Mission group deeply involved in Haitian relief work

GAINESVILLE - A mission group that left Gainesville Friday to help with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti has already immersed itself in helping ease the pain and suffering on the island nation.

Stan Bell says "We now have two teams there, and another leaving Sunday the 31st. There is a blog where you can keep up with us helpinghandshaiti.blogspot.com."

Bell lists as an example of the working being done by the groups from Helping Hands Foreign Missions the assistance being given a family of five which is living "outside on the streets."

One member of the family is a baby who "who weighs five pounds. He was born 16 days ago on the 9th," Bell said Tuesday. "Last time the child ate was yesterday (Monday). The mother cannot produce milk to nurse. They have run out of milk to feed the baby. The milk supply is dangerously low and she can't buy any."

Bell says the Helping Hands volunteers have treated the infant by bathing him, giving him clean diapers, clean clothes. We attempted to feed him through a bottle but it was unsuccessful. We were able to feed him through a syringe a few drops at a time."

Bell says the plan is to to keep the entire family "safe with us. We fed them a single meal. Every hour the infant will be fed three tablespoons of formula to see if his condition improves. The child is malnourished and weak. At the moment This is the most we can do. If the child's condition worsens we will attempt to take him to a hospital. We are afraid they might turn him away."