JEAN CHARLES AND FAMILY

Quake took his siblings – but not his will to walk

UPDATE: Viviane Petit-Frere and her 12-year-old son, Hans Charles, started over in the United States after the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti killed Petit-Frere’s three daughters and destroyed all their possessions. Doctors have worked hard to save Hans’ foot, wounded in the quake. They continue to reside with Hans’ father’s relatives in Boynton Beach. According to their nominating agency, Quantum House, they have received toys, games, clothing, gift cards and a holiday party (hosted by the agency). Additionally, $5,610 in cash donations was sent directly to the agency for this family.
Nominated by The Quantum House.

By DAPHNE DURET
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

BOYNTON BEACH — When Viviane Petit-Frere caught the first glimpse of her Port-au-Prince home that day in January, the 47-year-old mother of four fell to her knees, her hands gripping her head as she cried out in horror.
Her voice still broke recently as she described the moment she realized the earthquake had collapsed the three-story building where the children inside awaited her return from the market.
When she stopped talking and stared out the window of a relative’s home in Boynton Beach, her 12-year-old son Hans interrupted, cupping his hand to his mouth as he whispered in her ear.
“Don’t cry,” he said.

Of Petit-Frere’s four children, Hans was the only one who survived.
For an entire day, Petit-Frere heard her oldest daughter Marlie cry out from beneath the rubble.
“She was yelling ‘I’m not dead yet, please save me,’” Petit-Frere said. “After that she didn’t say anything.”
The 13-year-old was dead by the time rescuers got to her. Next to her they found the body of Petit-Frere’s youngest, a 6-year-old girl. The body of her 10-year-old daughter was never recovered.

Hans lay trapped for two days under debris crushing his legs. Doctors in Haiti and Florida at times told his parents they would have to amputate his left foot. A gangrenous infection on that foot three months ago landed Hans in the pediatric intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
But after several painful surgeries, both legs are intact and he is learning to walk again. Hans, his mother, and his father, Jean Charles, live with Charles’ relatives.

The family lacks transportation to take Hans to his medical appointments and barely afford bus passes. Petit-Frere would like to take courses to become a certified nurse’s aide.
For Christmas, Hans’ biggest wish is the same thing he’s had every year — a birthday party. Hans was born Christmas Day.
Last year in Haiti, his older sister organized his party, his mother said. She was his favorite sibling.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he says. “I don’t cry. I don’t want to cry.”
But Hans smiles when he imagines what his dream party would be — a gathering full of decorations, a feast of Haitian and American food, family and friends his age. He wants a remote control car with a camera inside, and though he also wants a Playstation 2 and an iPod, he doesn’t want to ask for the gifts because he thinks they are too expensive.
“I just really like gifts,” he says. “You can give me the smallest thing and I like it.”

CHARLES’S WISH
Viviane Petit-Frere and her 12-year-old son Hans started over in the United States after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti killed Petit-Frere’s three daughters and destroyed all their possessions. Doctors have almost amputated Hans’ foot several times and he has undergone extensive surgeries to repair injuries to his legs, which were crushed in the earthquake. Mother and son joined Hans’ father Jean Charles in the U.S. They are staying with Charles’ relatives in Boynton Beach, but need rent money for their own apartment, bus fare to get Hans to his doctors’ appointments, employment for Petit-Frere and Charles, and food and clothing.

NOMINATED BY
The Quantum House, 901 45th St., West Palm Beach, FL 33407. (561) 494-0515 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (561) 494-0515      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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