|
I first met Evans Joicin in Port au Prince (PaP) on January 12, 2010 at about 4:30 p.m.. I had just stepped out of the door leading away from airport security to meet the FSIL School of Nursing (SON) staff who would take me to Leogane, Haiti. Evans closed the distance between us immediately and took my hand in a warm greeting; I was instantly impressed by this tall, professional, courteous young man with a generous smile. In my wildest imaginings, I would never have conceived the role that this polite, quite and handsome young man would play in my life.
Even today, some many weeks later, I have yet to be able to capture the words that can adequately describe the respect, the bond and the caring that was created in those hours I would spend in the school of nursing van traversing the ravages of the earthquake that hit the moment the van door was closed. Sitting inside the van - next to Evans on one side and Martha on the other, I looked at the airport - and I looked at Evans, Martha, Lade and Delvin and knew that I could chose to get out of the van and stay at the airport or go with them. I went with them. Going with them was a decision I will never regret - except for what it put my family though over those four terrible days of not knowing if I was alive.
Evans was amazing - getting out to 'scout ahead', to help guide over obstacles, to stop and ask others about the path ahead, to help direct the lunacy that was 'traffic' and then to take his turn at driving a course that Mario Andretti would have had difficulty traversing. When we were stalled along the road just outside of Cite Soleil for over an hour, Evans and Martha did not leave my side. I knew that if we were to survive the night, I was in the best place with the best people possible.
We would share tape and Betadine and discuss what to do. Mostly, Evans took his skills into the city - the village of Leogane - to people who could not make it into the safety of the SON's grounds.
His same quiet and strong professionalism helped all who had the good fortune to be cared for by Evans. None will understand those days, but those of us who shared them. I am deeply proud that Evans Joicin is a part of my life - that he was one with whom I traveled into the dark heart of the January 12, 2010 earthquake.
He continues to work with the people of Haiti and the terrible aftermath of the quake that was both a natural disaster and a disaster of social injustice. Without complaint he carries his bright mind, strong heart and capable hands of care to the people of Leogane, Haiti day-after-day....we can count on Evans Joicin - a true leader - a hero of Haiti.
sare.michele@gmail.com