A young mother in Roatan holds up a sign with a simple message, “Thank you for saving his life.”
An image of the woman is part of a slide show that Valerie Nelson presented to students at St. Anthony’s School. Nelson is the director of Famillias Saludables, the agency that administers the Morgan Jayne Project in Roatan.
She explains the woman holding the sign learned that Nelson would be travelling to Drumheller, and wanted to share a message with the people of Drumheller. Her message was simple. “Thank you for saving his life.”
Nelson was in town over the weekend with the goal to thank the people of Drumheller for their support of the Morgan Jayne Project, which currently provides about half of the infant formula given to the Children of HIV infected mothers on the impoverished Island, to curb the spread of AIDS.
Part of this was taking in the Red Eye Memorial Ball tournament, which is held in memory of Morgan Jayne and Chris Bolin, and splits the proceeds between the two causes.
Nelson said the Saturday night at the ball tournament coincided with Children’s Day in Honduras. It is like Mother’s Day, only on Children’s day, the kids are showered with generosity.
“I was out there thinking how appropriate it was that while it was Children’s Day in Honduras, I was in Drumheller with people who have saved so many of the kids. So many of our kids wouldn’t be celebrating Children’s Day if it wasn’t because of the project,” said Nelson.
“It really was overwhelming to me because the Morgan Jayne Project has made such a big impact, we couldn’t survive without it.”
“These people were out there playing ball, and serving hamburgers. They have never been to Roatan, maybe not even know where Honduras is… and yet they do it to save children they don’t know, and it is such a testimony to the people.”
The bread and butter of the Morgan Jayne Project is providing formula, and it has literally saved lives. Last year Nelson was going over her books at the clinic, and it occurred to her that they have achieved 100 per cent success in curbing mother-to-child transmission of AIDS.
The Morgan Jayne Project has moved beyond providing formula. The Morgan Jayne Infant Care Center has been up and running for two years, and was part of the reason Famillias Saludables was able to achieve zero mother-to-child transmission. The project has supported the school, provide medicine and every year helps to fill the Christmas wish list.
“The Christmas program give the kids their childhood back, so what more could you want?” said Nelson.
Nelson made it a goal on her brief visit to Drumheller to show her appreciation to as many people in the valley that have supported the project. Part of this was visiting the student body at St. Anthony’s, visiting the Rotary Club and doing a public presentation at the new Elim Pentecostal Tabernacle at the former Central School.
While there have been some great successes, the struggle continues. Nelson said the economy has hit Roatan hard, and similarity Famillias Saludables. Many of their American donors have not been able to keep up support. The project has adapted by alternating months to have power, and can only guarantee six months of formula to the mothers.
“We used to guarantee 12 months, but the last couple months have been stressful, so we dropped it to six months. Six months is all they need to avoid the transmission, but we always have given them 12 months to fatten them up and keep them healthy.”
One of the messages she brought to students and supporters beyond the project is demonstrating how every person can make a difference by their actions. The Morgan Jayne Project has given children a new chance at life.
