I was suffering from that wonderful mix of exhaustion and excitement when I arrived in Port au Prince after the two day trip from Montana to Haiti. Mr. Meurat had met us, taken our passports to facilitate customs and went to fetch our luggage while we headed upstairs to the newly remodeled ‘VIP Lounge’ where jeans and sandals were disallowed. It was well appointed and comfortable with tan leather furniture, beautiful Haitian art and palms and other tropical plants tucked strategically into corners and spaces around the large open upstairs room. 

We didn’t wait long, but we had time to visit with a fellow ‘VIPer’ – a Missionary – from where I don’t recall. We were waiting for the van to come and take me to the SON in Léogâne. My fellow travelers would be going to the Hotel Montana and attend a Board meeting for the hospital in Léogâne, before coming out to the school. It was about 4:45 p.m. when we left the upstairs oasis and made our way through an armed guard airport exit. 

When we saw the white van drive-up, Lade, the school'ss Security Guard at the wheel and Martha and Evans stepping out, a new wave of that tired excitement sent delightful chills up my back. An airport guard let us squeeze out of the door, sure not to let any others in, and we crossed the short distance from the door to the waiting hugs and warm greetings from Martha and Evans. I knew immediately that I would adore Martha. 

She spoke excellent English, was warm, friendly and grateful that we had come. Evans was equally warm and generous with his easy and intelligent charm. After a couple photos and after Lade had loaded my luggage, we tucked into the van – Lade again at the wheel, a new person for whom I didn’t quite get the connection – Delvin – rode in the front and Martha, Evans and I slid into the middle row seat. Then it happened.

The Haitian earthquake of January 12, 2010

This not the story of the quake and the million erratic emotions that filled my being over the next week; this is a story of a remarkable, brave, unselfish, kind, intelligent talented nurse and woman with whom I share a bond that will last my lifetime. 

Martha was there that next day. I heard her call in a tired voice, “Meechele, Meecheel, how are you?” And we hugged and we worked, side-by-side, and we ‘stole’ (shared?) each other’s tape and providone-iodine, and we giggled at the comfort of our friendship and our shared life and desperate need for ‘adhesive’ (tape, ah, tape, tape) and we hugged some more, and we planned and we worked and we worked. 

You can depend on Martha. She is inspiring, well loved by others, a true leader, a strong woman, a gentle spirit, a talented nurse. She kept others organized, supported, helped and guided. And she brought me water! Those funny little plastic bags of ‘reverse osmosis’ drinking water would be tucked into her pocket; she would slide by me amidst the chaos, putrid smells and great human suffering and give me a little plastic bag of water that would keep me going for another few hours. I love Martha; Martha, my cell phone wielding, water carrying, hugging, tape ‘stealing’ (sharing?), beautiful nurse and friend. 

Martha wants to change Haiti for the better; she wants to help her people. In 34 years, I have known few other nurses who could compare to the excellence and leadership that I saw in Martha. What a beauty – and only just graduated! Dear Martha, you are my friend, my hero, a fellow nurse and a beacon illuminating what is possible for the people of Haiti, for care, for nursing…. for our world. I love you my dear friend!