I would love for you to take some time to read L’s story. It is a very common story of a life here in Haiti. The ups and downs of life are difficult, but most here keep on keeping on for their children and their grandchildren.

L. is 62 years old. He grew up in a village that is about a 6 hour walk from Cazale. Both of his parents died when he was young. He does not have much of a memory of them. He does not really remember how old he was when they died and was never really told why they died except they were sick. After they died, he went to live with his godmother. He stayed with her until he got married to his wife. His godmother made sure he was feed and had a place to stay, but was unable to send him to school. He went and worked in the gardens and fields with his uncles most of his life. He remembers when he was a young boy when he got his first chicken. His godmother told him animals could bring him money and food for his life. He needed to start with a small animal and show he could care for it. He said he did a good job with the chicken and was able to sell it. His godmother let him have a few coins to buy some candy, but made him save the rest to put with what she was saving to then buy a pig. He did well with each animal, and she helped him each time when he sold to then purchase the next bigger animal. So, he progressed from a chicken to a pig to goats. The next big animal was a cow. Now when it was time to buy the cow, he was a bit older. His godmother made him keep several goats and then they had babies. He had to buy and save for several years to be able to buy a cow, but he was finally able to and was very proud of this accomplishment.

He got married to his first wife and had 10 children. They were happy together and had their animals and gardens that helped them raise their children. Over the years, they had 8 children that died. Most died when they were children of fever or kwashiorkor. He said back then there were no clinics near their home. The nearest hospital was a 2 day walk from their home. Back then, there were no roads for vehicles or motorcycles in their area. When children had kwashiorkor back then, everyone knew they would die so no one took them to the hospital. Most believed it was a curse put upon the child so no doctor could save them. One of the children that lived had kwashiorkor and was very sick. Everyone told him she would die like the other ones. At the time, his wife was also sick. She asked him to please try to take their child to the hospital. He had a horse then and tied her to the horse with a rope so she would not fall off. He made the 2 day journey to the hospital. He raised his hands to God when recalling this story and said by a miracle she lived and is still alive today. He stayed with her in the hospital for several weeks and returned home with her knowing that she would live. When he arrived back home, he found his wife was very ill and near death. She was so happy to know that her daughter lived. During the time he was gone, her throat got swollen and then opened up like a abscess. When he arrived, the wound was very infected and full of maggots. He had already sold some animals to pay for his daughters care at the hospital. He planned to sell a cow the next day and then figured out how to make the 2 day trip back to the hospital with her on a bed. She was dead when he woke up the next morning. He buried her and said he loved her.

Years went by and at that time he still had 3 living children. They all lived with him and helped him in the gardens and with the animals. He met a new lady that lived closer here near Cazale. He married her and moved down to her home with her. He left his home up in the mountains for his kids. He and his new wife did not have any children together, but she had several children of her own. One of his sons also moved down to the area of Cazale. He was a motorcycle driver and was able to provide for himself. A few weeks after the earthquake happened his girlfriend broken up with him. He was very upset and was driving his motorcycle back to Cazale. He decided that he did not want to live and drank battery acid. A few hours later, someone found him and brought him to the clinic. Everyone was amazed was still alive. We made arrangements to send him into town in hopes that with extra doctors and people here after the earthquake he might be able to find help. He did not find help and did not want to live. They brought him back to us and we kept him in a home where we were houses patients discharged from the Comfort Ship (after surgeries from injuries from the earthquake). He stayed for a few days and then refused treatment and left and died about a week later with his dad. His dad was very sad that his son had died and said God gives and God takes.

Currently, at his age, he says it is time for him to slow down some, but he still enjoys planting in his gardens. He goes up to his old home a few weeks a year and helps his son plant in the gardens there. He is happy when they have a good crop. When this happens, it will provide money and food for the family for 4 to 5 months. This takes a burden off of them knowing they will be able to eat for many months.

When I asked him what he needed to help him make his life easier, he laughed and said he was happy. He said maybe some new tools would help him. He loves to see his grandchildren growing and all going to school. It will be the first generation from his family to do so. He said his house is small, but that does not bother him. He sleeps outside in a little room where he stores his tools. This leaves a place on the bed for at least 2 of his grandchildren to sleep in his place. He smiled while talking about them and how much joy they bring to his life.

He and his family attend the Baptist church here in Cazale. He enjoys spending Sundays at church and then with his family. I asked him what things he had planted and harvested over the years. He laughed and said it is a long list. Corn, beans (black, pigeon, lima) grains, bananas, watermelons, roots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. He said beans and corn are the safest crops to plant as they normally do well, but he likes to plant melons, roots and sweet potatoes the best.