Hello, I’m Guy, and I’ve been part of the RHFH family for several years now. I have several jobs that i do at RHFH. One of those I’m entrusted with a crucial responsibility – driving a vehicle to transfer patients to other hospitals. Every day brings its own challenges and triumphs, but there’s one particular journey that stands out vividly in my memory.

Among the countless patients I’ve transported, one young man, Esterlin, left an indelible mark on me. When he arrived at our clinic, his knee was alarmingly swollen, leading us to initially suspect an abscess. However, further medical examinations, including X-rays and scans, uncovered a devastating diagnosis – cancer.

Esterlin’s needed to be transferred to a hospital where he could commence his cancer treatment, a journey I was entrusted to accompany him on, all the way to Port-au-Prince. He went for treatments and then had to have his leg amputated. It was a difficult time for him as he did not have any support from his family. We were able to spend time talking on our trips to town. Yet, our path was fraught with peril. The country was in turmoil, with blocked roads due to gunfire, protests, and even dangerous stone-throwing incidents. Navigating through this chaos was difficult, you have to have a strong heart to do this kind of work.

Throughout Esterlin’s hospitalization, I was a witness to the unwavering support provided by the RHFH team. They not only tended to his medical needs but also offered invaluable emotional and financial assistance. Despite the tumultuous times during the country’s unrest, they remained steadfast in accompanying Esterlin to his chemotherapy sessions, ensuring his journey toward recovery was not traversed alone, even as we exercised caution to safeguard ourselves amidst the turmoil.

This experience showed for me the profound depth of care and compassion embodied by the RHFH team. I am glad that I was able to be a part of Esterlin’s story. Caring for a person many times takes a team of people and it is not only the medical part that touches a person. It’s moments like these that reaffirm my love for my job, knowing that I’m part of a team that makes a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.

Esterlin lost his battle to cancer in Dec of 2019. We count it a privilege that we were able to know him and be a small part of his life.