Haitian soccer star Jérôme speaks again after gas explosion

Haitian soccer player Mechack Jérôme has started to speak again and his face has healed significantly after severely getting burned during a gas explosion in his home in Bellevue, Nebraska, on Oct. 31, his former teammate Peter Germain told The Haitian Times.

While recovering in the hospital, Germain participated in a conversation with Jérôme during a 30-minute video conference call with about six people, including Jérôme’s brother, father, and other family members, on the afternoon of Dec. 22. 

“He was only able to lift his head up a little or make movements with his fingers to talk to you and that hurt me a little,” Germain said. “But I told myself what’s more important is that he’s still alive. Based on how far he came from, this is a victory.”

Jérôme lost consciousness after the explosion, and his face was blackened and blistered. He was connected to life support tubes following the explosion, prompting some to think that he could possibly lose his life. Jérôme regained consciousness in early November, opening his eyes and moving his body.

Jérôme’s immediate family members have not yet responded to a request from The Haitian Times for further comments on his condition and recovery process.

As of Dec. 22, Germain said during the video call that Jérôme’s voice was soft, but even before the injuries, he was not a loudspeaker. Jérôme’s face started to regain its dark brown color but still had some red areas, and his lips had yet to heal.

Jérôme is even cracking jokes again

Jérôme and Germain were teammates at Baltimore Sportif Club, a team based in Saint-Marc in the late 2000s for two years. The two built a strong friendship and often cracked jokes together and teased each other. About two months after his near-death experience, Jérôme joked around with his friend again during the video call.

Jérôme is a huge fan of the Haitian comedy Chomeco, which features two fictional characters Nono and Kasayòl. In jest, every time Germain says Nono, Jerome would say Kasayòl. The two made the exchange during the video call. 

“We both bursted out laughing because we knew the joke,” Germain said. “He’s my little brother. This guy is someone I love a lot.”

Jérôme, his wife and a cousin suffered severe burns during the gas explosion while they were cooking around 10:30 p.m. on Halloween. Firefighters suspect propane gas ignited in the garage because they found a candlestick lighter and phone near the gas source, according to KETV Omaha 7 ABC.

Jérôme, a defender who is in the late stages of his career, was a member of Union Omaha Soccer Club, a team in the U.S.’ third division before the explosion. The club raised $47,150 via GoFundMe to cover the medical expenses and provide for Jérôme, his wife and children while he is out of work. 

Union Omaha won the U.S. third division championship or USL League One, dedicating the trophy to Jerome and also retiring his Number 2 jersey on Nov. 17. Jérôme was in his first season with Omaha when the injury occurred. 

Before his time with Omaha, Jérôme had established himself as one the top Haitian defenders of this generation. He’s one of the few defenders who signed with a club overseas while playing in Haiti as a teenager, joining Portugal’s Sport Clube de Mirandela from Baltimore.

The right-back played for Haiti’s under-17 team at the 2007 World Cup in South Korea, won the Haitian League with Baltimore in 2007, the MLS Cup with Sporting Kansas City in 2013 and the USL Championship with Orlando City in 2011.

Germain is hoping that Jérôme will be able to play again after his recovery so that the two can share the field again.

“I told him that I need a center back behind me to feed me the ball on my feet during my jubilee game because I can’t run anymore,” Germain said, laughing. 

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