Zombies and Orphans

We had been in Sousafilip a little over a month when I was asked to see a young woman who was very ill. What I discovered was a paralysed, speechless, new mother who was very ill. I assumed she had suffered a stroke during the birthing and began arranging hospitalization.

Further questions revealed she had been normal and nursing the baby for 4-5 weeks following delivery. One morning she was found unresponsive and for some reason her husband and a suspected boy friend had both disappeared.

Of course this indicated a curse had been put on her and it was estimated 3 to 4 Zombies were present, becuase the symptoms that resemble brain trauma often appear after a spurned lover or cuckhold husband leaves.
Sadly, the mother died before I could arranged hospitalization and the baby and her sibling were absorbed into the family of an aunt and uncle.

The little girl is now nearly 2 years old and her sister is 4 and are lovingly cared for by Manus and his wife. There married son is a school teacher who lives with them and provides as he can for his aging parents and his own wife and child in Petite Guave.

Manus has a small garden not planted yet as all are waiting for rain, and some goats with a high percent of loss this year because of poor forage and lack of water. The children are both malnourished and will never have opportunity to attend school. A local school director does give them food whenever the school children are being fed.

We have found a sponsor who will provide $30.00US each month to help with food for the two girls and Manus is pleased. It will provide a bit of help for them all, but most of all, Manus says it is good to know others care about children on the island.

I have been involved in 3 other similar cases just in this community and many other children are ophaned with dead mothers and absent fathers. It is a way of life and a big issue of the large number of children who go without education or health care in Haiti. At least the baby did not die as the majority do when the mother dies.

Anyone interested in helping a family care for orphan children are invited to email us at sjelagonave@gmail.com for information on children and ways to help. So far that is the only way I know of getting rid of the Zombie curse on the children.