A B.C. woman who adopted a child from Haiti only a month ago is urging people to do what they can to help the ailing country after a devastating earthquake.
Maple Ridge resident Charmaine Nathan travelled to Haiti in December and brought back her daughter, two-and-a-half-year-old Lineda.
"I felt like she was already growing in my heart before I got her," she told CTV News.
Nathan, who had been hoping to adopt for years, wasn't planning to visit the country until January or February -- but got early notification in early December that she could come get her daughter. The date change may have saved her life.
"To hear that this has happened in Haiti it really breaks my heart because of the children that are left there," she said.
The quake hit about 15 kilometres west of the capital of Port au Prince. It's being called the strongest Haiti has seen in more than 200 years.
Nathan is making a personal plea for people to help.
"My prayers go out for them and if anybody can give any help or any donations to the orphanage or aid agency it would be really appreciated," she said.
Lineeda's orphanage, Haiti Children's Home (HCH), is located about 40 kilometres away from the capital. The agency cares for malnourished, premature and abandoned Haitian children.
Nathan has received word they felt the quake but there was no damage -- and no one was hurt.
"The fact that I could be there now and maybe flying in and having all this mayhem going on it would be really disheartening," she said.
"It's just so wonderful to have her home
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber
