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The deadly earthquake that devastated Haiti on Jan. 12 left more than 200,000 people dead, another 300,000-plus injured and a million homeless.
But for two 15-year-old girls, the tragedy became their ticket to a new life.
Naphtaline (Natalie) Noel and Mona Lisa Olibris arrived in Azle Jan. 28, accompanied by their new family – Richard and Lorraine Larrew and their 15-year-old daughter Mandee. The Larrews, who have been in the process of adopting Natalie since 2007, began calling elected officials after the earthquake in a desperate effort to find her, keep her alive and bring her to safety. It took 16 days, but a military carrier finally flew the girls out of Haiti Jan. 28, along with 50 other orphans. Their orphanage just outside Port-au-Prince was levelled by the quake, leaving them all on the street in a country that lacked most of the necessities of life even before the earthquake.
The violent tremor brought a swift and unexpected end to the adoption saga that wasn’t expected to end for 18 months. The addition of Natalie’s good friend Mona was icing on the cake for Lorraine, who described her as a “kind and passionate young lady who loves animals and deserved a chance at a wonderful life here.” Since their arrival, Natalie and Mona have been caught up in the Texas life. They took a trip to Austin, toured Clarence Culwell’s farm near Springtown, and got to experience their first snowfall when a record 12.5 inches blanketed North Texas. They’ve been loving every minute of it, Lorraine said. “But the 48 hours without electricity was not so good,” she added – an unwanted result of the snowfall. Soon after Natalie and Mona arrived, they took up classes at Azle High School. Natalie, who has been attending an English school in Haiti since she was five, has already expressed an interest in being a lawyer who specializes in international adoptions. She’s also joined the AHS track team, where “She’s found her legs,” Lorraine said. Mona, who has had less time to think about life outside of Haiti, is still searching for her legs, so to speak. But according to Lorraine, Mona already loves her art and French classes. And while the news from Haiti continues to document the tragic struggle to survive, dig out and rebuild, the story of Natalie and Mona provides a glimmer of good news. In Azle, it’s local news. |
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