FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 1/14/10) After the earthquake, many people have focused on an 8-year-old Haitian boy in Memphis who came to the United States without his family.
The child came here for a special surgery and was scheduled to go home, until the earthquake shattered his country.
From doctors and nurses at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center to an international children's charity, people are hoping to find his parents in Haiti. Le Bonheur gave 8-year-old Saulin help he would never get in Haiti. Taking a leap of faith, his family sent him to the United States alone.
"He's an amazing kid, he really is. There's always a smile on his face. He's just a happy, joyous kid," says Chris Davis, one of Saulin's hosts in Memphis. "When he's in the room, you know he's in the room because he's just that happy, just that excited. His zeal for life is amazing."
Since December, the Davis family has cared for the boy. Thanks to a charity called Childspring International, doctors at Le Bonheur changed his life. They discharged him Friday and that was the last time anyone heard from his family. Saulin's home is rural, so there's hope that his family can be reached at a hospital in the nearest city.
"Right now we're just hoping and praying that his family, along with all of the other children's families from Haiti, are doing well, but we just don't know," says Childspring Program Director Christina Porter who also worries about children like 2-year-old Benaldo, who left Le Bonheur and already went back to Haiti. So far, no one has heard from his family. "We have hundreds of children in Haiti that we've helped and today I was on pins and needles all day just hoping and will continue to pray that we hear something eventually."
For Davis, waiting for word is too much. He says Saulin was touched by grace.
"It's kind of hard to take right now. We don't know what the future's going to hold for him," he says. "We don't really know what's happening with his family there, if he has a home to go back to but I thank God that it's perfect timing, because he's here."
In the meantime, Saulin has a network in Memphis of host families who will care for him and hold out hope that soon he'll go come to his family.
"Well, we're praying. Without ceasing, we are praying," says Davis. "Having met him has given me a gift that nobody else can take away. So, I don't know what the future holds, but I just know that I'm glad that I met him. I'm glad I met Saulin."
Saulin has no idea what happened in his home country.
Right now, the focus is on his recovery.
For more information log on to Childspring International's website at www.childspringintl.org Here's a link to watch Saulin coming to Memphis http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=633747582833&oid=46433054768
- Child brought to Memphis for special surgery
- Charity searching for boy's family before sending him home
- Memphians caring for boy
(Memphis 1/14/10) After the earthquake, many people have focused on an 8-year-old Haitian boy in Memphis who came to the United States without his family.
The child came here for a special surgery and was scheduled to go home, until the earthquake shattered his country.
From doctors and nurses at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center to an international children's charity, people are hoping to find his parents in Haiti. Le Bonheur gave 8-year-old Saulin help he would never get in Haiti. Taking a leap of faith, his family sent him to the United States alone.
"He's an amazing kid, he really is. There's always a smile on his face. He's just a happy, joyous kid," says Chris Davis, one of Saulin's hosts in Memphis. "When he's in the room, you know he's in the room because he's just that happy, just that excited. His zeal for life is amazing."
Since December, the Davis family has cared for the boy. Thanks to a charity called Childspring International, doctors at Le Bonheur changed his life. They discharged him Friday and that was the last time anyone heard from his family. Saulin's home is rural, so there's hope that his family can be reached at a hospital in the nearest city.
"Right now we're just hoping and praying that his family, along with all of the other children's families from Haiti, are doing well, but we just don't know," says Childspring Program Director Christina Porter who also worries about children like 2-year-old Benaldo, who left Le Bonheur and already went back to Haiti. So far, no one has heard from his family. "We have hundreds of children in Haiti that we've helped and today I was on pins and needles all day just hoping and will continue to pray that we hear something eventually."
For Davis, waiting for word is too much. He says Saulin was touched by grace.
"It's kind of hard to take right now. We don't know what the future's going to hold for him," he says. "We don't really know what's happening with his family there, if he has a home to go back to but I thank God that it's perfect timing, because he's here."
In the meantime, Saulin has a network in Memphis of host families who will care for him and hold out hope that soon he'll go come to his family.
"Well, we're praying. Without ceasing, we are praying," says Davis. "Having met him has given me a gift that nobody else can take away. So, I don't know what the future holds, but I just know that I'm glad that I met him. I'm glad I met Saulin."
Saulin has no idea what happened in his home country.
Right now, the focus is on his recovery.
For more information log on to Childspring International's website at www.childspringintl.org Here's a link to watch Saulin coming to Memphis http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=633747582833&oid=46433054768
