by S. M. Smith
“What is the potential that she would be adopted?” I ask, fearing I already know the answer.
“Low. She’s on a list with a couple of agencies, but like all of these babies, she has an illness. People who spend the kind of money they do to adopt want strong, healthy babies.” He looks around, a mixture of irritation and sympathy on his face, landing on Baby Dauphine. “Nobody wants a sick baby.”
***
At dinner, we get news that supplies to fix some serious damage to the clinic’s roof have arrived. Marci asks Eric, Adam and I if we would mind joining and supervising the team to recover the roof tomorrow. I agree, but realize that if I want to do the research on Sickle Cell Anemia I wanted, I need to do it tonight, so I excuse myself and head back to our camp.
I set up my laptop at the table just inside our tent, and after about twenty minutes of trying to figure out if and then how to get my hotspot to work, I finally find some information on the disease. All the information I find is pretty consistent with what Dr. Miller told me. When I think about that beautiful little baby trying to live in the conditions here, I get more and more determined to do something about it.
I wonder what it would take to maybe sponsor Dauphine’s medical attention, like pay for the equipment to do the routine blood count checks she would need. And then maybe have some vitamins supplements sent so she would get whatever is missing from her diet here.
I start to make a list of people I would need to call and questions I would need to ask when Jessie pops in.
“Hey, you.” She comes up behind me and slips her arms around my shoulders, resting her chin on the top of my head and her hands on my chest. “What are you looking up?”
“You remember that baby that smiled at me yesterday?”
“Yes.” I can hear the smile on her face in her voice.
“She’s sick. She has a long term disease and I want to do something to help.”
Jessie stands up, letting her hands slide up to my shoulders as she moves. I normally would have taken that as some sign, but I just can’t seem to think about anything other than how to take care of this baby. She gives me a serious look as she starts to understand just how important this is to me.
“Okay. What are you thinking?” she asks, her tone becoming more appropriately serious.
“I’m not sure just yet. But I have a couple of ideas and have a few phone calls to make tomorrow. I’ll let you know when I have all the information.”
A slow, appreciative smile spreads across her face and I turn away from the table and toward her. She sits down in my lap and wraps an arm around my neck.
“This is really important to you.” Her voice is low and it doesn’t pass me that she isn’t asking.
“It is.” I nod. “She’s… just so helpless here. I don’t want her to be hopeless too.”
Jessie carefully leans up and kisses me gently. I shoot her a curious look when she leans back.
“What was that for?”
“You just reminded me of one of the many reasons why I love you.” She smiles playfully and stand ups. “Come on. You have some fanboys out here who want to know if you can come out and play.”
Chapter Fifteen
~Jessie~
I’m kindly sent away by the ladies in the kitchen once everyone’s been served again, like they have the last four days. I have really enjoyed working at the school each day. The children are always such a heartwarming crowd to be around and I find myself smiling more than I think I ever have. Stephen even commented about my new, sunnier disposition and I can’t help but be proud that I’m not worrying him.
As I’m making my rounds around the patio, I see Flore, Nadia and Marie not surrounded by their usual crowd of giggly friends. The girls are huddled around Nadia and saying something that looks like they are trying, and not really being successful at getting her to laugh. Sensing something’s really wrong, I squat down at the end of the table they are sitting at.
“Hi, girls,” I say cautiously.
Nadia turns a subdued smile to me, while Flore and Marie’s smiles are more sympathetic.
“How are you today?” I ask trying to sound cheery.
“Nadia’s brother is… ill.” Flore explains.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Has he been to see the doctors at the clinic yet?” I assume the villagers have unlimited access to the clinic, but I suddenly realize they might not. Flore nods her head while patting Nadia’s back though and I’m slightly relieved that I wasn’t being too presumptuous. Nadia looks like she could be on the verge of tears though. “Is he at the clinic now?”
