From Despair to Hope: The Journey of Little Nika

Back in 2014, amidst her academic journey, a surprising turn changed Sarah's life.

Sarah Conner, then 25 and hailing from Louisiana, felt there was a 'big' calling awaiting her beyond the ordinary. Her dream was to aid children with various illnesses and disabilities, a passion she pursued right after finishing her studies in rehabilitative therapy by traveling to Haiti for a pediatric medicine internship.

"One day, a young woman entered my department, carrying a three-month-old baby in a dire medical state," Sarah recalls. "The baby's large head was the first thing anyone would notice, due to a significant buildup of fluid. It was shocking for everyone."

The sweet baby was named Nika, and Sarah felt an immediate bond with her.

Sarah also noticed that the young mother was constantly trying to hide her relationship to the child. "In Haiti, it’s seen as a curse to parent a child with such needs, so parents often hide it," she explains.

Sadly, this concealment led to severe neglect for Nika, who had gone months without proper medical care or nutrition. "Even after five months of feeding and care, Nika showed no signs of progress and was still severely malnourished. We were all saddened."

Her Biological Mother Tried to Hand Her Over for Research

Determined to act, Sarah asked for Nika’s address. "I planned to visit her at home because she really touched my heart."

What she found at the eight-month-old's 'home' left her heartbroken and resolute. "I found Nika lying on a floor surrounded by piles of trash. Her head rested on a rice sack—her condition broke my heart," Sarah recalls.

At the time, Nika weighed less than six pounds, with her large head accounting for most of it. Her emaciated body was unforgettable for Sarah.

Nika as found at her biological mother's home

Sarah eventually struck up a conversation with Nika's mother, learning a deeply saddening story. "She told me that being a mother to a child like Nika in Haiti means a life of suffering."

"Upon learning her child would be born with such a condition, Nika's mother tried every possible way to end the pregnancy, even attempting to hand her over for research. Thankfully, no one agreed to that."

"Back Then I Didn't Know I'd Become Her Mother"

Then Sarah stepped in.

"I knew I had to intervene before it was too late. I offered to place Nika for adoption at the medical center where I worked, assuring her of the love and care she’d receive. At that time, I never imagined I'd become her mother."

Nika's mother agreed, but it seemed too late for Nika. Doctors told Sarah she likely wouldn’t survive past her first birthday. "She was in a life-threatening state, and we weren't optimistic. The medical staff took care of her, and we asked everyone we knew to pray for her. Despite the difficulties and our widespread pessimism, Nika fought on. She wanted to live."

Nika battled for life for six months, with Sarah constantly by her side. "I took on the role of her caregiver since her mother wasn't there. I cared for her as if she were my own. My personal life was on hold."

In the meantime, Sarah got married. Shortly before returning home to Louisiana with her husband, she dared to voice a wild idea. "I asked my husband Stephen what he thought about adopting Nika and taking her with us. I knew I couldn’t leave her behind."

Luckily, Stephen agreed, and the two officially adopted Nika, bringing her home with a promise of a loving, devoted life to help her recover and grow up as a typical child.

Over the years, Nika underwent physical therapy, learned to walk, and now stands and functions like any typical child.