Tuesday, July 14, 2009

In Memory of Habakkuk

Last week I was told more about what happened to Habakkuk.

When Habukkuk had malaria, he and Michael were taken to Monrovia so he could be treated. While they were gone, their grandpa died. Families are very important, so the boys went back to their community for the funeral. It was while they were there that Habukkuk got Cholera. I don't think there is any medical facility in their community, so by the time the pastor got there to try to take him to a clinic it was too late.

I also found out that Habukkuk was not the only person to contract Cholera. This community does not have a water well. I assume that means they get the water for all their water needs from an open water source. Our friend will be visiting Liberia at the end of the month. She is going to find out what it will take to put a well in this community. Our dream is to fund raise for the well in memory of Habukkuk.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Great Sadness


This is the email that I sent out yesterday:

Dear friends and family,

It is with tears that I inform you that our little boy, Habakkuk, is home with Jesus instead of with us.

After recovering from malaria, Habakkuk and his older brother, Michael, stayed with a foster family in Monrovia, Liberia. Yesterday, Habakkuk was very ill and was taken to a medical facility. He died there last night of cholera.

Cholera is caused most often by drinking dirty water. In its most severe forms, cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known. In a common scenario, the disease progresses from the first liquid stool to shock in 4 to 12 hours, with death following.

Habakkuk was 2 1/2 years old. He lived with his maternal grandparents until recently. He is deeply loved by his family in Liberia as well as our family, as the son and brother we never met.

Please pray for his brother, Michael, and his grandma as they grieve. And pray for us too.

Thank you.
Peggy

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Grief

This afternoon I received a phone call that Habakkuk, our two year old, was very ill yesterday and was taking to the clinic/hospital, but they were unable to save him. Habakkuk died last night of cholera.