A woman came to a group of missionaries at the local orphanage to seek help for her daughter’s burns. Underqualified and unprepared, a Vandal set out to do what he could.
Cruz Botello, a senior studying sociology at the University of Idaho, said the girl’s right arm and left leg were covered in first through third degree burns after she had a seizure and fell into a fire.
“We used what we had — we came with a small amount of burn cream, some bandages, some wrap and that’s it,” he said. “We, a bunch of underqualified college students, are trying to treat these wounds that you would probably be put out for.”
Courtesy Photo
Senior Cruz Botello poses with some of the boys he spent time with during his summer trip to Haiti.
The missionaries gave her just two Tylenol before pouring clean water on the burns to remove the caked-on clay, which the girl’s family had smeared on her to avoid exposure to air, he said. While the girl’s burns were being tended to, Botello said his job was to distract her by flirting.
Even with a language barrier and her significant pain, he said he was still able to get her to smile.
This was just one of the many touching moments Botello experienced as part of his service in Haiti 180, a religious humanitarian organization dedicated to shaping a bright future for Haiti. The organization’s mission, according to their website, “is to create the opportunity to form well educated leaders of faith for the future of Haiti and to make sure every child in our care has a childhood that is filled with love and joy.”
Volunteers are required to cover the cost of airfare and $1000, according to their website. Supporters are also urged to donate to help sustain their humanitarian efforts.
To accomplish their goal, they’ve worked on projects like building orphanages, schools, an elderly person’s homes and they are currently working on a clinic.
“Last year a woman died from something as simple as an ear infection — and that’s just not alright,” Botello said. “There’s a man that swings by the orphanage from time to time. He had most of his leg amputated because he had gangrene on one of his toes. It’s something that, when you see it, you realize how unacceptable that is. The standard of health and medical care needs to be raised.”
They’ve obtained funding for building and equipping the clinic that will provide care for Haitians in Duverger and Dandann, two villages, but they still need roughly $150,000 to fund housing and amenities for doctors and missionaries, their website said.
Botello said he was encouraged to serve in Haiti by his friend and fellow Vandal, Gabrielle Brookshier.
She has served there annually since 2014, amounting to a one-week mission and two two-week ones, he said, and has raised money for wells to provide clean water to the area.
Having been involved in volunteer work since he started helping at St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores in middle school, Botello said he wants to dedicate his life to service.
Although it is a religious aid effort, Botello said anyone is welcome to serve.
With new mission groups always coming in and out and most only staying for a week, he said he feared the children would be stressed by the constant exposure to new people. Despite this fear Botello said he said he only saw their appreciation.
“Honestly it doesn’t show,” he said. “When you’re connecting with these kids you just see joy. They’re just thankful that somebody’s there running around with them, playing with them, caring for them, sharing time with them.”
Kyle Pfannenstiel can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @pfannyyy