A Race Against Time

Thirteen-year-old Wadnerson fell while playing soccer with his friends. He suddenly couldn’t eat or even go to the bathroom. 

His father, Mr. Rousselin, took him to two different hospitals near their home at the tip of Haiti’s southern peninsula. Neither place had the resources to help. Doctors recommended they go to St. Boniface Hospital, but the journey would take more than four hours on rough, mountainous roads. Wadnerson’s stomach was now swelling, and the pain was becoming unbearable. The pair had no choice—they had to make the trip, or Wadnerson might die.

By the time father and son arrived, Wadnerson’s condition was dire. Our ER staff found he was suffering from a complete intestinal blockage and rushed him to our surgical center. Because we have surgeons available around the clock, our team was able to operate on Wadnerson right away to resolve the obstruction. Soon, he was recovering in our post-op ward. 

“After the operation, everything went well,” Mr. Rousselin said. “I congratulate the hospital for all of the care they gave Wadnerson. And I will ask God to bless them and protect them, because a thank you is not enough.”