For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a nurse. Growing up in a family of healthcare providers, you could say it was in my blood! While pursuing this dream, I was given the incredible opportunity to travel to Haiti with LEAP for the first time in 2014. I was blessed to get to assist in the Recovery Room with very talented nurses who were helpful teachers and extremely knowledgeable in their field.
On the second day of surgery, I met a sweet baby named Rosmika. She had been operated on by Dr. Hobar to repair her cleft lip. When she started to wake up from the anesthesia, she was groggy and crying because of the discomfort she was experiencing. As I watched, her eyes began opening and locked with my own for what seemed like hours. It felt like the world just stopped moving. All of the hustle and bustle of my busy life came to a sudden halt. In this moment, I was able to experience Our Father’s deep, deep love for ALL of His children in a completely different way than I had ever experienced. This sweet baby touched my heart, and I continued to pray for her and her precious mother.
A year later, I returned to Haiti, along with another incredible team. As we pulled up to the hospital for the first day’s evaluations, I caught a glimpse of who I thought might just be Rosmika. I got out of the truck and made my way to see the sweet little angel who had touched my heart the previous year. As I approached her I said, “Hi, Rosmika, you look so beautiful.” Her mother stood up with a smile and gave me a huge hug. My heart melted. It was her! At this evaluation, Rosmika was here for her cleft palate repair. Let me just tell you, she looked incredibly beautiful! To be able to physically see the complete healing of her lip, beautiful growth and noticeable development was absolutely wonderful. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to travel with LEAP. I truly believe that this organization is changing the world!
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
by Maddie Pierce, LEAP Medical Supplies Coordinator (pictured left with Lori Worsham)