“No. Doctor says…he cannot help.” Flore says, not able to look at up me. A tear slips down Nadia’s face.
“Is he hurting now? What is wrong?”
Nadia places her hands on her stomach and squeezes her eyes shut, more tears slipping down her dark cheeks.
Without thinking about how it might be conceived in this culture, I do the only thing I know to do and I pull Nadia into my arms. She looks at me a little startled at first, but after a second she wraps her arms tightly around my waist and the dam breaks; tears flood her. I pick her up and take a seat at the table, holding her until the sobs slow down. Before she can completely calm back down, Alex comes back out and blows her whistle to indicate it’s time to line up for class.
“I will find out what I can do to help,” I tell Nadia as she pulls back, wiping the tears from her face. I’m not sure she fully understands what I mean, but she gives me a weak smile and hugs me again.
“What’s his name?” I ask.
“Francis…Francis Soule,” Nadia says quietly.
“Okay, I’ll let you know when I find something out.”
A small smile creeps over her face again and very quietly she says, “Thank you.”
My heart melts at her timid words.
Oh God. Please help me find a way to help her brother.
***
As soon as the kitchen has been fully cleaned up, I hurry toward the clinic to start my rounds in feeding some of the patients, hopeful I’ll also get to talk to the doctors.
As I round the side of the school, the clinic comes in sight and I notice the guys are just about finished with the roof. Stephen, shirtless and perfectly glazed with a mouthwatering sheen of sweat, shades his eyes and squints from his perch on the roof. I slow my pace, easily distracted by the perfectly sculpted body on display
“Hey, babe. Lunch over?”
“Yep.” I think I might drool, and that thought pulls me out of my lustful trance. “I’m headed in now to do lunch here. How long do you think you’ll be?” I ask, stopping far enough back to see his silhouette against the hot sun. I shade my eyes and his glorious face comes into view.
“We’re just about done. Maybe twenty minutes or so, then need to clean up all the equipment and extra supplies. I’ve got a couple of calls to make after though. I’ll catch up with you later?” A lively smile plays across his lips, causing my insides to growl at me. I force myself to ignore it.
Military issue cots do not make for a comfortable surface for any kind of sleeping, even the extracurricular kind, not to mention the lack of privacy. We’re only four days into our trip, though, and I am missing his touch. Those eyes and that sun-kissed skin isn’t helping my growing libido so I just nod and rush into the clinic before I let anything grow any further.
Thick, hot air hits my nose as soon as I enter the building and I feel like someone has stuffed my lungs with warm, wet cloths. I take a couple of deep breaths and am able to adjust to the humid air but wonder how many patients are having problems with breathing right now too.
Still clutching my chest, I enter the staff room looking for either of the doctors. Moreen’s golden hair pulled up and off her neck is the first thing I see, sitting in front of a severely outdated computer.
“Hi. Do you know which doctor is here currently?” I ask, causing her to jump in her seat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” She turns around in h
er seat and smiles timidly.
“Happens all the time. I think I might be too trusting of my environment.” She shrugs it off though before craning her neck to check the room behind me. “Well, they were both here a little while ago, but I think Dr. Miller may have left to get some rest before his shift tonight. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Actually, I need to find out which of them saw a gentleman by the name of Francis Soule. Do you have a means to find out which doctor saw him?”
“Sure. Do you know when he was here?” she asks, eager to help as she turns back toward the desk. She reaches over to a set of binders lining the end of the table. She reads the labels before picking one up.
“I honestly didn’t think to ask that. Um, okay let’s assume that it has to be in the last couple of days.” Surely he hasn’t been in pain for long.
“Do you know what he was in for?” Moreen asks as she thumbs through pages, eyes darting back and forth as she skims the information on each page.
“His sister was so upset I couldn’t bring myself to ask too many questions. She did indicate that it was an abdominal issue though.”
Moreen looks up briefly with sympathy in her eyes. She picks up another three-ring binder and flips through a few more pages before she stops and reads for a moment.
“Francis Soule?” She looks up briefly to make sure she has the right person. She continues when I nod. “Was in two days ago with abdominal issues. Was seen by Dr. Miller, who noted he needed an MRI before he could properly diagnose. Family couldn’t afford expenses to Port-Au-Prince and checked him out without further follow up.”
She closes the binder and puts it back in its spot, a mixture of irritation and sympathy radiating from her.
“Thanks, Moreen.”
I make a mad dash out to our camp and am able to catch Dr. Miller just before he ducks inside the tent.
“Dr. Miller. Do you have a moment?”
The thin, bald man turns, tired curiosity on his face until he sees me.
“Jessie. What can I do for you?”
“I need to talk to you about a patient you saw a few days ago. Francis Soule…abdominal issues…you need an MRI to officially diagnose?” It takes a moment before my clues help refresh his memory.
“Ah, yes. Francis appeared to have an inflamed appendix. He appeared to have the symptoms of appendicitis, but without the MRI, I can’t confirm.” He runs a hand over his bald head and I notice the dark circles under his eyes.
“If the MRI confirmed it, what would he need?” I ask, hoping it’s something like medication or something fairly inexpensive Stephen and I could fund.
“At this point, if it hasn’t ruptured already, I’d say he will most likely need surgery. But his family was adamant about not being able to afford the trip and expenses of the MRI, let alone any type of surgery.”
“And you can’t do the surgery here?” I ask, not really fully thinking before the words slipped out.
He narrows his eyes at me, silently answering my question. There was no way the clinic is even possibly equipped for any type of surgery.
“Even if I was able to do the surgery here, I wouldn’t touch him without confirmation that it is his appendix. Which, again, requires an MRI.” I brush his annoyed voice off as him just being exhausted.
“I understand, but—“
“Listen, Jessie. I want to help, I really do. But I’ve reached the end of my capabilities. At some point the decision has to be made by the family if they are willing to do what it takes to help their loved ones. They have made their decision. I’m sorry, but we can’t save everybody, Jessie.” The firmness of his voice and the grief in his eyes is overwhelming, but he pats my shoulder and turns to duck inside the tent.
Not intending to follow him, but needing a moment to myself I step inside the office portion of our tent feeling defeated and lost. What am I doing here if I’m not able to help these people? Why did I give up hormone treatments and potential business? What am I supposed to be doing here if I can’t help the first person who truly needs it?
“Hey, babe. How was lunch at the clinic?” Stephen ducks inside the tent, tugging a shirt over his head.
Ugh. I totally forgot. And now I’ve slacked on feeding the sick too.
“I have to get back.” I start to storm past him, but he grabs hold of my arm stopping me.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I have to get back, I haven’t even started lunch rounds, yet.” I start to tug away from him, but my obviously sour disposition has him holding on.
“What is it, Jess?” He dips his head and levels his eyes with mine. I sigh in exasperation because evidently, that’s all I can do for these people.
“One of the girls at the school, her brother has a swollen appendix and needs an MRI. The family can’t afford the costs for the scan, let alone get him to the hospital in Port-Au-Prince. He must be hurting badly because his sister was very upset today. I just talked to Dr. Miller and there apparently isn’t anything I can do,” I ramble off quickly, my rising voice giving away my hysterics. I sigh again. “What are we doing here if we aren’t able to help, Stephen? I just don’t see how we’re doing any good here if we aren’t actually helping people.”
He pulls me to his chest and although I’m not super fond of his scent currently, I relish the comfort of his arms.
“First of all, you’ve seen their faces. Our mere presence is bringing them hope. It may seem that you’re helping in such small ways, but I think you might be missing the real impact you’re having here.” He holds me tight for a moment, but the heat and his growing odor have me pushing away.
“I’m sorry. I sound like I’m whining and I’m not trying to be a brat. I just feel powerless. You know?”
