One of the few positive stories to come out of Haiti in the aftermath of the January earthquake is the story of Darlene Etienne (pictured).
The 17-year-old was discovered in the twisted rubble of a Port-au-Prince building 15 days after the quake destroyed the country and killed more than a quarter of a million people.
Somehow, Etienne emerged from the dust and debris and is now living with her family in Artibonite Valley, where the cholera outbreak hit late last year.
As the one-year anniversary of the earthquake looms, Etienne's rescue and recovery stand as the shining moment of a nation desperately in need of hope.
Her rescue by French aid workers sent hundreds into the streets dancing and singing in celebration. Some even questioned the veracity of her story, wondering how someone could survive in rubble for so long.
Researchers believe Etienne had access to water since she was trapped in the bathroom, and access to even small amounts of water means the difference betweenlife and death.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Etienne said she is back in school but hopes to leave the island nation for a chance at a better life outside of rural Haiti.
Coming through her ordeal with no broken bones, no visible physical scars, no outward signs of the horror she faced while being trapped under a fallen building, it seems that Etienne should leave Haiti.
After she made it this far, I'm certain she is destined for great things.
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Do You know how to get hold of or send a massage to Darlene Etienne? As I watched her rescue, I had a Vision and invented a new survival tool. I would like to communicate with her about how her 'survival & rescue' changed my life for the better.
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Comments: (2)
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By: thmjan on 1/12/2011 11:02PM
I hope the best for her. Why are people capitalizing on these articles by trying to sell something or trying to find a date? Taking up space!
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By: "Survivor Jack" Jobe on 2/02/2013 2:40PM
Do You know how to get hold of or send a massage to Darlene Etienne? As I watched her rescue, I had a Vision and invented a new survival tool. I would like to communicate with her about how her 'survival & rescue' changed my life for the better.
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