In 2010, an earthquake struck Haiti affecting approximately 3 million people. Roughly 250,000 lives were lost and 300,000 people were injured. While Haiti has struggled with poor health for generations, the health system was further affected by the 2010 earthquake, which demolished 50 health centers, part of Haiti’s primary teaching hospital, and the Ministry of Health.
This photo essay follows Nicole Lee Grehn, a Registered Nurse from Wisconsin, United States, and a Limb Kind Foundation Motivational Amputee Mentor. While visiting Haiti as an amputee mentor, Nicole, and members of Limb Kind’s team, were invited by Mission of Hope’s medical outreach program [MOPS] to join them as they made daily rounds of wellness checks in neighboring villages. Nicole is an above the knee bilateral amputee. When patients saw her ably walking with to their front doors in her prosthesis, they were surprised to see her, as well as to discover that she was going to be their attending nurse for the day. After a moment of introductions, patients quickly opened up to Nicole, as she checked their vital signs and prescribed medication, while engaging each patient in meaningful conversation. Her primary role with Limb Kind’s team was as an amputee mentor for the children receiving prosthesis, but by participating the medical outreach program as a nurse, she happened to become a community role model – an example of how to live a full life – regardless of one’s challenges. Nicole demonstrated to community residents and the children of Haiti, that nothing should stand in their way from achieving their goals.
Images from this photo essay were taken using natural lighting on February 3rd through February 8th, 2019, in Ti Tanyin, Ouest, Haiti.
Photography by Matilde Simas
Written by Mim Paquin
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