Return2Haiti – Child Emergency Plea

Time is of critical importance for a boy named

Discerne (Duce`ne)

 

 

by Cynthia & Pierre Balthazar (co-founders of Return To Haiti)

December 2018

 

Ducene is a teenage boy who lives in Haiti, whose health and poverty has kept him out of school all of his life.

Over 6 years ago he got an infection in his leg, now it is in his bone and he cannot even bend his knee.  For 6 years he never had the opportunity to go to the doctor.  He watches as other kids play soccer, go to school and run and play.  Some days his mother does not have enough food to feed him and his 4 brothers.

In January 2018, the founders of Return To Haiti had a doctor and two nurses traveling to Haiti with them.  They met Ducene and after two doctors opinions that he needed to go to a hospital 5 hours away.  Donors and R2H members paid for him to get medical care;  x-rays, lab tests, have 2 surgeries and medications until May 2018.  When he was released from Partners In Health Hospital, where Ducene lives, he was told that he could return home to the southern shores of Haiti, to his small village of Belle Anse.  The hospital had done what they could.

Now, Ducene is extremely ill.  We feel if he does not get to the United States for medical care, it is likely he will not survive, much longer.

 

The photo on the left was taken in January 2018.            The photo on the right was taken in December 2018.

       

 

As you can see, his bone infection (Osteomyelitis) is spreading and is much worse than it was in October. We have been working with the University of Michigan’s M Charity program, a Healthcare program that pays for the healthcare for children in great need.  We just found out that this program has been suspended, which means that Return to Haiti will need to cover all expenses for his medical bills.  A sponsor for his travel from Port-au-Prince to Detroit has been found, but he still needs money to cover his medical care while at the UofM.  As you can see, there is a lot of red tape, but he is a very sick boy who doesn’t have time to spare.

Please join us in donating, fundraising, matching funds from your employer or sponsoring Ducene’s healthcare directly.  This boy is very, very dear to us and our hearts are aching to help him to get the proper healthcare.  We appreciate your consideration to be a part of helping Ducene. Every dollar helps.   Thank you.

 

To Donate, go to our donate button at the bottom of our Home page on this website or go to Ducene’s story on or FB page https://www.facebook.com/return2haiti/  Sept. 17, 2018.

Update on our young friend Ducene.In January 2018, Return To Haiti met Ducene. After years of an unattended bone infection, donors and Return2Haiti paid for him to get medical care; x-rays, lab tests, surgery and medications until May 2018. When he was released from Partners In Health Hospital, several hours from where Ducene lives, he was told that he could return home to the southern shores of Haiti, in a small village called Belle Anse. The hospital had done what they could for him. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, DUCENE IS VERY ILL. We feel that the tragedy is that if he does not get to the United States for care, it is likely he will not survive much longer.As you can see, the infection is spreading and is much worse than it was in October. We have been working with the University of Michigan’s M Charity program, a Healthcare program that pays for the healthcare for children in great need. We just found out that this program has been suspended, which means that Return to Haiti will need to find funding for all expenses for his medical bills. A wonderful person has offered to pay for his travel from Port-au-Prince to Detroit, but he still needs money to cover his medical care while at the UofM. We are also hoping that one of our senators in Michigan can help us to expediate his medical visa. As you can see, there is a lot of red tape, but HE IS A VERY SICK BOY, WHO TRULY DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO SPARE.The following photographs below have been taken this year. The last photo in the slideshow was taken in December 2018, here you can see how much the infection has spread.Please join us in donating, fundraising, matching funds from your employer or sponsoring Ducene’s healthcare directly. This boy is very, very dear to us and our hearts are aching to help him to get the proper healthcare. We appreciate your consideration to be a part of helping Ducene.It’s not every day that we get to save someone’s life.Every dollar helps. Thank you.

Posted by Return2Haiti on Monday, December 17, 2018

Return To Haiti Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.  The organization’s website is written as Return2Haiti.org.  All donations made are tax deductible.

Co-founders: Cynthia & Pierre Balthazar, Lansing, MI. 48917