August 13, 2010: “The earthquake completely destroyed our house,” remembers Stephanie, a young lady from Sous Savanne, as she stands near the ruins of what had once been her family’s house. “When the earthquake hit, we were scared. My heart was beating so loud. All of us ran out of the house as quickly as we could. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.”
 

Now the cement floor is the only thing that remains of the home. The broken cinder blocks and pieces of mortar are strewn around the foundation. Stephanie, her three-month old baby, and some brothers and sisters now live in a small shelter cobbled together with tin and wooden poles. A small camping tent was purchased after the earthquake to help provide limited shelter, although it has suffered dearly from the weather and tropical sun.
 

Stephanie gave birth on May 6 – four months after the earthquake. With no medical clinic nearby, her daughter Kethzaina was born in the tin shelter they have been calling “home”. Thankfully, she experienced no complications and her baby is happy and healthy. Aid officials point out that pregnant women are an especially vulnerable subset of earthquake victims. Hospitals, clinics and homes have suffered such severe damage that unsanitary conditions and lack of access to specialized care give new mothers a particularly challenging environment in which to bring new life.

Even before the earthquake, Haiti posted the worst rates of infant mortality, under-five mortality and maternal mortality in the western hemisphere. Experts point out that an average of 670 Haitian women out of 100,000 die in childbirth, compared with 11 in the United States.
 

Stephanie smiles with a shy, hopeful face as she looks over the new Hope Force disaster relief tent next to her ruined home. “The new tent is so helpful for us. We would like to have a better house some day and furniture.” Thanks to caring individuals around the world, Haitians like Stephanie will not have to suffer the impact of this disaster alone – people care about the well-being of Haiti and will continue to work toward the rebuilding of the nation and its people.

The new Hope Force tent is a daily reminder that she has not been abandoned. Now she has new hope as she and her baby transition into what will hopefully be a brighter future.