At five years old, Yvemarthe was fighting a form of cancer affecting both kidneys. Today, she works at the hospital that helped save her life and is building a future filled with independence, purpose, and hope.
Hospital Director ,Dr. Gassant reflects on the care Yvemarthe received as a child, the difference St. Damien made for her family, and what it means to see her working at the hospital today.
Every morning, Yvemarthe Rival goes to work and manages accounting files as a Finance Officer at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital. She is also continuing her studies, developing an entrepreneurial project, and making plans for her future.
Years ago, Yvemarthe entered that same hospital as a five-year-old facing a bilateral Wilms tumor, a form of kidney cancer affecting both kidneys. Today, she is one of the approximately 550 Haitians employed by St. Damien which serves children and families across the country. Her journey shows how an investment in one child can create an impact that extends far beyond a single moment of care.
Yvemarthe’s health began to decline when she was five. At an age when many children are learning to read, making friends at school, and discovering the world around them, she and her family were confronted with a frightening diagnosis.
Yvemarthe needed specialized treatment that was impossible for many families in Haiti to access. At St. Damien, she received surgery, chemotherapy, and compassionate support from a medical team that cared for both her physical and emotional well-being.
The treatment was difficult, but Yvemarthe kept going.
“I have considered myself cured for several years now,” she says. “My journey against cancer began at age five, and today I lead an active life, full of hope.”
When Yvemarthe looks back on her experience, she is direct about what St. Damien care meant for her.
“They saved my life,” she says. “Without this care, I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to grow up, study, work, and dream of my future.”
What she remembers is more than just the medical treatment. The attention, kindness, and support the medical team showed to her entire family left a powerful impression as well.
“The care I received completely changed my destiny,” she says.
Yvemarthe’s recovery became a source of joy and hope for her family. After living through the fear and uncertainty of childhood cancer, they found peace again—and an even deeper belief in the power of hope and solidarity.
Today, Yvemarthe describes her health as stable. She continues to follow her doctors’ recommendations and attends regular checkups to make sure everything remains well.
Some challenges from her childhood experience remain, but she refuses to let them define what comes next.
“They don’t stop me from moving forward,” she says. “This experience taught me to be strong and resilient.”
Yvemarthe can work, study, play sports, travel, participate in social activities, and make plans for her future. She has regained complete independence and is able to make her own decisions.
“I feel very well,” she says. “I am grateful to be alive and to have the chance to pursue my dreams. Every day is a victory.”
Yvemarthe continued her education and now works as a Finance Officer in St. Damien accounting department.
While doctors and nurses provide care at the bedside, St. Damien also depends on finance officers, administrators, technicians, and hundreds of other dedicated staff members to keep the hospital operating. Yvemarthe is now part of the team that makes lifesaving care possible for another generation of children.
Her journey reflects the lasting impact of St. Damien Hospital’s work. The hospital does more than treat an immediate illness—it helps children survive, grow, pursue an education, contribute professionally, and strengthen their communities. In Yvemarthe’s case, that impact has come full circle: the child St. Damien once cared for is now helping sustain the hospital that saved her life.
Yvemarthe is also developing an entrepreneurial project and participating in youth initiatives. Her ambitions include continuing her studies, growing her business, developing professionally, and inspiring other cancer survivors.
“Having survived cancer reminds me that anything is possible with faith, courage, and the support of others,” she says.
Yvemarthe knows that the care she received was made possible by people who believe children in Haiti deserve access to lifesaving treatment.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she says. “Because of your support, children like me get a second chance. You are not just funding treatments, you are saving lives and giving hope to entire families.”
Her message about why that support must continue is equally clear:
“Every child deserves the chance to heal, to grow, and to fulfill their dreams. Your support transforms lives.”
Yvemarthe also has a message for a child receiving the same frightening diagnosis she once faced:
“You are stronger than you think. Keep hope, trust your doctors, and never give up. One day, you too will be able to tell your story as a survivor.”
Yvemarthe’s story did not end when her treatment ended. Today, she works, builds, dreams, and looks toward everything still ahead of her.
She is living proof that lifesaving care can do more than help a child survive. It can make an entire future possible.
Hearts for Haiti members provide dependable funding that helps St. Damien care for children and high-risk mothers while supporting the staff, programs, and systems that make that care possible.
A gift to St. Damien does more than meet an immediate medical need. It helps sustain a Haitian-led institution that provides specialized care, develops local expertise, creates meaningful employment, and strengthens healthcare capacity across Haiti.
By becoming a Heart for Haiti, you can help St. Damien remain a place where children like Yvemarthe can heal, grow, and one day help build a stronger future for their country.
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