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HEURESE JOSEPH: 23 year old woman; one of nine children, father deceased since childhood. Her sister Vita stopped her education, studying to be a teacher, to work in Notre Maison an orphange, to support her sister's medical needs. With 10+ mouths to feed, the costs to keep Heurese alive became cost-prohibited...her mother had no choice but to cease the "treatments" and spend the money on the basic needs of her family. Heurese lived 5 hours away from her dear Vita, whom sent audio tapes reminding her sister to "DO NOT LOOSE FAITH, AND A MIRACLE WILL COME" Yes, a miracle did come through the shape of Dr. John Carroll, Heurese's newly appointed "angel". After hearing her story, he added her at the last minute and placed her on the jump seat of the plane... DEBRA A. CIONI (host mom): In February of 2002, i was "sent" to the home of Scott and Sally Achteberg to assist in a remodel project. My life was about to change forever. |
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ACROSS THE ROOM, A PETITE YOUNG GIRL PLAYED "EYE TAG" WITH ME. HER NAME WAS KATHYIA. JUDGING BY HER PETITE FRAME, I GUESSED HER TO BE ABOUT 6 YEARS OF AGE. (SHE SOON WOULD BE 10) WHEN I ASKED SALLY WHO HER LITTLE FRIEND WAS, SHE INFORMED ME THAT THIS YOUNG HAITIAN CHILD HAD 3 MONTHS TO LIVE WITHOUT SURGERY...THAT SENTENCE SHOT THREW MY HEART AND I KNEW THEN THAT I HAD TO HELP, SOMEHOW...I FIRST BECAME INVOLVED HELPING OUT IN THE LOVELY HOME THAT THROUGH THE GENEROUSITY OF THE JIM AND KAROL HOLMES FAMILY (BUILDERS) AND MANY, MANY OTHERS, RAISED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR MANY SURGERIES.///AND THEN, AS I WAS PACKING FOR THE BEACH ONE WEEKEND, CAME A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. ANOTHER HAITIAN HEARTS MOM, KAREN KENNY CAME BY. SHE SAID "JOHN IS BRINGING BACK 6 CHILDREN, AND THE 23 YEAR OLD HAS NO PLACE TO LIVE." "YES, OF COURSE," IT TOOK NO THINKING THIS OUT. I SAID A PRAYER AND ASKED GOD TO GUIDE ME TO BECOME A GREAT "MOM"; (I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN) AND SO THE JOURNEY BEGAN./// I WOULD LEAVE FOR THE OFFICE AT 7:45 (HEURESE WOULD SLEEP IN UNTIL 10-11) AND COME HOME FROM THE OFFICE TO FIX LUNCH. BY THIS TIME SHE WOULD BE WATCHING EITHER A CHRISTIAN VIDEO, READING A FRENCH BOOK, OR PAINTING. (I WAS NOT GOING TO STICK THIS "KID" IN FRONT OF A T.V.; EVEN THOUGH SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED IT THAT WAY; T.V. IS A LUXURY) IN BETWEEN CLIENTS, I WOULD STOP IN FOR A HUG AND A "BONJOUR". DURING DINNER, WE WOULD TACKLE A PAGE OUT OF THE CREOUL/ENGLISH TRANSLATION BOOK. (WITH HER CORRECTING MY PRONUNCIATION) OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WE WOULD VISIT FRIENDS, TAKE WALKS, AND TRY OUT ANOTHER MEDIUM OF HER NEW FOUND PASSION OF ART. THE LORD SENT ME THE RIGHT GIRL.///AND SO WE PREPARED HER PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY FOR HER OPEN HEART SUGERY.///JUST AFTER 24 HOURS SHE SAID, ME GO HOME WIFF YOU?" SHE IS A VERY STRONG WOMAN, AS ARE ALL HAITIANS; SURVIVORS FOR SURE...///IN SUMMARY, I WILL NEVER FORGET COUNTLESS MOMENTS. SOME MEMORIES WERE REMINDERS OF HOW WE ARE BOTH "BLESSED AND JADED". HER FIRSTS: CAR WASH, TRIPS TO SCHNUCK'S, ART FESTIVALS, MOVIE THEATERS, BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS, BOWLING, AND THE OPERA...I ENJOYED WATCHING THE PERFORMANCE THROUGH HER EYES...BEAUTIFUL...OR SIMPLY HOLDING HER HANDS WHENEVER SHE NEEDED IT; WE BOTH KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD AS WOMEN...WE WERE BEST BUDDIES...SHE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME...AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL NEVER, NEVER FORGET; NOR WILL MY PARENTS, BROTHER AND FRIENDS: WE ALL LOVE YOU HEURESE!!! LOVE, ALWAYS, YOUR HOST MOM D E B R A P.S. BLESSINGS & THANK YOU TO OUR FAVORITE DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO GAVE "MY GIRL" A NEW LIFE: DR. BASH, DR. RAFF, AND OF COURSE, THE AMAZING DR. JOHN CARROLL.///UPDATE: HEURESE IS ENROLLED IN ENGLISH CLASSES, WISHING TO PURSUE ART AS A CAREER, AND TAKE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS; AND AWAITNG MY ARRIVAL; HER FAMILY WANTS TO SEE HER AMERICAN HOST "MOM. |
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