Naika

Another "refugee" in "The Forest" at HUEH was a 6 year old girl named Naika (Nah-EE-kuh). At the time of the earthquake, she was in front of a house that crumbled, causing cinder blocks to fall on her. She had deep wounds on both legs, her chest, and back.

When Chris and Shellie started to change her bandages, Naika insisted on removing them herself. The bandages were sticking to her wounds. She tried hard to be brave but started crying. Hoping to distract her, I gave her a Hotwheel car given to me by the Isom boys in Tooele to give to children in Haiti.

A couple of times as she was crying, she turned to her mom, smiled and said "Gade, m' gen yon ti machin!" (Look I have a little car!). Haitian children are so thankful for everything they have. She's holding it in the picture.

Her mother was so grateful that she made sure to thank Chris and Shellie, who don't speak Creole, by saying "Thank you" in English.