Lying amongst trash on the ground in Haiti, this emaciated and gravely ailing child was struggling for her life when she was saved by an angel of affection.
In 2010 after a devastating earthquake rocked the small island of Haiti, leaving a 3rd of the inhabitants homeless, the variety of deserted kids skyrocketed and the youth have been left largely uneducated. Poverty abounded and Haiti was listed because the poorest nation within the Western Hemisphere. It was beneath these circumstances that Sarah Conque was drawn to assist out at Danita’s Children Medical Center.
She had a volunteer job as a licensed therapeutic recreation specialist, (CTRS). In was in January 2014, when a younger girl entered the clinic with a three-month-old toddler, Nika. The girl claimed the toddler was deserted. The child was clearly affected by hydrocephalus—a harmful situation that causes a extreme build-up of fluid contained in the mind cavity. There is a mere three% survival fee amongst infants born with this situation.
Sarah instantly made preparations for neurosurgery for Nika. She traveled with them from Oanaminthe to the capital metropolis of Port Au Prince the place the hospital is situated. Skilled surgeons there are few and much between, and solely kids who’ve the best probability for survival are picked. After per week of making an attempt to safe a spot for her, they have been accepted, and on March 14, Nika at 5 months underwent neurosurgery.
Two months after surgical procedure, Sarah was knowledgeable by hospital workers that Nika was nonetheless there. Nobody had come to take her residence. After many telephone calls imploring the lady to fetch Nika, she went to the hospital. As it turned out she was certainly the organic mom of Nika, nonetheless, the younger mom was ashamed of her–she wrapped her up with material so no-one might see that she was carrying a child to and from residence. In Haiti, there may be a number of stigma surrounding any sort of bodily deformity.
After months of not listening to from medical doctors on Nika’s progress after surgical procedure, Sarah started to fret. Four months later the kid was lastly dropped at the middle however to Sarah’s dismay and heartbreak, it appeared that the process had failed. Nika was additionally having seizures once more and on high of that, she was undernourished. Sarah tried to work with the mom and baby to help her in taking care of Nika. The baby’s mom, nonetheless, was not in keeping with check-ups and Sarah started to suspect that Nika was not receiving sufficient care at residence.
Nika was discovered alone, mendacity among the many garbage and in want of medical care
Weeks glided by with out contact with Nika and her mom. Sarah’s instincts instructed her to go go to little Nika as quickly as attainable. That is once they discovered Nika alone, ravenous and mendacity amongst garbage.
After discovering Nika in these horrible circumstances, and with Nika at 11 months weighing solely 6 kilos, half of which was fluid, Sarah was heartbroken. When Nika’s mom returned, Sarah instantly requested her for permission to take the kid, and he or she agreed. Sarah realized that point had run out for Nika–her mom couldn’t take care of her, and Nika was dying. Sarah had no alternative however to step in and save Nika’s life.
Legal preparations have been made and some days later Sarah was granted permission to take Nika. At that time, Nika’s inside organs have been starting to close down. With her grim analysis, physician’s didn’t consider Nika would see her first birthday.
“Miracle upon miracle, she continued to survive,” Sarah wrote on her web site, Little Warrior Nika.
She wasn’t presupposed to dwell with most of her mind lacking….
Sarah continued to struggle for Nika’s life in Haiti. At the hospital, she was instructed that Nika’s situation was incompatible with life, with solely .5% of her mind remaining. Nika was additionally rejected from malnutrition clinics in Haiti attributable to her sophisticated sickness. Luckily, an expert healthcare individual flew in particularly from the US to put an intravenous drip so she might get the mandatory diet.
Nika experiences her first swim
After six months of going by means of legalities and caring for Nika, she obtained a medical visa to enter the US and so they organized one other VP shunt implant. Sarah was lastly granted authorized guardianship and so they arrived in the uswith Nika in May 2015. With the help from fellow medical doctors and helpers together with Sarah’s associate, Stephen, that they had triumphed over what gave the impression to be insurmountable.
After a second VP shunt implant, Nika’s head circumference decreased by two inches and he or she began to make vital progress.
“Queue the tears…. Nika tried out her new stander in physical therapy today!” Sarah writes. “She wasn’t supposed to survive the malnutrition…. but today she stood….She wasn’t supposed to thrive after having hydrocephalus untreated for so long…. But today she held her head up….”
Nika attends her buddy’s party along with her new mother Sarah
Two years have handed now since Nika was saved by Sarah. Although they’ve nonetheless many challenges to face, they’ve come by means of the worst. Sarah’s wonderful dedication and swift motion have made an unimaginable distinction to this little ladies life. She lives with Nika and her associate in South Louisiana.
They are grateful to all who’ve supported her and have been there for them. Thousands of individuals all internationally have been following the updates of “Little Warrior Nika,” supporting her and loving her within the data that she is “worthy of being fought for, prayed for, and cherished.”