We currently have 11 babies in our formula program. Since we have started this 20+  babies have come through the program. Below are a few of those children and their stories. Of course, the cost of formula is going up and its getting hard to feed our babies in addition to all the other needy babies out there. If you would like to give some money towards this program, please put a note with your check for the "Formula Program". You can send any funds to our addresses below or donate online.  

In USA:
Children of the Promise
PO Box 97
Prinsburg, MN 56281 
USA

In Canada:
COTP-Canada
c/o J and M DeJonge
995 Concession 2, R.R.1 Selkirk On. Canada
N0A 1P0

Babies who get formula all get a can of Similac a week and have a formula card. They have to bring us the card and empty can (that we mark) when they come for formula every week. We weigh the baby once a month to make sure they are gaining weight. In addition to all this, even though we give formula to families. We encourage a mother to breast-feed whenever possible. 

Several children who started out in our formula program eventually were admitted to our care because the family was having a hard time and needed more help. Some of children's stories are below. 

 

An example of a woman who needed encouragement to breast feed -  There was an 18 year old here a month ago with her baby Jessika. Jessika was really small, about 6pounds, and the mom, Gertrude, told me she didn't have any milk. I sat with her and showed her how to breast feed and helped and encouraged her. She is a really sweet girl, but she just didn't have any confidence in her own parenting skills. They came back today and Jessika is thriving. She asked for help with money to take Jessika to a clinic, I was glad to see them so I could encourage her and let her know how well she is doing as a parent. I've also given her vitamins in the past so that she is healthier and hopefully Jessika will be healthier too :)

 

Little Gessina was born on June 18th 2008. She was given formula on October 27th and weighed 12lbs 7.6oz. She was referred to us from the local hospital. Her mother is in the ARV program and they only help parents with formula for a little while.

 

We first heard about Wilkendy when he was in the hospital. A friend of the family is helping care for him. He was born July 6th 2008 and weighed 9 pounds 13.4 ounces on Oct 17th. (photo of Wilkendy with family friend)

 

Evens is the first child to his parents. His mom isnt producing enough milk to feed him. He was born September 11th 2008. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces on Oct 20th and by Nov 4th he was up to 9 pounds 4.6 ounces. (photo of Evens with his parents)

 

Jedna just started getting formula recently, she's from Lagosette, we brought her mom, Monette, who is 18years old, to the hospital when she was in labor. After the baby was born on Aug 30 the dad came and asked us for help with milk. We had him bring a doctors letter to say that the mom can't breast feed. When the mom came here she said she was HIV positive. She had wanted us to take Jedna for a few months as she can't feed her but when I explained that we could help with formula she was happy to be able to care for her at home, Jedna's starting weight on Sept 27th was 7 pounds 5.2 ounces so hopefully she'll do well (Photo of Jedna with her mom)

 

Roselinda Pierre is from Blue Isles, she was born on 12 June, her mother is sick and her aunt cares for her. Her aunt loves her and wants to keep her, she also cares for her 3 year old sibling as well as all her own children but she  had been feeding her labouil when she was only a month old and giving her sugar water. We started giving her formula on July 29th when she was 6 pounds 12.2 ounces. She had been sick recently so we brought her to Milot and helped with her bill but she is doing much better now. (Photo of Roselinda with her aunt)

 

Midelin Joseph, a little boy, is also new to the formula program. He was born on Sept 21 and he is the 7th child in his family. His mother has been told in the past not to breast feed, the way she described her milk was that it had something bad in it, like blood and didn't flow normally. She had breast fed 3 children in the past and they all died, the 3 she didn't breast feed are all doing well so she was afraid to breast feed Midelin but doesn't have the possibility to buy formula for him. He started at 6 pounds 7 ounces on 10/06. (Photo of Midelin with grandmother day after he was born, with his mother a few days later)

 

Francesca is a little girl that stopped by here October '08. Her mother had breast fed her until she was 8 months old and then her mother abandoned them and now her dad is caring for her. She's a year old and weighs 13 pounds 13 ounces, she's small but she looks healthy. She loved laughing at me and made lots of cute funny faces too! Her dad wanted to admit her for a while until she gets bigger, but his aunt is helping care for her. They already buy her food and some kind of milk. I gave them a can of protein powder yesterday and told them to come back next month when it is finished for another can. Hopefully this will help her.  (Photo of Francesca with her dad)

 

We've been giving Faresca Jean-Pierre formula for almost a year. Her mom always wanted to care for her herself. Faresca is HIV positive and has never done very well. She gets sick a lot and her weight changes a lot to. She's only 12 pounds 7.8 ounces now. We will be switching her from formula to protein powder. (Photo of Faresca with her mom)

 

Wilderlim St. Martin was born on 31st of May '08. We started giving him milk when he was 3 months old because his mom was on anti-depressants and other medication and could not breast feed him. She brought all her meds and doctors letters with her. Wilderlim is healthy now. We started giving him formula on Aug 30th when he was 16 pounds 0.4 ounces and he is gaining well. (Photo of Wilderlim with his mom)

Formula Program Graduates

Dieumane Titide is the youngest of 6 kids, his aunt cares for him as his mother is dead. He was born Nov '07 and we started him on formula the end of Jan '08. when she came here looking for help. She had been feeding him tea and crackers at home.  His starting weight was 6 pounds 5 ounces and now he weighs 16 pounds 6.4 ounces. (Photo of Dieumane with his aunt at admission and with another aunt when he finished the program)

 

Laura is the niece to a few of our employees. Her mother had a c-section and just cant get any milk to breast-feed. UPDATE: Laura's mothers milk has come in. Her aunts are helping to make sure her mom eats enough so she is able to breast-feed Laura. We are so happy for them.

 

Ruth Chtel was born in March 07. We helped her with formula from July 07 until March 08. Her starting weight was about 8 pounds and when she was finished she weighed 16 pounds 6.2 ounces.  (Photo of Ruth with her mom)

 

David Bien-Aime was also getting formula until he was 6 months old so he finished in July 08 and weighed 13 pounds 6.2 ounces, he started getting formula in March and weighed 8 pounds 4.8ounces when he started. (Photo of David with his mom)

 

Ferlando Noel was cared for by his aunt because his mother was mentally unstable. He was born Aug 28th 07. We started giving him formula him in Oct 07 when he was 9lbs.  We stopped when he was a year old. He looks great now and weighed 21 pounds 15.4 ounces. (photo of Ferlando at beginning of program and at the end)

 

Rosaline was refered to us by one of our nannies. She was very sick in the hospital and we helped her with her bill. When she was discharged we started to give her formula. She just finished getting formula in Sept '08  and now weighs 20 pounds 10.6 ounces. (Photo of Rosaline with her parents at the beginning of the program and with her mom at the end)

 

When Jesula was born her mother already knew she would need help. Jesula's older sister was already in our care (Jeniflore) and her mom was HIV+. When she had Jesula we gave her formula so she didn't have to breast feed. Jesula has done wonderfully and grown very well. Even Jeniflore has been able to rejoin her family after getting healthier and stronger.  (photo of Jesula with her mom)

 

Another baby that was in our program was Guiventz Predinord.  He started when he was 10 months old  in Sept 07 and only weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces. He passed away at home in March 08 from unknown causes. (Photo of Guiventz with his mom)