Grieving…

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With heavy hearts we are mourning the death of 3 year old Annia Lopez Mejia. Little Annia and her mother, Flor arrived in Boston only 9 days ago following a tragic accident in Honduras where Annia was burned over 60% of her body. Unfortunately, the medical facilities in Honduras lack the resources to care for someone in this condition and they were sent to Boston with hopes of saving/treating her. Despite the top-notch expertise of the medical community and the latest up-to-date medical resources, Annia couldn’t be saved and she died this past Thursday afternoon.

Absolutely tragic news for any parent to receive, and certainly compounded when it is your one and only child, but this mother’s grief is further complicated and leaves me struggling with the injustices, and the reality that I’ll never be able to comprehend her situation. I am full of questions…

What is like to live in a country where healthcare is often sub par, unavailable or unattainable? How does it feel to board a plane to a foreign country with your child who is critically ill? How do you adapt in a culture that is drastically different from your own and you’re in the middle of a crisis? How do you receive the news that your child has died when you’re alone…away from your family and closest friends? What would it feel like to know you couldn’t obtain a visa to leave your country and join a grieving family matter? What  would it feel like to not be able to grieve the way you would traditionally because you needed to wait for the “clearance” from another country? And so many more questions…and I’ll never know the answers.

Our hearts are with Annia and her family.

Esperanza’s Cardiac Patients Headed For Care

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Jose

Esperanza would like to express their appreciation to Lori Cordova, RN and the entire team (48 volunteers) of The Friends of Barnabas Foundation who are currently screening/treating patients in San Pedro Sula, Honduras this week. Two of our ongoing patients, and their parents have left their homes in Flores and Comayagua and are scheduled to be seen by this cardiac team. Five year old Adriana will receive a heart catheterization in the next couple of days. The team will also perform an echo cardiogram on one year old Jose (pictured above) who was previously seen by FOBF,  and it was determined that he would need to travel to the United States to receive a pacemaker. Once we receive the report, we will begin the process of contacting a previous benefactor and coordinating with the doctors and hospital who are able to provide his care. Our best wishes to this extraordinary group and all their patients who are receiving this essential medical intervention.

Our Journey for Hope Exhibition

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Our Journey for Hope

Jason and Becca from Our Journey for Hope are putting on exhibitions, displaying the work of the Honduran children they taught this summer. Our Journey for Hope has worked closely with Esperanza – Hope For The Children, Inc. in providing children in Honduras the opportunity to not only learn photography but self expression as well. The first exhibit is in Glen Falls, NY at The World Awareness Children’s Museum, starting at 1pm. They expect to have more shows so keep an eye on their website: http://ourjourneyforhope.tumblr.com/

School Year begins at Marantha Adventist Bilingual School

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Noel, Astrid, Daniela, Wesly at school

Today marks the beginning of the school year at Marantha in Comayagua, Honduras. Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. is committed to providing financial assistance for four students: Lisbeth Daniela Mejia Leon (5th grade), Noel Edgardo Solano Gomez (4th grade), Wessly Hernandez (2nd grade) and Astrid Virginia Mejia Ordonez (1st grade). Special thanks to Charlie and Nancy Morrison for providing Astrid’s educational expenses for another year.

Marantha’s mission is to “provide a comprehensive education including mind, body and spirit.” Their curriculum is difficult and students take classes in Spanish, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Bible, Art, Music, Computer and Physical Education.  “Our” students face the additional challenges of commuting each day, and not having resources available in their towns for homework projects. In addition, their families are often ill equipped to assist with homework because they have only completed the first few years of primary education.

Attending a private school offers students a smaller teacher/student ratio and also offers a consistent schedule where teachers aren’t forced to strike because of poor working conditions. It has been a rewarding experience watching the growth in Daniela, Noel, Wessly and Astrid and we wish them an enjoyable and successful school year!

Through The Eyes of a Child

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This summer Noel (10) and Astrid (7) are here in the Boston area to receive continued medical check-ups (cardiac and orthopedic) and to spend their summer vacation with us. Both children attend a bilingual school in Honduras which operates on the American school calendar. The pubic schools in Honduras are open from February to November.

Their school curriculum is a rigorous one and they have endured a great deal of physical and emotional pain with their medical issues. So that makes summer time especially sweet and it’s always a wonder to experience it through the eyes of a child.

