James Citel's Medical/Travel Costs

James Citel is an eighteen-year-old who currently resides in Montrouis, Haiti with his two younger siblings and single mother in Haiti.

I met James on my last outreach trip to Haiti in 2016. At the time he was recovering from surgery in which his femur was repaired from a devastating motorcycle crash. 




Read James' Story in his own words here. 

James successfully underwent a successful surgery which left him with metal rods to support the bone growth which will later need to be removed upon additional funding. 



Anywhere in the world, let alone in third world Haiti,  you'd be lucky to live to see the other side after such a fatal crash, especially if you are unfortunate enough to be on the motorbike during the collision.
Luckily, James' mother was able to get him to the local hospital in time. Unfortunately, life is not that simple in Haiti. It is not a place where you can simply be taken to a hospital and tended to. The payment for James' surgery had to have been paid upfront, or else doctors would leave him to bleed out. It’s regular practice for doctors to refuse care to those in need if payment cannot be provided, even if the presented illnesses or injuries are life-threatening. 

Read more on the brutality of Haitian hospitals here

James' mother was quick to act. Sourcing a $1,000 USD loan from a local business owner to help finance his surgery. For James' protection, the lender will remain unnamed.

A loan that is still outstanding today, and due on January 1st, 2018

If that loan goes unpaid at such date. James will be held indefinitely in prison until his debt is repaid. 
Prison as a young vulnerable male is not an easily survivable experience.

Read more on the Haitian prison system here.

With little to no resources in Haiti, James struggles to provide for his family. With some person financial assistance, James has been able to keep his family afloat. However, he has been unable to repay any of the loan itself. 

It is needless to say that James needs help in this desperate, chaotic time for himself and his family. As a donor, you would be contributing to not only his present, but his future. 

In conjunction with a private donor. There is an independent orphanage currently being built, set to finish later this year, which James will be looked to lead as the head local director. James has developed passions both in the worlds of art/digital and more importantly uplifting his local community in any, and every way.  All of which cannot come to fruition if he cannot overcome this obstacle in his immediate future. 


WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
Our goal is $1,600 CAD. This amount would cover the cost of the outstanding loan (accounting for currency conversion), the GoFundMe fee, and will give James a small head start on saving for his next surgery. This next surgery would remove the metal out of his leg, and ideally, will take place in the U.S, where proper care is more readily provided. However, an application is required in order for James to receive surgery in the U.S, so the remaining $250CAD would help in this area specifically. Any additional funds raised will go towards his next surgery to remove the metal rods and return him to full health. 

As North Americans, we are lucky enough to have health care institutions where medical aid is readily available to great percentages of the population. James is not so lucky to live here. Please help me help him; any amount is greatly appreciated

Aside from the GoFundMe fee, there is no money being taken off the top for anything of any nature. 100% of proceeds go towards the cause. 

I ask you to help and come together as a much more fortunate community in Canada and the United States to fund what may seem like a small sum of funds for a simple cause. But in the life of a young Haitian James Citel, is truly both life-changing, and saving. 

Thank you in advance. With your contribution, we can continue to help and uplift this struggling community, one leader at a time.

Feel free to email / text / call me if you have any additional questions. 

Joss Biggins
@jossbiggins
[email redacted]
604-314-7437










James' younger sister Acémène (Left) and 
younger brother Loxêne (right)



James and I outside his home in Haiti 




James helping to install a water filtration system for his family last year.