A Haitian Wedding
I am relaying this story for a friend of mine. Their wedding has been upended by the earthquake and they are trying to win a free wedding through a contest (vote for them here: http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/29409) and their story is below: We met while working with a local humanitarian organization (N.O.A.H.) who brought Howard University medical students for the first time in 2006 to Haiti for their annual medical mission. We began talking mid way through the trip, hit it off and have been together since. We nourished our relationship with long expensive talks on the phone, cards in the mail and 2-3 vacation visits per year. In 2008 on my 28th birthday, while vacationing and celebrating my graduation from medical school, Duquesne proposed. It was the best day of our lives, not to mention it was exactly the ring I wanted!!! I started residency that July and every vacation I was given we spent together. Life as a resident is not only taxing but few know that we make very little money. Our trips became shorter and cheaper. We always visited either in the Dominican Republic and/or Haiti. As time went on, it was in Haiti, sometimes without electricity and/or mosquito repellent...ahahahah!! Since Duquesne is "young", per the American government, it has been extremely difficult getting a tourist visa for him to visit the states. We decided the best thing to do would be for me to apply for a fiancé visa to ensure his arrival in the states sooner rather than later. In December 2009 our application was approved by the American government. The US Embassy in Haiti mailed Duquesne his interview packet 4 days before the earthquake. We were on the phone when it sounded like the phone fell off of the counter and we were disconnected. I tried several times to get through unsuccessfully. After I arrived at work for my night shift, his cousin called to tell me not to look on the TV and/or internet because there was a horrible earthquake in Haiti. He ensured me Duquesne was ok but just shaken up. I immediately called him on the phone and we spoke for just a moment. The following hours turned into days without speaking to him. I was glued to CNN, sleeping for less than 2 hours per day while still going to work. Aftershock, upon aftershock, upon aftershock, with gruesome photographs of the devastation and death toll plagued my dreams. Each waking moment was agonizing for me until finally 2 days later I was able to speak with him. His voice was weak and drenched with sorrow. He kept uttering “when can I wake from this nightmare”. He tried to visit his father and stumbled upon several corpses of men, women and children. Houses to his left and right were collapsed. The walls of the house had partially crumbled leaving them vulnerable to any potential desperate predators. He was overwhelmed with sorrow for his country and countrymen. I insisted on going to be with him and he begged for me to stay. He didn't want me to witness the horrific sites in the streets of Haiti. I listened only for the first 2 weeks. I lost about 7 pounds and was stricken with fatigue when I finally made the decision to take leave from work. It was hard to remain focused with such personal anguish. I often welcomed midnight deliveries, transports from outside NICUs, and difficult patients to free my mind and give it a purpose. Unfortunately, it was taking an emotional, physical and spiritual toll on me. My job graciously allowed me to take leave. Again, for those that don't know, residents make very little money, so our next obstacle was how are we going to pay for my trip!!! Without blinking, I charged my plastic hero all night with airline tickets, checking bags, booking hotels in the Dominican Republic and trying to secure a seat on the bus to Haiti. I was blessed by several co-workers with support that I will be eternally grateful. My dad accompanied me to Haiti and we peered through the dusty windows at the perimeters of the aftermath. Driving into Port-au-Prince was almost like a ride at Universal Studios with huge buildings now piles of rocks and debris. Tent cities in open plains and blocking street ways with signs in French, English and Spanish reading “We need help”.. All nations represented trying to help make a difference. Duquesne greeted me with happiness jaded by grief for his people. I saw the sorrow in his eyes and felt the vulnerability of his embrace as he fell into my arms. We donated medical supplies to a nearby Children's Hospital receiving aid from German physicians. Later in the week we visited one of the biggest ghettos in Port-au-Prince to pick up aid from a food bank which we gave to his friends and family who lost everything. The aid lines were so long, people would wait for days just for a couple of pounds of rice and water. I found myself just handing out cash and hugs to comfort their insurmountable losses. Every few days the ground rumbles producing crippling fears in the Haitian people of more devastation from earthquakes. My only consolation is that he is safe for now. Our paperwork processing is being suspended while the Embassy gets back on its feet. They have not rescheduled his interview but will resume at the end of February, early March. We spent so much money trying to bring me to Haiti, provide aid for others and trying to help expedite his process. We were successful in 2 of the 3. Our wedding was planned for September 2010 but money is so scarce now that our finances cannot support our budget. Duquesne lost his job and is having difficulty finishing up business that was intended to bring in money for our wedding. We ask you to consider our story and vote to help us start our lives together with a bang. God saved his life and we deserve to have our happily ever after that begins with our dream wedding. Please go the link on this page and vote. Voting ends March 31, 2010. The 50 couples with the most votes will be finalists for the Ultimate Wedding. Then the top 10 couples with the most votes will get a certain amount of points from their votes, the creativity in their entry, etc. Or you can follow this link to ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/29409. We need your help!!!! God Bless and thanks again for everything!!