• A PRAYER AND A REQUEST FOR VALCUSE

On my 3rd day at the Grace Children’s Hospital (GCH) in August of 2003, I met Valcuse Descoses, a 13 year-old orphan who has been HIV+ since birth.  She came to visit the nurse and the social worker.  Here’s her story.  Valcuse was born in 1990 and lost her mother to AIDS in May of 1997.   She has no idea who her father is. She was near death when a family member (her mother’s female cousin) dropped her off in the hospital’s courtyard.  She was admitted at GCH in September of last year and spent 8 months there.   She was diagnosed with TB, and because of visible symptoms of HIV infection she was referred for HIV testing. Valcuse was found to be HIV+.  After she was rehabilitated, the hospital tracked down her only family member (her mother’s cousin) and informed her of Valcuse’s condition and special needs.

The cousin decided that she would not allow Valcuse to live with her because she did not want to assume responsibility for a child with HIV, since she already had two children of her own.  She made arrangements to send Valcuse to her mother’s hometown, a small community in Bainet, Haiti.  Sending Valcuse to the countryside would be detrimental to her because access to treatment and care would not be feasible.  Valcuse overheard the conversation and ran away to seek refuge at the hospital with Nurse Julie and Chantale.  Nurse Julie contacted the only orphanage she knew of: Maison Arc-en-Ciel, which provided care to children like Valcuse.  The orphanage was overcrowded and could only provide temporary (meaning two weeks) shelter for Valcuse.

After her two weeks stay at the orphanage, Valcuse had nowhere else to go. Nurse Julie talked her mother’s cousin into letting her stay with her again.  Valcuse is often abused both verbally and physically.  She’s not given food at the house; the orphanage provides her with dry grain (ble), potato flour, and oil – the orphanage does not provide her with money to buy charcoal.  She told us that when she eats the grain she gets diarrhea; she sells the dry food so that she can buy cooked food in the market.  Valcuse gets antiretroviral drugs from GHESKIO.  If Nurse Julie can’t take her to get her medications; she has to find a way to get herself there.  I was shocked to hear that Valcuse carries her HIV medications in a black plastic bag everywhere with her because she fears that her mother’s cousin might throw them away.  She does not go to school; she is treated less than a domesticated animal where she is currently living.

One of the many reasons for writing Valcuse’s story is because I don’t want her to die.  For instance, she told us that when she takes her anti-HIV drugs she throws up.  Would you voluntarily take something that makes you throw up?  When these therapies are not taken as requested by the physicians, there is a high probability for drug resistance.  She needs supervision so that she can take her medications regularly and appropriately. I will not get too technical here, but let me tell you, any form of drug resistance would be life threatening to this child’s life.  I want her to live. I did not promise the nurse and the social worker much, all I said was, I would write Valcuse’s story and that any financial contribution I receive will be sent to them so that they can find her a place to live.  I need your help again.  You don’t have to send me a lot of money; together we will make a difference in this child life.  I want her to live her last days on earth knowing that not everyone is like her mother’s cousin and that there are people on this earth who really care for her.  So, pray and ask God how you can help in providing shelter for Valcuse.

I will be working in collaboration with Nurse Julie, Chantale, and possibly the head nurse, Mrs. Arnoux, to get a woman who is HIV+ to care for Valcuse.  The reason for choosing an HIV+ person is that the disease is still highly stigmatized and that will minimize discrimination on the staff part when caring for Valcuse.  As you know, Haiti is a very poor country; the unemployment rate is very high.  This woman will not be a volunteer - though not much, she will have a salary. So, make your voices heard.  I know you will endorse and embrace this work because it is for a good cause.  

Your Sister in Christ,

Marie F. Denis