Francky is a sixteen year-old orphan from a small village in the South of Haiti.  In the summer of 2007, Francky was injured while working in a grain mill. He sustained a compound fracture to his left upper arm, leaving the bone protruding out of his shoulder about 3-4 inches. With no resources, he lived over a year with this injury, his arm hanging at his side and the wound open to infection.  As a man from his village put it, they all thought Francky would die.

In August 2008, Francky found his way to S. Boniface Hospital, an 8-10 hour walk from his village. The staff at St Boniface immediately reached out to their network of supporters in the United States.

This is when Joan Obecny first met Francky via an email picture.  She has 2 sons and was horrified and haunted - how could anyone, much less a teenage boy with no family, have endured this?  Then amazing things started to happen. Her husband Carl, family, friends, Haitian co-workers, doctors, medical/surgical trauma specialists and a metropolitan area hospital all wanted to help Francky.  It took time and a great deal of effort, but it came together and in January 2009 when Francky came to the U.S. for treatment.  He had 2 surgeries in as many weeks and began high doses of antibiotics.

In the midst of his care and recovery, Francky learned to read and write.  He had never been to school before.  His great personality and easy smile made him a hit with the many people he met along the way.  He even met Bill Clinton on one of many outings with his host family in D.C. 

 In July, Francky received medical clearance and returned to Haiti.  Miraculously, his arm is functional and his prognosis for complete recovery is good.  He will be missed, but he has returned to a new and better life. He now lives with a warm and loving family on the beautiful island of  Ile a Vache.  There he attends school and will eventually learn a trade to give him a bright and independent future.