In the wake of Hurricane María in 2017, Puerto Rico’s hospitals faced a catastrophic crisis due to prolonged blackouts. Without power, life-saving equipment failed, endangering patients in intensive care. Generators often broke or ran out of fuel, forcing staff to improvise care in dark, overheated conditions. The crisis exposed the fragility of Puerto Rico’s healthcare system—an outcome of long-standing U.S. colonial policies that underfunded and neglected critical infrastructure. As a U.S. territory without full political representation, Puerto Rico lacked the resources and autonomy to prepare for or respond effectively to such disasters, deepening the hurricane’s deadly impact.

This photo was taken a few months after the hurricane struck, while I was collecting supplies for myself or assisting in their distribution to those in need.

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