Nearly 30 years ago, I visited Fondwa with a group of Duke students and met Sister Carmelle — a Franciscan nun, a nurse, and a force of nature. She had just arrived in the community with a simple but profound mission: bring healthcare where there was none. She asked us to return with medical teams, and for almost 20 years, we did.

When Sister Carmelle tragically died at age 49, she left us with a final message: “My work here is not done.”

Here is a 4 minute video 'Remembering Sister Carmelle'.

Carrying Her Legacy Forward

2016: Family Health Ministries opened the Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Health Center under the leadership of Dr. Danache, continuing Sister Carmelle’s vision with a focus on cervical cancer prevention and pre/postnatal care.

2020: A labor and delivery suite opened. By the end of 2025, 763 healthy babies had been born there.

2021: FHM hired Rachelle Fabiola Tenor, one of Haiti’s first family nurse practitioners.

2024: A hypertension program launched, and construction began on a surgical suite — completed at the end of 2025.

2026: FHM hired a pediatrician, Dr. Jeffrey Célius, to expand children's health care.

2026: FHM plans to open the Pritts‑Olive Surgical Suite and hire a pediatrician. To reflect its expanding mission, the center is now officially the Carmelle Voltaire Family Health Center.

Remarkably, Dr. Danache has already assembled an on call surgical team, which includes a CRNA, scrub tech and himself to be on call 24/7 to drive up the mountain to do C-sections as soon as the suite opens.

These next steps are bold, necessary, and transformative — and FHM needs help to launch thisnew program.

Why I’m Taking on a Challenge of My Own

In partnership with FHM, four of us — all experienced swimmers between 60 and 75 — are stepping out in faith and pushing our limits. We will attempt a 6‑mile open‑ocean swim from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.  For context, my longest open‑ocean swim is 2.5 miles. (Nevis to St. Kitts)

This is a stretch for all of us, but that’s the point. We want our effort to reflect the courage, resilience, and hope that Sister Carmelle embodied.

How You Can Help

Your support will directly help open the surgical suite, expand pediatric care, and strengthen lifesaving programs in Fondwa.

• Donate: Any amount makes a difference. Truly.

• Spread the Word: Share my fundraising page with friends, family, and your networks. Awareness fuels impact.

Thank you for standing with us. Your support means the world to me — and to the families in Fondwa who will receive care because of your generosity.

To learn more about the overall campaign click the Pritts-Oliver Surgical Suite campaign above.
To learn mor about the four swimmers click the Carmelle Voltaire Open Water Swimmers above