Jean-Wendy Update and Reflection–March 13, 2016

 

Jean-Wendy and his mother Edeline in Pedernales (March 13, 2016)

Jean-Wendy is the blind and deaf toddler who was living in a refugee camp near Anse-a-Pitres.

I posted on Jean-Wendy’s deplorable situation here.

Jean-Wendy (Photo by John Carroll–January 24, 2016)

He is now living in Pedernales, Dominican Republic. (Pedernales is just across the border from Anse-a-Pitres.) We are deciding how to address his complex medical and social situations.

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I have to be very careful in situations like this.

To be surrounded by thousands of people living in Haiti in horrid circumstances can dull one’s senses. I have to be very careful not to get trapped into thinking something is acceptable due to the fact that I see so much of it. I can’t allow my brain and my defense system trick me.

It is not ok to think, “well they are used to it” or “they have a high pain threshold.” And it is not ok to think, “gee whiz, the Haitians are such happy people even though they have so little.” (I do this all the time…)

These notions are all superficial and unacceptable because it gives me a way out. It gives us all a way out.

One can see in the grainy photo above that Jean-Wendy and his mom are real human beings. They dress up nicely.  And yes, they do feel pain. But more importantly they feel happiness when given a chance.

John A. Carroll, MD

www.haitianhearts.org