Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters," is a network of nine orphanages in Latin America and the Caribbean, and St. Damien Hospital in Haiti, a free pediatric hospital.
But NPH is more than an orphanage – it is a home, a loving family where work, values and education help children break the cycle of poverty. The homes are dedicated to raising children to become leaders in their own countries.
Father William B. Wasson founded NPH in 1954 to meet the needs of vulnerable children in Mexico. His mission of love has spread to nine countries. Today, NPH is home to orphaned, abandoned or disadvantaged children and works in local communities to help families in need.
St. Damien's Hospital in Haiti
Funded through contributions to NPH, St. Damien’s pediatric hospital provides free medical treatment to children in Haiti. After the earthquake in 2010, St. Damien’s Hospital served as a hub for trauma care for earthquake related injuries and maternity care.
Led by American physician and priest Fr. Rick Frechette, and experienced staff, the 120-bed facility is one of the primary orthopedic medical centers in Haiti. During the tragedy, the hospital treated many of the estimated 2,000 to 4,000 individuals in need of amputations.
Teams of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals from all over the world arrived to help care for the wounded. Within the first three weeks after the earthquake, the hospital attended to over 10,000 adults and children. In the years after the disaster, heightened attention has been given to children who continue to need orthopedic services and prosthetics due to loss of limbs in the earthquake.
Juan was inspired by the work of St. Damien's Hospital and donated the proceeds of his concert to their efforts.
Fr. Rick Frechette, CP, DO
St. Damien’s Hospital is directed by Haiti-based, U.S. physician and priest Fr. Rick Frechette. Fr. Rick began his work in Haiti at the St. Helene Orphanage. However, upon seeing the desperate need for medical personnel, he returned to the U.S. and obtained his medical degree in 1998 from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, becoming a general practitioner licensed in New York and Florida. He subsequently returned to Haiti to put his knowledge to use. Through his perseverance and vision, he founded St. Damien’s Hospital in Tabarre.
Fr. Rick has worked tirelessly directing teams of surgeons, treating patients, establishing numerous medical and outreach programs, and assisting with other aid outreach. He and his team of physicians, therapists and support staff worked tirelessly after the earthquake to fit hundreds of children with prosthetics that allowed them to regain mobility and thrive after the devastating earthquake.
The hospital continues to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in Haiti.