This summer Noel and Astrid have spent a great deal of time on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont. This has been their favorite spot where they are showered with love from our family and have met many new friends. Their days are filled with activities: swimming, boating, fishing, jet skiing and tubing. We often wonder how these experiences will translate when they are describing it back home to their families and friends…they are “foreign concepts” only to be imagined.

The children have certainly enriched our lives and many others who they have met. We can only hope the summer has offered their bodies a chance to relax and their minds to have been enlightened, and hopefully this will help give them the inspiration when they return back home to Flores where they will once again be working hard at school and home.

Healing Hearts

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Ina and Noel

There are so many meaningful reasons for being involved with Esperanza…for me, the most important one has been to help save (or change) a life. Yet there are numerous other reasons as well, and one which quickly comes to mind is the incredible people you meet along the way. Today I am thinking of Mrs. Ina Melen, an airline ambassador with American Airlines who generously volunteers her time transporting children for medical treatment, and over the past few years has become our admired friend.

Recently, I was scheduled to travel to Honduras to bring Noel to Boston for his annual cardiac evaluation. However, life took me on a different journey and I needed to be home with my family for a medical crisis. I quickly thought of Ina and hoped she would have the time to travel to Honduras to accompany Noel to Boston. I contacted Mrs. Margaret Whitehead (director of  American Airlines’ Children’s Escort Program), explained our situation and inquired about Ina’s availability. She quickly reassured me that there were many volunteers available, but when she confirmed Ina would be the one to help, I was immediately reassured.

I cannot adequately describe what is involved with Ina’s journey to assist with a child’s trip to the United States.  She is up at the crack of dawn to complete a round trip from Boston, MA to Tegucigalpa, Honduras….involving many hours, several connections and trips through Customs. It is never an easy process and there are always complications, yet Ina handles herself with grace and determination. The children in need are her motivation and we are her beneficiaries. We have always appreciated Ina’s service, but now in our time of special need, we realize her gift of  “healing hearts.”

Abuelo (a.k.a. Grandpa) to all

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Keyla celebrating “Abuelo’s” Birthday

Today we are mourning the death of Richard (“Dick”) Kimball,  Esperanza-Hope for the Children’s greatest financial supporter, and more importantly, “Abuelo” to all the children who entered his life over the years. Both Dick, and his wife Martha, have welcomed these children as part of their extended family. Their involvement has included hours of babysitting, visiting children at the hospital, celebrating holidays and birthdays (including one where Abuelo and 2 children danced together on the coffee table!). Children have loved staying over night at their homes in Lexington, MA and especially on Lake Champlain in Colchester, VT.  Our friends in Flores, Honduras have been holding him in their thoughts and prayers and we are grateful for their support.

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

-David Harkins

GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND FOREVER…DIOS LE BENDIGA AHORA Y PARA SIEMPRA

Noel Going Above and Beyond

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Noel with Abuelo, Abuela, and Tio Bob

-This post is written by Rick Lania

Something I have had a hard time articulating when describing my experiences with the children in Honduras is how the kids pay you back so much more than the work and effort that goes into providing them with medical treatments. Statements like, “they can always put a smile on my face” do not mean nearly as much to the person I am speaking with when they are out of context. This is why I thought I would share an example of one of the many ways Noel has gone well beyond “paying back” my family.

Recently, my Grandfather has been in the hospital, which hasn’t been easy on anyone in my family. In Honduras, Noel learned this information from Ana and decided he was going to check how “Abuelo” was doing on his own. Throughout this week he has tried to call each night. One night I spoke with him, others he couldn’t reach anyone, and last night he spoke with my mom. For a 10 year old, he was very persistent and extremely caring, with each phone call asking “How is Grandpa doing?” It definitely meant a lot to me and showed just how much he cares about the 2nd family he has become a part of. I can’t wait to see him in a few weeks!

Painting Squares for Hope

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Checkout what Our Journey for Hope is up to! They’ll be in Lexington, MA this Saturday at Pilgrim Congregational Church (55 Coolidge Avenue) selling squares for people to paint and send their messages of hope.

They’re coming back!!!

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It’s official…their tickets are booked…Noel (10) and Astrid (7) will be returning to Concord, MA on June 14th and spending their summer vacation in the States. Special thanks to Charlie and Nancy Morrison for providing Astrid’s transportation so that she will have the opportunity for follow- up medical care at Shriners Hospital in Springfield. And thanks to many of you who have befriended them over the years and continue to be actively involved. Your relationships are so valuable, and are truly shaping their lives in a positive way.