RIVERVIEW, FL -- She finally has a bed to sleep in.
And a roof over her head.
But for 15-year-old Darlene Blanchard, the path to a much-needed rest in Riverview was nothing short of miraculous.
Wearing the same clothes she had worn on a 20-mile hike from what was her home in Léogâne to the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and the airlift flight from Haiti to Florida, the orphan -- now adopted by the Williams family, was finally able to rest.
"It is so sad," she said matter-of-factly. "I have many friends dead... and I am sad."
The conversation with Darlene came live on ABC Action News this morning, within hours of her landing along the east coast. The much-needed nap came later.
"I can't believe she is finally here," said adopted mom Rebecca Williams, who met Darlene four years ago during her Missions trips to help Haitians. The Williams family had been working for two years to formally adopt the 15 year-old since 2007. The papers finally were drawn up just days before last week's earthquake.
That she was able to get on a flight out without them is just one of many miracles that the Williamses are thankful for. However, they are still fearful for the other orphans left behind.
"Not just the babies," said Rebecca Williams, whose Promised Provisions Ministry worked closely with more than two dozen other teens still left.
"The are teen aged boys and girls left there," she said. Then after a moment, she added, "The Haitian police, I understand -- I've been told -- have kinda vaporized, because they're afraid."
Afraid for her friends, but also happy to be in her new home, Darlene was the picture of gratitude.
"And I want to say thank you," she said. "Thank everyone!"
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