Meet Gregory Constant

I'd like to introduce you to Gregory Constant.  He is a 22 year old boy who lives here at St. Helene.  Gregory sees the world from a slightly different perspective than the rest of us because he lives his life in a wheelchair.  When Gregory was seven years old, he remembers walking home from school when all of a sudden he fell down and could no longer feel his legs.  He was paralyzed from his diaphragm down, which means that he had no control of his muscles in his legs, abdomen, bowel, or bladder.  His father did his best to care for Gregory for three long months.  Because Gregory could not walk he quickly developed bedsores, and Gregory's father sought out treatment for him.  By the time he brought Gregory to St. Damien Children's Hospital, it was too late to determine the cause of the paralysis.  Possibly it was caused by an infection in his spinal cord?  We will never know.  Gregory received care at St. Damien Hospital for some time where they treated his wounds.  He was then released back into the care of his father.  After several more years and multiple hospitalizations, Gregory's father determined that he just could not care for him due to the limited resources available here in Haiti.  So Gregory came to live at St. Helene in 1999 when he was eleven years old.  Due to Gregory's condition, he is incontinent of bowel and bladder.  Over the years, he has had several wounds and bedsores, and currently has a colostomy. 

This doesn't stop Gregory.  He is an amazing person.  He is always happy and smiling.  He greets me everyday with a smile and a wave and asks how my day is going.  Gregory has a very strong spirit.  He has big dreams for himself.  Gregory loves to sing and make music.  His biggest aspiration in life would be to go to the United States (or anywhere abroad) where he could finish his education and become a singer.  Unfortunately there are really no opportunities for Gregory here in Haiti.  That is the problem.  Here at St. Helene, we offer schooling up to the ninth grade.  After the kids finish their schooling here, they are moved down to the city where they finish high school and have the opportunity to attend university.  A few years ago, when all Gregory's peers were moved down, Gregory was forced to stay here.  He is very smart, studies hard, and speaks English very well.  He is unable to go to school in the city because there is nowhere that is really handicapped accessible.  Therefore, Gregory would love to go to the United States.  But that is extremely difficult as well.  Just obtaining a visa to travel to the States or attend school there is EXTREMELY difficult, especially if you are Haitian or have any kind of disability.  Then, even if he was to obtain a visa, where would he live?  How would he attend school?  Who would help to pay for it?  It is just not an easy feat.  But everyday Gregory keeps his head up and he holds onto the hope that someday, somehow, his dream will come true.  He is an inspiration to all who have the opportunity to get to know him.