A Lifeline in Haiti: Romène's Story

How Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange is Bringing Hope to Patients with Chronic Illnesses

A Bustling Internal Medicine Ward

The internal medicine ward at Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange is bustling with activity. Nurses, dressed in immaculate white, move swiftly from patient to patient, their presence bringing comfort and reassurance. One of them gently supports a man whose face is partially covered with a bandage. He is weak, his movements slow, and the nurse carefully adjusts the sheets on his bed, making sure he is comfortably settled. The regular beep of heart monitors fills the air, while soft voices whisper words of encouragement to patients surrounded by their loved ones. Some have brought food, others sit quietly, simply offering their company.

A Lifeline for Those in Need

In a country where access to healthcare is a luxury few can afford, places like Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange are a lifeline. For Romène, a farmer who has spent her life working the land, this hospital became her only hope. Her once-simple life was upended in an instant.

The Beginning of a Serious Illness

It all started with a simple fever. "I thought it would pass," she says, her eyes distant as she recalls the first signs of her illness. She continued with her daily tasks, unaware that something much more serious was brewing. Days passed, and her condition worsened steadily. Her chest began to swell, and one morning, Romène started coughing up blood. "That's when I really began to fear," she admits, her voice trembling. Her body grew weaker, and the swelling in her chest spread to other parts of her body.

Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange: a Life-Saving Refuge

Romène doesn’t remember her arrival at the hospital. It was her daughter who told her how, after collapsing, she had been rushed to Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange, where the doctors worked to stabilize her. From there, she was transferred to the internal medicine ward, where she has remained for the past two months.

Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange is the first health facility established by Zanmi Lasante. The hospital is a leader in treating chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, kidney failure, and heart disease, which are often neglected in resource-limited regions. In this specialized care environment, patients like Romène find a lifeline through access to long-term care that would otherwise be out of reach.

"I felt so bad, I didn’t think I would survive... I thought I was going to die," Romène confides, her voice barely a whisper. Despite the severity of her illness, she is grateful for the care she has received. The nurses and doctors, she says, treated her as if she were part of their own family. "I was well cared for," she adds with a faint smile.

An Uncertain Future

For Romène, the hospital has been a life-saving refuge, but beneath her gratitude lies deep concern. Before she fell ill, she had planted her beans in July. Others are tending to her fields in her absence, but she is unsure how her crops are faring. "I don’t know if my harvest is still alive," she confesses, her face shadowed with worry.

Her illness, she fears, has changed her life forever. "My heart is too weak," she says with resignation. "I don’t think I’ll be able to work in my fields again." For a woman who has lived off the land her entire life, this is a harsh reality to accept. Yet, despite the uncertainty about her future, Romène holds onto hope. She talks about her crops, her children, and the yams she promises to bring to the hospital staff once she’s able to return home. "I feel better now," she says, even though the heart palpitations and persistent cough that keep her from sleeping are constant reminders of her fragility.

How You Can Help

Romène’s story mirrors that of thousands of others in Haiti, where chronic diseases like hers, often overlooked elsewhere, devastate entire lives. Without Hopital Bon Sauveur de Cange, Romène might not have survived. Thanks to the hospital, she has received life-saving treatment, and with Zanmi Lasante's support, she continues to hope for a future where she can return to her fields and care for her family.

There are thousands of women like Romène, living with chronic illnesses. To give them a chance at receiving the care they need, your support is vital. Without you, lives like Romène’s may be lost. Donate today to help Zanmi Lasante continue offering hope and saving lives. Every contribution makes a difference.

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