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 How many times have you heard ‘Hey You, Your shoes’ echo across the construction site. Some Young man asking you to leave your shoes with him when you returned home on Saturday. For many years Graviel never sang out that request. See, when Graviel was just a youngster he lost his right leg in a tragic accident with a cane cart. As I understand, was one of those carts with the oversized rubber tires that are pulled by tractors. Many times we have seen these tractor pulled cane trains in the bateys. They usually had three or four carts coupled together.
We have all seen the children chase after these trains as they come into the batey. They wait for the train to stop and then rush in to grab several stalks of sugar cane before they continue on to the scales. One day Graviel was one of those boys running for a treat. As he neared the cart the slipped and fell under the wheel. He was pulled to safety by one of his friends but not until his leg was caught between the wheel and the ground. As the cart moved forward his leg was severed at his hip.
Graviel survived the accident and has lived all this time getting around on his good leg and a crutch. For several years there was talk of bringing him to the states where he could be fitted with an artificial leg. Two years ago the discussion became serious and a group of people from New England began to stop talking and making plans.
It was determined that the Shriners’ Hospital in Springfield, MA would take him in as a patient and outfit him with the necessary prosthesis.
Thanks to the hard work and faith of this group you might hear Graviel say ‘Hey You! Your Shoes! the next time you see him in La Romana.
If you would like to help you Graviel or others in need please consider visiting the donations page. Just type Graviel into the Item box. Thanks.
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