Legacy part 2: we were too late.... she died

Thinking of legacy right now. And what really counts. I once heard it like this: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”. Here is the second part of two legacy moments.  

She died.

Same age as my boy.

I met her on the one day that I arrived at that hospital. On that exact day. Being in a different country. Just dropping in.

The doctor hovered over her body and said:

"We know what to do. We have the skills and training. We have the doctors. We just don't have the tools.... it is a good month we have money to get through it"

Just following we went to clear not just one but three containers that were stuck in ports full of medical equipment for this hospital that I had a very minor part in getting to this place. All of a sudden these container seemed like maybe there was hope in saving this girl's life.

(here's a video that I made following this encounter at that exact time)

She didn't make it. That following morning after unloading and that very same doctor coming back and seeing all the amazing equipment that came out of those containers (he was so thrilled and struck by it all). It was amazing to see. When all the excitemnet had died down I asked about the girl we met only 24 hours before. He shook his head (it could have been a seen in a film).

For all we did we failed that girl. Why didn't we listen more, treat this as more urgent... why didn't I try harder. I had the choice.

I'm not trying to beat myself up, but these were many of the thoughts and feelings that this girl taught me in that precise moment riding in the back of that truck.

I'm not much of a crying person. But I remember those tears in that truck. Each one.

This weekend my colleague and good friend (godfather to one of my boys) sent me a photo of a few of those items that came out of those containers (incubators) that have gone on to help many others since.

Here's his post on looking back 9 years ago.

#Legacy

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I first visited the @hopehealthaction hospital in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 with @solon1975 following a donation of incubators for premature babies, and have been back a number of times filming for the hospital and for @walkaboutorg on wheelchair distributions. Some of the many highlights over that time include filming one of the first caesarian sections in the brand new surgery in 2013, and following spinal cord injured patients from the earthquake go on to complete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. It’s been an absolute joy to be back here again this week. Seeing those same incubators in action, and meeting the same dedicated staff providing first class healthcare in a near impossible situation. Much of this week Haiti has been in flames yet their service never stops. . . . . #prospectarts #filmmaking #paralympics

A post shared by Thomas Williams (@_thomas_williams) on Oct 11, 2019 at 2:17pm PDT