Albert--March 2016

 

Albert–2012 (Photo by John Carroll)

I examined Albert in southern Haiti for the first time in 2012. His village and many nearby villages were being hit hard by cholera.

He was 17 years old and severely cachectic. His skin was covered with sores from scabies.

Albert had a loud heart murmur and was deaf since birth. His language was garbled consistent with being deaf. I wondered if he had the sequelae of congenital rubella acquired from his mother who may have lacked the vaccination.

However, Albert was an incredible artist and he showed me many of his drawings. He was obviously intelligent and wanted to be heard.

Two mission groups took Albert under their wings and moved him to Port-au-Prince. A medical center was found in the States and Albert underwent successful heart surgery and returned to Haiti.

Albert is now living at a school for the deaf and he is thriving. He proved to me once again that you “never say never” when the will to survive is so strong.

Albert ironing with a charcoal iron at his school for the deaf–2016.

 

John A. Carroll, MD

www.haitianhearts.org