Dieudonne is a 54 year old woman that was born in a village called Robino, about a 3 hour walk from the clinic here in Cazale.  She has 4 sisters who live in different areas of Haiti.  Her only brother died many years ago with a bad fever.  Her first child died around 1990, when he was around 7 years old.  He got sick over time – weak, bedridden, losing weight – and they were never able to diagnose his illness let alone start any treatment.  She also had 3 boys and 1 girl.  Her girl is now 35 years old and works in a restaurant in Chile.  Her next child is 33 years old and works for RHFH as a gate guard in the clinic and CTC.  Her younger boys are 20 and 18 years old and they are still in finishing up school.  She has 7 grandkids.  Her mother and father died five and six years ago.

She lives in a 2 room home that she owns made of cinder block and cement with a tin roof.  They have a bathroom, shower, and kitchen as other out buildings near the house.  She lives in the house with 2 of her kids and one grandchild.

She started working for RHFH in 2011 in the CTC as a hygienist.  She made sure the patients, beds, and building stayed as clean as possible.  She helped weak patients walk, bathe, and eat.  She assisted the nurses and answered questions from patients and family.  After the cholera outbreak slowed and we did not need as many workers, she remained on as a part-time employee.  She was always willing to do whatever was needed, but mostly worked one-on-one with patients that were critical and staying with us at the clinic.  These cases varied, but some included wound care, diabetics, stroke, post-op patients, and hospice/cancer patients.  There was never a job she refused and always went above and beyond to make the patients feel comfortable, respected, and human regardless of their illness or deformity.  She also covers for nannies when they go on vacation.  These last three months she has been working for a full-time clinic custodian as she was on pregnancy leave. 

She has noticed that since COVID-19 has come it has made many people scared of all clinics and hospitals.  They have lost what little confidence they had in the healthcare system.  She hears people who think that they will be used as practice for testing a vaccine.  Other say that they will be taken away and put in a building and not let out like prison.  She understands their fears but tries to encourage people to seek care.  This is happening all over Haiti and it makes her sad.

The one thing that would help her in her work is to have more days to work.  Since she is a part-time employee, her work varies depending on need. 

She will always remember one lady that was a diabetic with a severe hand wound.  Her uncontrolled blood sugars had done lots of damage to her body and she had developed a massive wound to her hand.  She refused to amputate it and came to RHFH for help about 5 years ago.  After admitting her, we called Dieudonne to help her.  The patient was in lots of pain and unable to do much for herself.  She had no family with her.  Dieudonne assisted with most daily living tasks, encouraged her as we tried to balance her blood sugars, and stayed by her side as the needed but painful debriding and dressing changes where done.  In the end, the patient recovered with her hand intact, but limited movement.  They became good friends over the months she was at the clinic.  Even later after the patient went home, Dieudonne would go see her at her house when she went to her town.  Dieudonne was so happy to be a part of her healing and recovery.

There is no typical daily schedule or tasks for Dieudonne like other RHFH employees.  Her talent of flexibility is put to the test each time we call her for a new job.  It could last one day or three months.  It could be one-on-one care or cleaning a storage room.  She does not mind and enjoys the variety.

Her job helps her to send her kids to school and buy food for the house to eat.  Her job helps others when she is able to be a part of the team that brings them health and healing.  She especially likes it when those patients she is caring for that are bedridden begin to get better and start to sit, stand, and walk.  Her job is able to help others to live and move around again. 

She likes to live in Cazale because her friends live here and she likes the people here.  She thinks that the biggest need in the village is a good road.

She attends the Catholic church and asks that you pray for good health and provision for her and her family.