Haiti Earthquake Survivor Discusses Life A Year Later

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After the earthquake hit Haiti last year, News 9 Skyped several times with Ruben Cenea, a survivor who had to be pulled from the rubble.

On the anniversary of the quake News 9 caught back up with Ruben who is now in the United States and engaged to a girl from Oklahoma.

"When I wake up, I just see a guy lying on my stomach with a big piece of block in his back, and this guy protected me, but he died," Cenea told News 9 just days after the earthquake.

He had to be rescued from inside his school where he and his 65 classmates were trapped. Only eight survived.

"I wanted to die yesterday," he told News 9 via Skype then.

Now, a year later, Ruben said the conditions aren't getting any better.

"I would say it's getting worse," he said.

A cholera outbreak has killed thousands more and a disputed general election has caused political strife. And Ruben said the cleanup and rebuilding process is going extremely slow.

"Over two million people are living outside in tents, two million homeless and then the cholera," said Ruben. "Haiti needs more help than ever."

Ruben is now in the United States, preparing to marry a girl from Oklahoma who he met in Haiti while she was doing mission work.

Still his thoughts are never far away from his home in Haiti.

"I think together we can do a lot," he said.

If you do want to help, you can donate $10 to Mission Of Hope, who is working on the ground there in Haiti. Just text Haiti to 27722.

Water Is Life is also combating the lack of clean drinking water in Haiti by sending filter straws. Each straw is only $10. Learn how you can help Water Is Life.