In 1987, through an invitation by Sr. Kathleen Conway, BVM, Sr. Annie went to teach pre-school at Nuevo Mundo Foundation. Although she found great joy in the classroom, Annie began to recognize a restlessness settling in her soul and questioned whether God was calling her to meet another need. It was during this process that Annie was introduced to the patients living in an abandoned Hansen’s wing of the Infectious disease hospital. In seeing the horrendous conditions and disheartened spirits of the patients, Annie immediately felt God’s call to be a presence and advocate for those otherwise forgotten by society.
As it was found, the wing demanded immediate changes. The nearby disposal of hospital trash caused serious rat and roach infestations. The sewage pipes were eroded and damaged, leading to flooding in the patients’ bedrooms during the rainy season. Screens and windows were missing, and the hospital was rarely cleaned. The little food offered was often contaminated. Patients lived without dental care, resulting in worn down gums and difficulty eating. Due to the lack of water and nursing care, bed ridden patients were often dealing with scabies, lice, and bed sores. Basic medical care was nearly impossible to receive. Even worse, if a patient complained, they were asked to leave
Annie did what she could with limited resources and prayed for help to meet these extensive needs. Her prayers were answered when she met Suzanne Belz while attending a Creation Breakthrough class lead by Sister Blanche Marie Gallagher, BVM at Mundelein College in Chicago. The two became close friends through the sharing of their stories. One afternoon while Annie and Suzanne shared a cup of coffee, Suzanne asked “What do you need?” After that gesture, she wrote the bylaws and handled the legal work with her husband Ed Belz, and Damien House Inc. was founded. This story is one of the amazing ways that God puts us on one another’s path!
When donations started coming in from the US, the hospital wing began to transform. The plumbing and sewage was modernized to guarantee clean water while preventing flooding and rodent infestations. A nursing team and an Internist MD were hired and finally offered patients the medical care they deserved. Broken bed frames were repaired and new mattresses purchased. Clean bedding was provided for every patient. A nutrition program was initiated to ensure the food was clean, healthy, and appetizing. Visitors came and painted vibrant murals over the grey walls. Flowering plants filled the once empty hallways. Little by little, the patients’ spirits were uplifted. A newfound joy came from knowing that others cared about them and God had not abandoned them. The positive atmosphere was contagious and evident to all. The patients were finally given a voice! Meetings were held where the patients could speak freely about what their needs were, without the fear of being asked to leave.
Through the balance of wonderful friends and partner foundations, Damien House has become the home and refuge for people affected with Hansen’s disease. The non-profit organization channels tax exempt donations to Ecuador. All donations are used for the 24 hours a day, seven days a week, holistic care of the patients. The doors never close, and no one is ever turned away!
