First off, I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who donated during last month’s July Bonus Day focused on helping Christa receive a new prosthetic! Total donations (including matching donations via GlobalGiving), we received were about $4K across 22 donors. Our entire SHH team is so incredibly grateful for your generosity and support and we are excited to keep you updated on Christa’s progress throughout the process.
This month, we’re excited to share updates across all of our three pillars (Healthcare, Education, & Young Adult Development) starting first with an update on Christa.
HEALTHCARE: Update on Christa
This month, we want to provide an update on Christa, the young woman we’ve been supporting in her journey to receive a new prosthetic. Due to meeting our fundraising goal, we moved forward with planning and brought in additional expertise to ensure she receives the care she truly needs.
We recently brought on a US Orthopedic Surgeon, now serving as an SHH medical advisor, to offer a second opinion. After reviewing Christa’s imaging, history, and consulting with both the Healing Hands for Haiti team and her original care team, he advised that Christa undergo a corrective surgery prior to being fitted for a new prosthetic.
Her amputation stump lacks sufficient skin coverage, making it impossible to fit a prosthetic without causing chronic pain or serious complications.
In response, Healing Hands referred Christa to a local orthopedic surgeon in Haiti for a comprehensive evaluation. The appointment has taken place, imaging has been completed, and we are now awaiting his final recommendations.
At this point, all signs point to the need for a corrective amputation – a procedure that would reshape her residual limb and allow for safe, pain-free prosthetic fitting down the line. But no action will be taken until the local surgeon’s experience and plan are thoroughly reviewed by the Haiti team and our SHH medical advisors.
We remain committed to Christa’s long-term health, and we ask for continued prayers and support as we help her take the next brave step toward mobility and relief.
See photos from Christa’s visit to the orthopedic doctor and getting imaging done.
EDUCATION: Finishing the School Year Against All Odds
While Port-au-Prince has faced escalating unrest, our university students have remained remarkably focused and determined.
Their achievements are extraordinary given the conditions. Gangs raided university campuses just weeks before finals. Classes were pushed online. Power and internet outages disrupted study schedules.
And yet- they persevered.
Your continued support ensures these students have access to tuition, technology, transportation, and the basic safety net they need to stay on track.
YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT: Learning & Growing
We’ve continued the journey of the 8-month Young Adult Development program. In recent weeks, our focus has been on interpersonal relationships – with interactive workshops on identifying the root causes of conflict and practicing effective communication strategies. The ream has run hands-on simulations using real-life scenarios submitted by the students themselves – putting their new skills into action.
See photos from our most recent sessions:
As we track progress, we’ve also identified several students facing deeper challenges:
To meet these needs, KidsConnectionHaiti is launching a remedial support initiative over the course of the late summer/early fall, which will include:
These students don’t need a miracle – they need consistency, compassion, and a little extra help. And that’s exactly what we intend to give them.
As always, thank you for being part of our journey. Please continue to pray for the well-being of these wonderful children and young adults!
All the best,
Tommy Conner
President, Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti
healthcareforhaiti.com
