She came into the world on July 19 with no one waiting to welcome her.
Only hours after she was born, a tiny baby girl—her umbilical cord still attached—was found abandoned on a pile of trash in Delmas. She was taken to La Paix Hospital the following day, where doctors cared for her for approximately two weeks and treated her for neonatal sepsis.
And then, on August 5, little Claudia arrived at Angel House.
IBESR placed the newborn in the care of Three Angels while authorities continued investigating the circumstances surrounding her abandonment. With nothing known about her biological parents, even her name was given to her by those who stepped into her story: Claudia Sarah.
We quickly took Claudia to a pediatrician, who was encouraged by how healthy she appeared. Additional lab work was ordered as a precaution, but so far, she is doing wonderfully.
And apparently, Claudia knew exactly what she needed when she arrived.
She was hungry.
She cried quite a bit that first day—until we gave her a bottle of milk. Then she promptly fell fast asleep.
Since then, Claudia has shown herself to be a peaceful little girl who generally saves her cries for the important business of announcing that it's time for another bottle. For now, her days are filled with the things a newborn's days should be filled with: milk, sleep, gentle arms, and people who come when she cries.
And there are plenty of those gentle arms waiting for her.
After a long stretch of caring for toddlers and rambunctious older children, the Angel House nannies are over the moon to have a tiny baby in the house again. There is no shortage of volunteers eager to hold, cuddle, feed, and fuss over their newest little charge.
The children are equally smitten—although perhaps a little too enthusiastic at times. To them, Claudia seems an awful lot like the world's most wonderful life-like baby doll, so we’ve been doing plenty of redirecting and teaching about how to gently love and care for such a tiny new housemate!
It seems Claudia has already captured Angel House.
Her beginning was one no child should ever experience.
But Claudia's beginning is not the whole of her story.
Today, she is safe. She is cared for. She is known by name. And at Angel House, she is surrounded by people who will love and nurture her while decisions about her future are made.
Would you help us welcome Claudia?
For $49 a month, you can become one of Claudia's Orphan Care Sponsors, helping provide the loving caregivers, nutritious formula, medical care, clothing, a safe home, and the everyday necessities she needs as she grows.
She has only just arrived—and we would love for her to discover that there are already people standing beside her!
Sponsor Claudia today and become part of the community surrounding this precious little girl with love.