Because of You, Martha Is Finding Her Smile Again

Martha’s* first nine years have been marked by many difficult moments and losses. Living in the small community of Bois Savane, Haiti, she once enjoyed the simple joys of being the youngest of five children. But within a single year, that world changed. First, her older brother died after a motorcycle accident. A few months later, her mother passed away. Before the family had time to breathe, her father also died after a brief hospitalization.

For a child so young, the weight of that grief is almost unimaginable.

When Martha returned to the Haiti Kids Alive School earlier this year, her teachers immediately noticed the heaviness she carried. Nightmares haunted her. Her smile faded. Her little body began showing signs of stress — recurring fevers, stomach pain, and fatigue. She was doing her best to stay strong, but grief touched every corner of her life.

Because of partners like you, Martha did not have to walk through her sorrow alone.'

A Path Toward Healing

She was referred to Mr. Holkens, the school therapist, who began meeting with her regularly. Through careful assessments, he learned that she was deeply traumatized by the deaths of her family members — scoring 7 out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale. And yet, despite her trauma, she was not depressed. She was hurting, but still resilient. Still trying. Still open to healing.

Our programs in Kids Alive Haiti are built exactly for moments like this — to walk with children through their hardest stories with patience, presence, and compassion. In therapy sessions, Martha drew pictures, painted, played, and practiced deep breathing. These creative, trauma-responsive tools helped her express sadness she couldn’t yet put into words.

At the same time, she was gently guided toward hope. Using Kids Alive’s Identity Cards — simple, biblical truths spoken over each child — she learned that grief does not erase who she is: loved by God, cherished, seen, and never alone.

Her physical needs were cared for too. The school nurse, Ms. Esther, monitored her recurring symptoms and made sure she received follow-up care. And her older sister, now her primary caregiver, participated in sessions to learn how to support Martha at home.

Slowly, healing began to take root.

New Peace

By June, her therapist saw remarkable progress. Martha was sleeping better. Her body was calmer. Her sadness no longer overwhelmed her. By the time he checked in again this November, she was thriving — healthy, stable, and showing the bright curiosity of a girl who loves to learn.

Even during the hardest months of her grief, Martha continued to excel academically. She reads fluently in French and Creole, earned an average of 8 out of 10 across subjects, and expresses herself with a rich vocabulary and thoughtful ideas. Her teachers describe her as kind, attentive, and full of potential.

Because of you, Martha found a place where her sorrow could be seen, her voice could be heard, and her heart could begin to heal — where trauma is met with love, faith, and the promise of a hopeful future.

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*pseudonym used for safety

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