Hi SHH Community,
I hope this message finds you well! Today, I want to share a story that highlights how your generosity has helped provide relief to a young woman’s life, which has been filled with pain.
Meet Christa –
Christa, now 21, is a remarkable young woman living at the Saint Dominique orphanage. Years ago, Christa was rescued from a life of hardship on the streets by Father Charles Moise (founder of the orphanage), where she begged daily for food and money just to survive. Christa was born with a severe clubfoot condition. She’s always had to fend for herself to survive in a country where people with deformities are often treated as outcasts – by other kids, adults, and even teachers. Christa currently is at a 6th grade educational level despite her age.
When a surgery in Haiti to correct her clubfoot went awry, her leg was amputated. A compassionate U.S. family stepped in, sponsoring her for a prosthesis and medical care in the states. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, Christa faced challenges in adjusting and accessing the consistent support she needed and returned to Haiti without the proper Physical therapy.
Her struggles didn’t end there. Two years ago, Christa began experiencing rapid growth of large tumors in both breasts, leading to significant daily pain and emotional distress. Despite numerous obstacles with healthcare in Haiti, we worked with medical advisors from the board and others in the U.S. to ensure she received the necessary biopsies. After a six-month waiting period, just to get a simple biopsy back, we were relieved to learn the tumors were benign though extremely painful for Christa.
With your support, Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti (SHH) arranged for Christa to undergo surgery to remove the large tumors in both breasts. Thanks to the care and coordination of Jodalienne, our dedicated nurse and medical student who also grew up in the orphanage, Christa successfully underwent surgery a few weeks ago. Today, she is smiling, healing well, and beginning to find renewed hope for her future.
Christa’s journey has been one of resilience, courage, and determination. She still faces many challenges—educational gaps, self-confidence struggles, and the need for ongoing medical and emotional support—but your generosity gives her, and others like her, a chance for a brighter tomorrow.
Our next steps in supporting Christa will focus on sourcing and securing a new prosthesis that fits her more comfortably. Her current prosthetic leg (see pictures below) is causing significant pain and is making it difficult for her to walk. Unfortunately, high-quality prosthetics are hard to find and very expensive in Haiti, which presents a challenge.
Key Next Steps:
- Prayers and Encouragement for Christa: Please keep Christa in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers and navigates this new chapter of her life.
- Stay Updated: Look out for regular updates from the Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti team and visit our website to learn more about our history, mission, team, partners, and key initiatives.
- Spread the Word: Share our mission and Christa’s story with your network to inspire others to get connected.
- Donate on GivingTuesday (December 3rd): Mark your calendars and visit our project page on GlobalGiving to make a matched donation that will directly support life-changing work like this. Matches only occur from donations given within the 24 hours of GivingTuesday on December 3rd. Your generosity means more than you can imagine for these amazing kids and young adults!
Your kindness and support fuel our ability to help young adults like Christa. On behalf of the entire Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti board, thank you for believing in our mission and being a part of this journey.
With gratitude and blessings,
Tommy Conner
President, Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti
