BRADENTON, Fla. — A Florida family is finally reunited after being stranded in Haiti.
Marc Henry Jean’s parents went to Haiti for a vacation and were supposed to return home last month. However, all airports were shut down due to political unrest and violence, leaving them stranded.
Fortunately, a kind-hearted viewer who saw their story on Spectrum News offered to help. They arranged for a private jet to travel to Haiti to bring back Jean's parents.
“I’m excited and grateful,” he said.
Jean anxiously waited at the gate earlier this month at Orlando International Airport to pick up his parents.
“They were supposed to be back in March but couldn’t,” he explained.
That changed with a message via Instagram from Allen Sherwood.
“To reach out to volunteer to make this thing happen, this is amazing,” said Jean.
Sherwood offered to send a private jet to escort the parents, who are originally from Haiti and were there visiting family, back to Florida. They finally made it after 48 hours of travel.
Jean became emotional after reuniting with his parents, Ingenia and Madsen, for the first time in six months.
It was his first time meeting the man who reunited his family and paid for their trip. Sherwood has completed similar rescues in Ukraine and Haiti and wants to help stranded missionaries and U.S. citizens.
“These people were doing God’s work. These are missionaries who are all stuck there. Not only that, what’s stuck there is people who have humanitarian parole like they did in Ukraine. Well, some of those dates are coming to a close,” said Sherwood.
The Jeans have another son in that position who is still waiting to leave Haiti.
Spectrum News reporter Fadia Patterson spoke to the family in their native language, Creole. When asked about their reaction to a stranger offering to bring them back, mother Igenia Jean said, “I was happy, joyful.”
“I am very happy to be back in the USA because the situation in Haiti is very difficult,” said Madsen, the father. “We are a great people but have no leaders. Yes, I would go back to Haiti, but I want things to change in Haiti.”
Jean’s parents arrived just in time to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary and his father’s 74th birthday.
He said that he gained a lifelong friend in Sherwood through this ordeal.
“There are still great people, there are still unbelievable people,” said Jean.
While the situation itself hasn’t been “picture perfect”, the Jean family says what they’re “focusing” on now is cherishing these moments together.
(Spectrum News/Fadia Patterson)