2 minute read
Nadine Pierre
It was during our Medical Mission trip to the Dominican Re‑ public this year that we had the pleasure of meeting Nadine Pierre. She, along with 600 other children, received free medical screenings, dental cleanings, preventative, and emergency dental care. During her visit to our makeshift clinic that was set up in the cafeteria of the school, she came in complaining of stomach pains. We noticed her eyes and hands were yellow and learned from her aunt that she suffered from yellow fever. She also hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours. When we questioned the aunt about it, she said she had several children and not enough food to feed them all.
We gave the aunt money to take the girl to the medical doctor and to buy food for the home. We also requested that she buy her a pair of new shoes because we noticed she was wearing a pair of flip flops that were folded together with a safety pin.
These children we helped live in an area of the Dominican Republic called the Batey where a lot of Haitian immigrants that work in the sugar cane fields were placed. The families primarily live in shacks make of metal sheeting and dirt floors. Nadine lives in a one room house in these deplorable conditions with five other family members.
When we stopped by her home to visit her, she came out running and immediately hugged our founder, Judith Joseph. She shared with her that she had not stopped smiling because she felt so pretty after having her teeth cleaned the day before and she was so excited to have her very own toothbrush and toothpaste that we gave her.
Although Angels for Humanity was there to do a medical mission trip, we never imagined the impact we had on these children’s lives. Children are heavily influenced by what they see in their community. Our mere presence served as role models for them where for the first time they found hope and could see a brighter future for themselves. Thanks to the many individuals and corporate donations we received throughout the year, we were able to create real impact in the lives of these neglected children. With your help we can continue our mission many years into the future.