“Well, let me ask you this,” he says. “Is the cost of the scan and transportation the only issue here?”
“I believe so. He might also need surgery.”
“Okay. Well, who do we know that can help? Have you talked to any of your contacts, people from the church, friends, family members, anybody who might be able to pool the funds together? You’re not alone here, Jess. You have so many resources at your fingertips. Just because you personally can’t do something about it, doesn’t mean you might not know someone who can.”
He’s right and now that he’s said it, my wheels are starting to turn.
“Stephen, you’re a genius. Okay, I need to use a phone.”
“Cell service is shady, but my phone gets decent reception next to the clinic.”
He looks at me, hopeful that I’m not going to wig out on him again. Excited, I nod and try not to bounce around like a dancing monkey while he digs his phone out of his bag.
“Not too long, please. We’re on international minutes and I have a couple calls I need to make too.”
Raising an eyebrow at him, I wonder who is so important that he needs to call.
“I’ve got my own SOS calls to make.” He winks at me and kisses my temple. “I’m gonna go shower while you’re on the phone. Tell Daphne I say hi.”
I smile as he assumes, albeit correctly, that I’m calling my bestie.
He turns and heads toward the back of the tent while I exit and practically sprint to the clinic. I circle the building, holding the phone out while searching for decent cell service until I find a spot behind the building that gets a few bars.
Dialing the number I know by heart, I pray Daph’s at her desk.
“All of Creation Studios. This is Daphne speaking, how can I help you today?” Her sweet, southern accent sounds like home and I take just a moment of comfort from it before I get right to business.
“Daph. It’s Jessie. I need your help. And nothing short of a miracle.”
“Whatcha need?” she responds.
Chapter Sixteen
~Jessie~
Hearing my name as I round the corner of the clinic, I see Stephen on the phone looking pretty optimistic. Glad that his calls are going as well as min
e went, I smile brightly at him while I wait for him to finish up.
“Jessie’s doing great, Mom. I’ll tell her you asked about her, but I’ve gotta go. I love you. Give Dad a hug from me and tell Jack we’ll call him soon.” He holds his arm out to me and I plant myself against his firm, soapy smelling chest. “Will do. Bye.”
He hangs up the phone and kisses my temple.
“That’s from mom.” He presses a slow kiss on my lips before pulling back and running his thumb over my lower lip. “That was from me.”
“Mmmm. Thank you. You smell better now, by the way.”
“So I smelled earlier.” He pulls me back to him.
He dips down and kisses under my jaw and inhales deeply. We haven’t been this close physically since before we left Kansas City and the feelings I had earlier are rekindling. A soft moan escapes his lips, making parts of me growl.
“You smell too,” he whispers jokingly in my ear. “Like…”
“Like sweat, pea soup and fried potatoes?” I step back, nose scrunched, making him laugh out loud.
“That wasn’t exactly how I was going to put it.”
I raise an eyebrow and narrow my eyes at him.
“You only think you’re funny, Mr. Cahill.” He continues to laugh so I try to pull out of his arms. “How were your SOS calls?”
“Good. Before I forget to ask, can I have you take pictures of the babies in the nursery and email them to Mom and Aubrey? I’m going to have Aubrey put together a bio on each of them and have her post them, the pictures and the link to the adoption agencies on her blog. Mom’s going to do some promoting back home and see if we can get some of these babies placed with families who can help them.”
Awe and pride fill my chest. This is a fantastic idea and I’m really excited to be able to help.
“Absolutely. Stephen, that’s an incredible idea!” I squeeze his waist and his excitement covers his face.
“Thanks. My goal is to have all the babies in the nursery placed with a family before we leave.”
“That’s pretty ambitious.” I try not to sound like I’m not confident that he can get all eight babies homes, but my doubt slips into my tone like an annoying leaky faucet. I do my best to show my support and belief in him through my facial expression instead. “I’ll go get my camera and get them done now.”
