Putnam County Courier
LIAH NELSON IS AN INSPIRATION
Putnam County Courier
By Eric Gross
Liah Nelson thought the world was coming to an end when a massive earthquake ravaged her native Haiti.
Even though her home was not damaged by the devastating quake that killed scores of people last December, Liah’s school was severely damaged forcing her parents to find a new educational system.
Liah’s aunt and uncle, Norma and Serge Bernard of Danbury, have two children of their own who are enrolled at the Melrose School in Brewster. They took Liah into their home and since December the beautiful seven year old girl has become a part of the Melrose School family.
Norma Bernard said the world had become a smaller place because of her niece: “The experience has been very enriching for the school as well as our family. Liah has become an older sister for my four-year-old daughter Mikaella and two-year-old son Sebastien. The kids have gravitated towards each other. The camaraderie has been exceptional. Liah is a very warm little girl. The interaction between the three children is great.”
Pauline Powell, Liah’s teacher at Melrose, described the special guest student as a “wonderful child. She’s kind and is friends with everyone. Liah really loves her schooling.”
Powell credited Liah’s parents, Fabienne and Jean Nelson, with rearing an “amazing child. Mom and dad work in Haiti yet they have tried to visit her whenever they can. She has been made as secure as possible here at the school as well as living with her relatives in Danbury.”
During a visit to the school last week, Liah sat down with this reporter and talked about the “cracks” in her former school that were caused by the earthquake: “The walls were not safe anymore so the school had to be closed in order to get fixed.” Liah said Melrose School was different than her school in Haiti: “My old school was bigger. We had 19 kids in the class. Here there are seven. It’s fun to do reading and math in small groups.”
Liah’s older sister Naomi is living on Long Island with other relatives. Liah said her days at Melrose were “special. I’ll always remember my new friends at Melrose. I’d like to invite them back to visit me someday.”
Liah will be leaving the area and returning to Haiti next week. “It’s going to be difficult,” said her aunt, adding: “she has become a part of our family unit. Liah has bonded with my kids. It’s going to be sad to see her depart.”
Powell agreed: “We are all going to miss our Liah. The girls don’t want her to go. She has become an important component of the Melrose School family.”
