by Abby Gwaltney
Meeting Jennifer feels like catching up with an old friend. Perhaps that’s what makes her a great nurse. She’s one of those people who instantly makes you feel comfortable. So comfortable in fact, that on several occasions CCH Clinic Coordinator Melissa Jean-Bart accidentally spoke to Jennifer in Kreyol instead of English when they worked together at the Surgical Center!
I met with Jennifer (by phone) this week to talk about her volunteer work and giving history with CCH. And I wanted to share a little of her story with you because I found it so inspiring!
Jennifer with surgical team member, Enid Tatum – photo bombed by Melissa Jean-Bart (left) and Larry Walker (right) 
Jennifer preps a recovery bay for the next patient at the CCH Jim Wilmot Surgical Center 
Jennifer discusses patient care with surgical team members and translators
“I grew up in poverty here in the U.S.,” says Jennifer, “I even ended up homeless at age 20. But other people helped me and I promised myself I’d give back when I could. My job as a nurse allows me to do that now. I can give up a cup of coffee a day for people in Haiti.”
Jennifer has traveled to Haiti with CCH more than four times to volunteer with surgical teams and provide pro bono surgical care for patients in Haiti. She loves being in Haiti. “The CCH team was so accepting and welcoming,” Jennifer says fondly. “I love the feeling of camaraderie when people come together like a well-oiled machine to care for patients. And I appreciate the respect that nurses are given in Haiti.”
She’s also a CCH “one by one sustainer” monthly donor, directing her giving toward healthcare. Even when she can’t be in Haiti serving patients directly, each and every month, she’s enabling our healthcare staff to do so. Jennifer also utilizes her hospital employee match program to double her charitable giving to CCH.
In addition to her nursing job at a hospital in Maryland, Jennifer also teaches nursing at a community college. She is excited to share her experiences in Haiti with her students, who are fascinated to hear stories and see pictures from Haiti. It’s one more “full circle” moment in her life, because it was her former teacher and mentor, Mary Packard at Notre Dame University, who introduced her to CCH and invited her on her first trip to Haiti in 2016.
I’m so glad that Jennifer is part of the Coalition. And I hope you’ll consider following in her footsteps as a monthly donor. She is showing us the many ways you can make a difference close to home and across the world. “I give back in the States and Haiti – another place I love,” says Jennifer.
“You truly get back what you give,” she says. Working for CCH and seeing the lives we transform in Haiti, I couldn’t agree more.
