A Long Journey Ends in Alpena
This amazing story begins with a remarkable young man by the name of Kesmy St. Louis. One of 12 children, Kesmy was born into poverty in Haiti. At the age of 14 he suffered from a seizure that caused him to black out and fall into an outdoor fire pit his family used for cooking. His burns were so severe that both of his arms had to be amputated up to his shoulders. Now 20 years old, Kesmy has taught himself how to eat, write and do other daily activities using his feet and mouth.

Through the kindness of a stranger named Ann Hume, who while visiting in Haiti, came across the recovering Kesmy. Ann was touched by his story and arranged for him to come to the U.S. and be treated at Detroit Children's Hospital. After many trips back to the U.S. and various fittings, Kesmy was finally given two new prosthetic arms at the Alpena Wright & Filippis in January. Kesmy's arms were made possible through a grant from the Filippis Foundation. Working to help make this dream a reality were prosthetists Rob Wagner, Suzie Williams, and Joe Kuerth.

Thankful and inspired from this act of kindness, Kesmy hopes to one day become a minister and help others in his country.