Mickerlina: Finding Joy in the Details That Help Others

Mickerlina began working at Real Hope for Haiti in December 2022. Since then, she has become an important part of the clinic team, helping make sure the work happening every day is carefully documented and understood.

Mickerlina works with the clinic charts and patient information. Each day, she puts the charts in numerical order and files them in the filing cabinets. She also keeps track of the illnesses being seen in the clinic and the information recorded in the patients’ charts. By organizing this information, she helps RHFH identify trends in illnesses and understand the needs of the patients we serve.

Her work also helps us prepare reports for the government and for those who follow and support the work of RHFH. Although much of her work happens behind the scenes, it plays an important role in helping us understand what is happening in the clinic and how we are serving our community.

One of the things Mickerlina enjoys most about her job is working with the numbers. She likes looking at the information from the clinic and following trends in illnesses and patients. For her, the numbers tell a story about the people coming through our doors.

But there is one patient story she says she will never forget.

One day, a pregnant woman arrived at the clinic very sick. She had eclampsia, was unconscious, and was having seizures. Her family was frightened and did not know what to do.

The RHFH staff immediately came together.

Each person had a role to play. Some cared for the patient and gave medications. Others comforted and helped the family. Others worked to arrange transportation and get her to another hospital where she could receive the specialized care she needed.

Mickerlina remembers watching the entire team work together to help this mother.

“One person could not have helped her well by themselves,” she explains. “But when we all worked together, we were able to get her the help she needed.”

The mother survived, and so did her baby.

For Mickerlina, that experience showed her the true strength of teamwork. Every person at RHFH has a different responsibility, but each role matters. Whether someone is caring for a patient, giving medication, comforting a family, arranging transportation, or carefully recording information, everyone contributes to the work of saving lives.

Mickerlina is also a mother herself. She has one biological child and one adopted child. She lives with her family in a five-room home and is grateful to have a job that allows her to provide for her children and family.

“I like having a job where I can provide for my family and children,” she says.

Mickerlina enjoys living in Cazale because of the water and the many shady areas. She also appreciates being part of a community where RHFH is helping so many people, especially children suffering from malnutrition.

Her faith is an important part of her life as well. Mickerlina is a Christian and attends the Catholic Church in Cazale.

When asked what she would like people to pray for, her answer reaches beyond herself and her work.

She asks that we pray for Haiti—for peace and safety for everyone.

Mickerlina’s work may happen quietly, behind filing cabinets, charts, and numbers, but those numbers represent real people. Every chart represents a child, a mother, a father, or a family who came looking for help.

And Mickerlina is grateful to be one part of the team helping RHFH care for them.