Archive Page

Stories From The Field

Perwina Florian

Perwina Florian was just getting ready to celebrate her second birthday when her paternal grandmother, Marie-Jolette Chèry, brought her to Grace Children's Hospital for vital medical care. Although Perwina had appeared to be healthy when she was born, she soon became very ill. Unfortunately, Perwina's mother could not cope with having a sick infant and so abandoned her at her mother-in-law's house. Although Perwina's grandmother already had five biological children, the youngest only nine, she selflessly took her granddaughter in and began raising her as her own.

When it became obvious that Perwina's health was continuing to decline, Marie-Jolette first took her granddaughter to a local medical clinic in Carrefour, a congested slum neighborhood on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. At that point, Perwina's health was so critical that she was immediately referred to Grace Children's Hospital, Haiti's premier children's hospital.

After being examined by a doctor at Grace Children's Hospital's pediatric outpatient clinic, Perwina was promptly diagnosed with Pott's disease (tuberculosis of the spine) and admitted to the inpatient ward where only the sickest children are treated. Although tuberculosis is most commonly recognized as a chronic bacterial infection that affects the lungs, TB can also attack many other parts of the body. Pott's disease is characterized by softening and collapse of vertebrae which can cause stiffness or paralysis and painful movement. Grace Children's Hospital admits approximately five cases of Pott's disease each year.

In addition to Pott's disease Perwina was also suffering from malnutrition. At nearly two years old, Perwina only weighed 14 pounds, less than half of the normal, healthy weight for a child her age.

Marie-Jolette is very satisfied with the care her granddaughter is currently receiving at Grace Children's Hospital. Perwina has already gained three pounds and is being successfully treated for Pott's disease. It will take three to four months for Perwina to recover enough to return home, but her devoted grandmother is committed to visiting her each and every day.