Thoughts about Haitian Orphanages

Part 2 of 3, continued from the previous post

During my short-term mission trips to Haiti, I visited several orphanages, most of which were for abandoned, malnourished and special needs children. Some of the orphanages I visited were crowded with physically and mentally challenged children, most of whom will never leave the orphanage due to their age or the severity of their disability. Some of the orphanages were spotless and full of cheerful children and staff; others were dirty, smelly and severely understaffed.

Lower than Dogs
I’ve heard that in Haiti, children with disabilities are considered lower than dogs (and in Haiti, most dogs are not pets, but rather guard dogs or homeless mongrels). Many are abandoned on the streets and left to fend for themselves, and few are able to get jobs. It’s no wonder that parents, no matter how much they may love their child, leave children on the doorsteps of orphanages in hopes that a family from another country will adopt them.

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According to Saul’s article, many of the families who adopt Haitian children are from France or the Netherlands.

So why did this particular family from Pennsylvania (the one introduced in part 1 of this post) choose to adopt children with special needs from Haiti? Heather, a nurse practitioner in a neonatal intensive-care unit recognizes that healthy children aren’t a guarantee. She believes “God brought them into our lives and told us they were ours.”

Call for Stories
I’d love to hear from parents who have adopted or are planning to adopt children with special needs (either domestically or internationally) for the book I’m writing about adoption. If you’d like to share your story for possible inclusion in the book, please e-mail me at christianadoptionblog@adoptionmail.com with the words “Special Needs Adoption Story” in the Subject line.

In the next post: Facts and Figures about Haiti

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