Dr. Kelynne J. Oristel: Motherhood, Haitian heritage most defining hues

In the rich tapestry of her life, woven with vibrant threads of resilience, love and enduring strength, Brooklyn resident Dr. Kelynne J. Oristel says the most defining hues are those of motherhood and her heritage as a daughter of Haitian immigrants.

“Born into a world bridging two cultures, I have navigated the complexities of being Haitian- American, carrying the legacy of my parents’ courage and the dreams of a nation within me,” Dr. Oristel, president of the Haitian-American Nurses Association, Inc., told Caribbean Life on Sunday.

“This journey into motherhood began under the watchful eyes of ancestors, who crossed oceans for the promise of a brighter tomorrow, marking the start of the most transformative chapter of my life,” added Dr. Oristel, who was born and raised in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, and currently lives in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of the borough.

Her Haitian-born parents migrated to the US in the 1960s. Her mother is from Petion Ville, a suburb of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and her father is from Cap Haitian, Haiti.

As a mother, Dr. Oristel said she has “sailed the tumultuous seas of joy and worry, triumphs and trials, crafting a story not just of a woman but of a guardian, teacher and eternal student of life’s most intricate lessons.”

She said her story is not merely a recounting of events but “a tribute to the role that has imbued every other aspect of my existence with profound meaning and purpose — all while staying rooted in the rich soil of my Haitian heritage.”

From the moment she embraced her identity as a Haitian-American mother, Dr. Oristel said she understood that her world had shifted.

She said the responsibility of nurturing lives while preserving her heritage was both “a monumental task and an unparalleled source of joy.”

Dr. Oristel said motherhood, intertwined with the legacy of being the daughter of Haitian immigrants and the support of her husband, has been her most challenging role.

Yet, she quickly added that it has offered “the lens” through which she views the world, influencing her decisions, shaping her career and inspiring her aspirations.

Dr. Kelynne J. Oristel.Photo by Barrie Dail Photography/Barrie Dail

In this current moment, Dr. Oristel said her role has expanded to include mothering her very own elderly mother, “who is bravely facing stage IV multiple myeloma.”

“This experience has added another layer of depth to my understanding of care, compassion, and the cyclical nature of life and motherhood,” she said.

Dr. Oristel said the essence of motherhood was “profoundly shaped” by her role as the mother of five children.

She said the birth of her fourth child, Amaru Akur Faith Frection, in 1998, marked “a pivotal chapter” that would forever alter her existence.

“Despite the brevity of his life, having him at a very young age and then losing him after just 15 months, Amaru’s impact on me has been immeasurable,” Dr. Oristel said. “In that short tenure as his mother, he redefined my understanding of motherhood and set me on the path I find myself on today, influencing every moment of my existence.”

She said every mother who has endured the loss of a child knows that the grief of such an “epic loss” never truly fades.

“We merely learn to live alongside it,” said Dr. Oristel, stating that she channels the energy from her grief into creating a better life for Amaru’s siblings, “focusing on my education” — a value first instilled in her by her Haitian immigrant parents and further exemplified during the time she spent caring for Amaru.

She said it was through this period of “profound sorrow and love” that she came to understand the true depth of her strength and resilience.

“Believing in the greater powers that allowed her the honor of being Amaru’s earthly guardian, I embraced my role with a renewed purpose: To be a better mother to those he left behind and to, in this moment, extend my maternal care to hundreds of secondary students,” Dr. Oristel said.

“Amaru’s legacy is not marked by the length of his life but by the profound impact of his spirit on my journey,” she added. “He taught me lessons in love, loss and the transformative power of motherhood that have framed every aspect of my life since.”

Amidst these roles, Dr. Oristel said she has been blessed with the “unwavering support” of her “amazing husband, Danielo Oristel, whose encouragement has been a cornerstone of my journey.”

She said this union allowed her the privilege to mother more children in their “blended family,” stating that they have navigated “the joys and challenges of life, reinforcing the foundation of love and partnership that underpins our family.”

Dr. Oristel said she is “profoundly honored” to be recognized not just for her professional achievements but for her “most cherished roles” as a mother and now grandmother to Acelyn, Axel and Achilles.

Decades on, she said her life is “deeply rooted” in service to the community, embodying the spirit of giving and nurturing not only within her family but extending to those she serves through her profession.

As the distinguished president of the Haitian-American Nurses Association, Inc., Dr. Oristel said she epitomizes advocacy and educational empowerment.

She said her leadership as the director of Nursing Programs for NYC Schools underscores her dedication to addressing the nursing shortage and enhancing minority representation in healthcare.

Holding a Master of Science in Nursing, with a specialization in gerontology, Dr. Oristel said she melds her compassion for client care with “a fervent passion for education,” guiding the next generation of nurses through her roles as a peer collaborative teacher leader; leadership fellow for the Association of Career and Technical Education; and esteemed positions on the NYS Council of Practical Nursing as vice chair, the first Haitian-American woman in that role; and the NYSED Post-Secondary Practical Nursing Program Advisory Board.

As a Hartford Institute geriatric scholar, Dr. Oristel said she champions equity by facilitating access for minorities into nursing, reflecting her journey and breaking down barriers historically present in the field.

She said her academic pursuits — including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (cum laude); a Master’s of Science, with concentration in nursing, from Long Island University in Brooklyn; complemented by Ph. D studies in nursing education (Liberty University) — focus on “dismantling obstacles to nursing access through the lens of emotional maturity, aiming to cultivate a diverse and empathetic nursing workforce.”

Dr. Oristel said her contributions to community service efforts have earned her many accolades, including her most cherished, a Doctorate of Ministry, from Theological Ministries of South Florida.

In addition to her academic and professional contributions, Dr. Oristel is a committee member with the Mayor’s Office — under the leadership of Edu Hermeyln, the husband of Haitian-American, New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn — to celebrate and acknowledge Haitian culture.

She said her recent election as vice chair of the Council of Practical Nurse Programs for the State of New York and president of FEWGIs, an organization dedicated to empowering female newcomers to the United States, showcases her “commitment to equipping women and girls with skills for success, and serving as a mother or mentor to countless adolescents.”

Dr. Oristel said being highlighted by Caribbean Life for Mother’s Day celebrations is “the richest gift and acknowledgment” of her lifetime.

“It celebrates not only my professional journey and advocacy but, most importantly, the profound joy and fulfillment that motherhood and now grandmotherhood have brought to my life,” she said.

“It is this joy that serves as a catalyst for me to lead in the essence of servanthood,” Dr. Oristel added.