Adianne has been fighting a severe bone infection for most of her life that has slowly been deteriorating the bone in her right arm.

NORFOLK, Virginia – This Christmas, Adianne is headed back to Haiti with possibly the best gift ever: her health.

The 7-year-old Haitian girl has been fighting a severe bone infection for most of her life that has slowly been deteriorating the bone in her right arm. On top of that, she also suffers from sickle cell anemia.

When Operation Blessing first met Adianne at our partner St. Damien Children’s Hospital in Haiti earlier this year, it was her smile—not her illness—they noticed first, despite the excruciating pain she was enduring.

“When I visited her I was struck by the incredible peace she radiated,” said OBI President Bill Horan. “She is an amazing and courageous child. I made a silent promise to help her and went to work.”

Because the surgical procedure Adianne required was not available in Haiti, Horan and others began immediately working to help find a solution.

After a week in the hospital, Adianne was discharged in “red wagon style” by her nurse and OBI staff. She is completing a 6-week round of IV antibiotic treatments and plans to return to Haiti this month.

Several weeks later, Adianne and her father were on a plane headed to Children’s Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, Virginia, a not-for-profit hospital that agreed to partner with OBI to provide all of her medical treatment at no cost.

“The CHKD family has been honored to participate in the care of this beautiful child and to help get her on the path to recovery,” said Dr. Donald Lewis, chairman of pediatrics at CHKD.

So far, Adianne’s recovery has been a success thanks to her medical team led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carl St. Remy, whose parents were from Haiti, and a targeted regimen of antibiotics that will help prevent the infection from coming back. 

 “Thank you so much for all that you and your superb colleagues have done for Adianne,” said Dr. John Kenerson who worked with OBI and CHKD to set up Adianne’s medical care. “You have shown incredible, compassionate care… [and] have given her the best chance at not only surviving, but having a better life.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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