As the world watches the events in Haiti unfold after a devastating earthquake and subsequent tremors, I keep wondering if the little Haitian baby I met in 2006 survived.
Jomany “Darla” Lauture arrived in Longmont in March 2006 to the Pearson family home. The Pearson’s felt as though they were part of “God’s plan” to help the infant with a surgery to repair her cleft palette. Local surgeon, Dr. Raj TerKonda, agreed to do the surgery pro bono, but as doctors prepared her for the surgery, they discovered Darla had a rare heart defect that, gone untreated, would have killed her. In all Darla had three surgeries before being reunited with her family in Haiti.
Darla survived once by being in the right place at the right time. My prayer now is that she did it again.
Mary Pearson said at the time: “I think God gave her this temperament at least for her infancy, and when she gets big, she’s going to be a powerhouse — a bold, sassy girl.”
I hope Mary was right, because if Darla is OK, now is the time that strength will come in handy.
1
Six-month-old Darla Jomany Lauture arrived in Longmont in early March to stay with Dr. Gary Pearson and his family while Longmont plastic surgeon Dr. Raj TerKonda, whom she waits patiently for on Friday, March 31, 2006 during an office visit. Dr. TerKonda planned on performing the surgery to repair her cleft lip and pallate last Tuesday, but Jomany's condition proved to be much worse than doctors anticipated, something that became apparent only during pre-surgery checkups. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
2
Darla Jomany Lauture, a six-month-old from Haiti, rolls from her stomach to her back for the very first time Saturday, April 1, 2006, which excites Mary Pearson and Claire, 10, as Quentin, 8, witnesses the milestone at their home in Longmont. Jomany Lauture arrived in Colorado in early March to stay with Dr. Gary Pearson and his family while Longmont plastic surgeon Dr. Raj TerKonda volunteered his time to repair her cleft lip and palate. However, doctors discovered that Jomany had a rare heart defect that, if untreated, would have ended her short life. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
3
In the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Darla Jomany Lauture recovers from heart surgery on Thursday, April 7, 2006 with Dr. Gary Pearson and his wife Mary by her side. Jomany suffers from tricuspid atresia, a condition leaving her without one of two heart valves and preventing her blood from being oxygenated properly. She underwent heart surgery Wednesday. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
4
Gary Pearson feels as though he is "part of the plan," when talking about Jomany Darla Lauture's journey since arriving to the Pearson's Longmont home from her native homeland of Haiti in March. When she came to the United States for a surgery to repair her cleft palate and cleft lip, doctors noticed "Darla" was born with tricuspid atresia, a heart disorder. After repairs to her heart, and a consequential lung surgery, were done at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Longmont Dr. Raj TerKonda and fellow Dr. Khalid Chowhury volunteered their time to repair her mouth. The surgery was performed at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver Friday, June 16, 2006, where Gary and Darla have a moment before a nurse whisked her off to the operating room. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
5
Being under anesthesia on an operating table is no longer unfamiliar to Jomany Darla Lauture. Since her arrival from homeland Haiti to Longmont in March, she has undergone three surgeries: one for a heart defect, one to repair lung fluid buildup stemming from the heart surgery and a cleft palate and lip surgery at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver on Friday, June 16, 2006, where she lies. Longmont Dr. Raj TerKonda and Dr. Khalid Chowdhury donated their services to repair Darla's cleft lip and palate at P/SL, who donated the costs of the operation and post surgery stay. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
6
Arm guards prevent Darla from putting her fingers and other objects into her newly repaired mouth in the days following her surgery. Although she manages to slip out of one or both occasionally, like when reading a book with Claire Pearson on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. The Pearson clan went to Luis and Breckin Guzman's Frederick home Wednesday for a barbecue, the first time she has really gone out since her surgery last week. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
7
Darla Jomany Lauture is less than pleased when Dr. Gary Pearson stopped feeding her chocolate cake during a get together with friends and family of the Pearson's at their Longmont home on Wednesday, July 19, 2006. Darla is returning to Haiti today with an orphanage director who is meeting Mary in Miami. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
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Mary Pearson, right, holds Darla Jomany Lauture as, from left, Annik, Quentin and Claire, thumb through photo albums Saturday, July 22, 2006 at their Longmont home. Darla will take the albums back to Haiti with her so her family can look back on the 9-month-old's adventures to Colorado. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
9
Dr. Gary Pearson, left, leads a prayer over Darla Jomany Lauture, being held by Mary Pearson, right, as their children, from Gary's left, Addie, Annik, Maggie, Claire and Quentin, huddle around Saturday, July 22, 2006 in their Longmont home driveway. The Pearson family said goodbye to the 9-month-old Haitian baby who has been staying with them since March while she received medical care. Mary flew with Darla to Miami handed the little girl over to an orphanage director, who will return Darla to her waiting family. (Joshua Buck/Times-Call)
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Thanks for sharing this Josh. Your work is always thoughtful and compelling.
hey my name is nedjine and darla is my little cousin and thanks to you guys shes doing great.shes with her parents in Haiti,If it wasn’t for you guys i don’t think she would of being here and she brings joys to everyone in the family.Thank you