was in the states Melissa stayed with the crazy cool and amazing lady, Wilna, and the ever charming and hilarious Stanley!  Not only is Wilna a two time Olympian, translator, legal fandangler, she is an outstanding caretaker and mom for Melissa. This couple have been with Melissa since the beginning and was apart of the adoption process with the Chapman's.

Wilna and Melissa

 Melissa's two moms! Wilna and Jenny!

 While I was in Haiti we stayed at the permanent missionary couple Greg and Michelle's house. They were stateside for most of the time I was there and Wilna and Stanley were staying there, which meant Melissa was! I was able to spend everyday I was in Haiti with this precious child. From the first day back, and Wilna put her back into my arms my love continued to grow for her. You probably have heard me say that I never knew how much you could love someone until I went back to Haiti. She was one of the prime examples of this. I almost hated sharing her with the other interns (haha). She was so beautiful and full of joy. She would make the craziest faces at you, and just laugh. She is by the biggest diva. She knew just how to milk it. But we saw through that and helped her get stronger and stronger. The interns even had a spa day with her, doing her hair and nails. I love her so much. 

Just hanging out with Lissa

As I mentioned earlier Jenny made several trips down, but Jack didn't have the opportunity too until the end of July. I had the unbelievable opportunity to meet both Jenny and Jack and witness the most beautiful interaction of father meets daughter. Wilna and I went to the airport with Melissa to pick up Jenny and Jack. this would be Jack's first time to Haiti and meeting his daughter. I have never seen anything more beautiful than when Jack met Melissa for the first time.  Their time in Haiti was brief but full or productivity. Jack met Melissa, Jenny got to hang with her daughter, and more adoption stuff went down. Getting so close tot he goal of Melissa in Alabama!

Family pictures taken right before they left for the states

Melissa had a severe heart defect that was incurable, surgery would only help her live a little longer, but Jenny didn't expect past 15 medically. And Jack was a firm believer that the heart problem would just go away. Because of her heart problem her oxygen levels stayed lower than most children. So when it dropped significantly it was time to get it checked. A few days ago she was taken to a hospital and put on oxygen. The Chadasha team frantically searched for a doctor in the states that would preform surgery. All the while her O2 would get better and better. Yesterday morning it was looking so good she was going to go home, but they kept her on oxygen just in case. Then as if an angel picked her up as she was sleeping her little heart gave out.  She went on to be with her heavenly Father yesterday afternoon.

Melissa touched many peoples life. Every team that got to meet her was instantly in love and praying for her adoption to speed up. She brightened everyone's day. Though her earthly life was cut short at 18 months, her purpose on this earth was filled to its potential and she got to go home. Her little lungs breathe more deeply than ever before. It is extremely hard to be here and not there. I loved that little girl more than anything. I know that she is with the Lord and that she is in a more glorious place.

Please remember to keep the families in your prayers:

-her birth mother, she hadn't seen Melissa in a long time. The team took some pictures to her today so she could see her beautiful baby

-Wilna and Stanley, they have been with Melissa for so long and lost a child yesterday

-FeFe Melissa's nanny that helped out Wilna and Stanley

-Jack and Jenny Chapman and their kids, they lost their child, there are no words

-Greg and Michelle, John, and Sara, the missionaries there in PAP

-Chelsey, my dear dear friend who is there as an "intern" for the semester. She is a nurse and was there with Melissa as she passed

-all the wonderful people who were touched by this precious girl

the surreal life: from haiti to america

At this moment a month ago, I was attempting to board a plane to Nashville from Miami. I cannot fathom that I have been back to Tennessee for one whole month. It feels like eons ago, and yesterday all at the same time. The past month has been a blur. I spent the first few days back at home in Camden doing the small town thing, county fair and all. Then I head back to Rocky Top to get ready for school. I have gone through a lot of emotions over the last month. 

First it was so surreal it seemed as if it was a dream. It didn't click that I was back, and to some extent I still don't think it has. I got back to Knoxville late one Friday night and the next morning we were to help the freshmen move in (be reminded I had not been in the country a week yet). I was excited, but had Haiti heavy on my heart. When it began time to help I just stood there and watched. I almost burst into tears of anger as I saw the heaps of money and wasteful items that people were bringing in. I could not understand why people were so wasteful, when there are starving and dieing people in the world. They didn't need half the stuff they had. The longer I stood there the more upset I got, so I just walked away. In the midst of my processing I realized that this was their/our culture. Just like I had spent all that time in Haiti soaking up culture and learning about the people, this is part of the American culture. They know no different than the Haitians do pertaining to how they were raised. I have no right to get angry because I once was the same way, and probably will have those tendencies sometimes. This was a big realization that helped the process begin. I finally was able to jump in and help. As I help take my first load I round the corner to see a dear friend Katherine standing at the elevators. As soon as I saw her I immediately had to control myself because the tears began to well up. Katherine had spent the first half of the summer in Haiti as well being a nurse with the Nehemiah Projects. She was the only person I knew that was in arms length that knew exactly what was going on. We had a freakout together and then laughed because we both knew what almost happened. 

The days following were filled with "yay your back"'s and "oh my goodness how was it"'s, getting lots of hugs and beginning my last year at school. I felt very loved, but it was like a sucker punch every time I was asked. Because I would have to tell about it knowing that no matter what I say they won't understand, and as much as they care the extent of their caring only goes so far. It is almost like you are the only one in the world caring the weight. But the Lord is the great comforter and provider. He has given me great people that just love to love, and Haiti friends that understand immediately when I am having a "Haiti Day" as we lovingly refer to it as. It is hard being somewhere that your heart isn't. Especially when great joy and sorrow are happening and you have to hear about it instead of living it. An amazing couple of friends are planning a wedding there now, that will take place while I am here. And a death of a precious baby girl that I love dearly ( next blog will be about her...she deserves her own).

Purpose. This word/concept camp up many times between the interns and since I have been back. In Haiti we were looking for what our purpose was in being there, and what the Lord wanted to teach us. That then evolved into what our purpose was in America, because most of us didn't want to go back. Then as senior year is starting my group of friends it has been brought up what is the purpose for our last year, and what amazing things is the Lord going to do. I think for my life the last two go hand in hand. My heart desperately wants to be in Haiti, but I know that this time I am to be in Knoxville, Tennessee. Have I discovered my purpose? No, but that will come with time. Trust and patience in the Lord is what I am leaning on now. He will never falter and means no harm in his plans. It is a beautiful and sweet plan. Even if I don't see it til the end. I know that in Him it will be for all his glory and breathtaking.