Having raised children of their own, Jean, 60, and Marie, 50, Major never expected to be raising kids again.
Then the unexpected occurred about a year ago. Their son left his four children at their doorstep. They did what so many other grandparents do — they assumed responsibility for Kethshainna, 13; Meversly, 12; Diavens, 8; and Moreitza, 3.
Even before the Majors began raising their grandchildren, they were struggling to make ends meet. Jean works six days a week as a farmworker in Fort Pierce, leaving their Belle Glade apartment at 4 a.m. to harvest bell peppers and tomatoes.
What has made the child-rearing even more difficult is that 3-year-old Moreitza has severe digestive issues that prevent her from keeping down any food beyond the protein- and vitamin-filled liquid PediaSure.
Despite numerous meetings with specialists, her condition remains undiagnosed. They can find no abnormality to explain her symptoms, reports the Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, which is trying to help the family navigate their difficulties.
Marie Major had to stop working to take care of Moreitza, depriving the family of desperately needed income. She, like her husband Jean, worked in the fields.
The Majors are from Haiti. They have been in this country for more than 20 years, but speak only Creole.
Through an interpreter, the Majors said their two-bedroom apartment is just too small for a family of six. Moreitza sleeps with the Majors in one bedroom and the other three children sleep in the second bedroom — the boys in bunk beds. The apartment has no air conditioning.
Moreitza’s discomfort is clear. In the span of the interview, she would laugh at times but often cried, calling on Marie to console her. “We need to find out what is wrong with her,” Marie said.
The four children depend entirely on Jean and Marie’s commitment to keep the family together despite the financial strain they are under. The Farmworkers Coordinating Council has this to say about the Majors:
“They exemplify extraordinary resilience and selflessness, qualities that set them apart from others in their situation. When faced with the sudden responsibility of caring for their four grandchildren, they did not falter. Instead, they embraced this immense challenge with unwavering commitment and courage.”
Struggling to keep their family intact
Jean initially approached the organization seeking help to apply for food stamps. But during the initial assessment, it became evident the family was grappling with substantial challenges, highlighted by Moreitza’s apparent malnutrition. The council provided access to its food pantry to address immediate hunger and then toiletries for hygiene and health along with transportation for essential services.
The council says the Majors are doing all they can to keep the family intact and provide a stable environment amid overwhelming hardships.
U.S. census data shows that 2.3 million grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. About a third of those grandchildren living are younger than 6.
The task is particularly daunting, however, for the Majors who are raising four young children, while trying to crack a pressing medical mystery that has so far eluded doctors and that chronically pains and threatens the life of the youngest.
Jean and Marie Major’s Wish
Grandparents Jean and Marie Major, who have scraped by working in the fields of Belle Glade, became parents again overnight. Their financial stability was further strained when they discovered 3-year-old Moreitza was suffering from an as-yet undiagnosed condition that left her malnourished and struggling to digest food. They wish to secure access to the specialized and ongoing health care for her. This one medical crisis must be addressed not only for her well-being but also to alleviate the added strain on the entire family. The Majors also need help securing better living conditions with more room for the children and furniture to accommodate the entire family. The three older children also require support with clothing and shoes, school uniforms and laptops. Reliable transportation is a critical need as well. A donated car would allow them to travel safely and provide access to essential services not covered by public transportation.
Nominating Agency: Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County.
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Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Charity: Grandparents take over care of gravely ill child, 3 siblings
