Gancci Lynnslay Duqueney Saintelus doesn’t remember much about the tragedy.
Lying in a hospital bed. Bodies all around him, “a lot of death.” Playing with his siblings just before their apartment building collapsed on top of them.
Gancci was only 5 years old when he was caught in the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, leaving 220,000 people dead and 300,000 injured, NPR reported.
His family’s three-story apartment complex in Port-au-Prince collapsed on Gancci, his two younger siblings and a caretaker. The children’s father, Olghen Saintelus, was at work, and their mother, Soline Duqueney, was at the Centrale Ward building, meeting with the bishop about a new calling, Church News reported.
Fearing the worst, Olghen and Soline waited while search teams dug through the rubble. After an agonizing 10 hours, rescuers heard music — it was Gancci, singing Primary songs. He, his two siblings and their caretaker were miraculously alive, the only survivors in the collapsed building.
But Gancci’s wounds were serious and needed immediate attention. Unfortunately, it was another 12 hours before he was flown to Miami, Florida, where doctors at Holtz Children’s Hospital amputated his right arm.
The operation helped save his life, however, and his family soon reunited with him in Florida.
Now, over 14 years later, Gancci is returning to the state where he was healed — to serve as a full-time missionary. The recently-set-apart Elder Saintelus is currently completing his missionary training at home and will leave for the Florida Tampa Mission on July 17.
Elder Saintelus, who now lives in Utah with his mother and siblings, said he’s excited to share the gospel in the same place his life was saved as a child.
“I know that the Lord has been guiding me through all the different people who I’ve met and who have inspired me to start my conversion to Christ,” he said. “And I know that I’m [choosing] the right by choosing to serve a mission. … I know that as I serve, my family will be blessed.”
Trials and blessings
Though Elder Saintelus doesn’t remember much about the earthquake and its aftermath, his parents recall it vividly, from the fear of losing their children to grappling with the news that their son’s arm needed amputation.
Soline recounted dust so thick it seemed like smoke, walking through rubble to what was left of her home, and desperately begging Heavenly Father to save her children. “I was crying all night long. … All I was thinking was, ‘Will they find the bodies?’”
Even after Soline learned of her children’s miraculous survival, there were other struggles to contend with — like finding food, diapers and other necessities for her two younger kids while Olghen flew to Miami with Gancci. Communication with the American hospital was spotty at best, and a language barrier only made the situation more difficult.
But Olghen shared how supportive the Miami community was as Gancci recovered and the family navigated their next steps. Olghen, Soline and their children eventually made their way to Utah, where they built new lives for themselves.
It hasn’t always been easy — Soline said it’s been a “fight” in many ways for herself and her kids, who now total five. But surrounded by a loving, supportive ward family, they’ve found community and increased faith.
Elder Saintelus said he’s grateful for the bishops, ward members and others who helped shape his testimony as he grew up. He’s especially grateful for his mom, who grounds him through moments of struggle. “She’s the reason that I am where I am now.”
Soline said Elder Saintelus is a courageous, gospel-loving young man whose younger siblings adore him. He has a special spirit about him, she continued, evidenced by how his siblings look up to him and how often his peers seek his friendship. “I’m so proud of him.”
Olghen added that Elder Saintelus is a faithful, optimistic person of deep integrity who loves the gospel, his family and playing soccer. Elder Saintelus showed remarkable resilience as a child in adjusting to life after losing his arm, and Olghen said he’s inspired by that example.
“The adversities, trials, burdens, blessings, pleasures, all of them are part of the test,” Olghen said, adding, “The Lord’s grace and mercy is real, and miracles still exist.”
‘He has a plan for our lives’
Following his mission, Elder Saintelus plans on returning to Brigham Young University, where he recently completed his freshman year and where he said he’s interested in studying business.
But for now, he said, he’s focused on serving the Lord. And he said he hopes that anyone hearing his story learns that God cares about every individual.
“He has a plan for our lives,” Elder Saintelus said, adding, “As we strive to live the gospel and have faith, … we will be blessed.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the original digital version to include additional content from Elder Saintelus and his mother, Soline Duqueney.
