Volunteer Highlight: Courtney Irwin
Courtney and her four children, Sancara (10), Woodley (9), Dadley (7), and Brihanna (5)
Courtney Irwin, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner based in Gainesville, first traveled to Haiti in May 2010, just months after the devastating earthquake. What was meant to be a one-week volunteer trip with Project Medishare would ultimately shape the course of her life.
Arriving at the field hospital for the first time, Courtney was overwhelmed. The level of need was unlike anything she had experienced, even after previously volunteering in Central America. One of her earliest memories remains vivid: a chaotic night when patients had to be evacuated from a tent fire. In the midst of a crisis, she witnessed incredible courage and resilience both from patients and fellow medical volunteers.
Leaving on that first plane ride home Courtney thought to herself, “I don’t know if I can do that again…” But the strength of the people she met stayed with her. So, she did return; again and again.
“Haiti is such a beautiful country,” she says. “It’s often overlooked because of the challenges it’s going through.”
Over the years, Courtney volunteered with Project Medishare nearly a dozen times, transitioning from the field hospital to Hospital Bernard Mevs (HBM). What started as a simple volunteer trip evolved into a deep commitment. Even when she wasn’t on the ground, Haiti remained central to her life. She recruited colleagues to volunteer, collected medical supplies, and stayed closely connected to many of her fellow volunteers, forming lifelong friendships with many of them.
In 2015 Courtney actually moved to Haiti full-time to work with Children of the Promise, an organization supporting children with complex medical needs. As Medical Manager, she oversaw care for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, HIV, and epilepsy, while also running a malnutrition clinic for the surrounding community.
During this time, she began fostering two children with significant medical needs, both of whom had been patients at Hospital Bernard Mevs. Recognizing how difficult it would be for them to find adoptive families, Courtney made a life-changing decision. In 2020, she officially adopted them.
She returned to the United States in March 2020, but her journey wasn’t over. In 2021, she once again felt called to adopt. After being matched with two more children, she completed her second adoption in July 2025 during her most recent trip to Haiti.
Today, Courtney is a mother of four: Sancara (10), Woodley (9), Dadley (7), and Brihanna (5). Her deep connection to Haiti continues to shape their family life. She speaks Creole, prepares traditional Haitian dishes like spaghetti and diri ak sòs pwa, and shares the culture that brought them together.
“There’s a lot of joy and a lot of challenges,” she says. Her years in Haiti have made the transition easier for her children, and she hopes to one day return with them to show them the country that changed all of their lives.
Reflecting on her journey, Courtney describes her time in Haiti as both the hardest and most meaningful chapter of her life. Given the medical complexities her children faced, she believes they may not have survived had they remained in Haiti. It’s a reminder of both the challenges and the life-changing impact of access to care.
Thank you Courtney, for sharing your incredible story with us!