Published Thu, Oct 17, 24.
Written by Rebecca Honorat.


 

 

Sharing some very sad news



I am heartbroken to share this news with you.

Last night one of our grade 2 students, Bethshaina, passed away.

She had been battling a fever for just over a week and she had been transferred between hospitals in Grande Goave, Petit Goave, and then Fond-des-Blanc. No one was able to determine the cause of the fever and her family is devastated by her death.

Bethshaina’s hometown is a small mountain community in northern Haiti called Boava. Her parents still live there but Bethshaina moved in with her auntie Tina, who lives in Grand Goave, when she was 2 years old. Her parents were struggling to take care of her and they were considering sending her to a children’s home. Tina grew up in a children’s home and offered to take Bethshaina in instead of having her go there. 
 
Our family knows Tina very well. Renel grew up in the same children's home and they have family ties as they are both from Bouva. Also, when Tina was 12 years old she met my parents when they were visiting me in Haiti. My mom, Dorothy, spent most of her time mending clothes for the kids in the children’s home. Tina not only learned to sew from Dorothy but she learned to love it, and see the value in it! When she graduated High School she went to a trade school to become a seamstress. In 2022 Tina took a loan from Alongside to start her own business.

We have been walking alongside Tina for some time already but it's time for us to step up in a different way. In addition to dealing with her grief, Tina is feeling an enormous financial burden. She has unpaid bills at two of the hospitals and had to borrow money to buy medicine and transport Bethshaina to Fond-des-Blacs in an ambulance. Tina also will be responsible for the funeral and morgue expenses.

We would like to help bear this financial burden and any donations received through the relief fund this week will be allocated to Tina & Bethshaina.
 
Relief Fund

Thank you for continue on this journey with us - together we can make a difference!

Rebecca Honorat
Executive Director
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Alongside Families in Haiti Society is a Registered Canadian Charity

Our website is:
www.alongsidehaiti.com

Our mailing address is:
Alongside Families in Haiti
PO Box 71591
White Rock, BC V4B 5J5
Canada