Faces of Haiti: Emmanuel

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His name is Emmanuel Sauveur.  He is out of work because he has a metal brace in his leg.  He is a Haitian and this is his story.

Emmanuel lives in Saint Marc with his wife and four children.  He is a construction worker.  A year ago, he was working on a job in Santo Domingo illegally.

“I was working there without a permit,” Emmanuel said.  “It is common for Haitians to cross the border.”

Suddenly a car swept by and struck him.  His leg was crushed.

“The car hit me with a BOOM,” he said, “and I flew up in the air.”

The driver drove off without stopping to inspect the person it had seriously injured.  Emmanuel lay there bleeding until a Dominican man stopped and drove him to the nearest hospital.  The doctor attached a metal prosthetic into his Tibia and Fibula bones.  The brace sticks out of his leg awkwardly, but does the job.

“It’s holding the bone together,” he said.  “It hurts a little bit at the moment.”

Since the accident, Emmanuel has resorted to moving around on crutches.   He has been unable to work, and has had to survive on charity from family.

“My aunt and uncle were giving money to me,” he said, “but since the earthquake they haven’t been giving me anything.  Nowadays, me and my family go days without food.”

Emmanuel is very excited for the day that he can walk again.

“When they take the brace out I will be very happy,” said Emmanuel, “and then I will go back to work.”