I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update everyone, but I have been trying to find out something substantial. Today we received an answer to prayer. Perhaps not what we wanted originally, but it blessed my heart just the same knowing what I know now. After many doctors in both the US and Haiti looked at Muraelle’s latest CT scan and other records, it was pretty much definitive that he could only receive palliative care at this point. We even had a US ophthalmologist look at him here at Hope Center and he confirmed that other than removing the eye for comfort, there was nothing else that could be done. The tumor has entered his cranium and the eye is completely gone. More than likely it has metastasized into other places as well. The process for getting a medical visa is not an easy one and takes time and cooperation from doctors who are knowledgable about the case. We have neither time on our side nor cooperation.
We were having trouble getting cooperation from the doctor who first treated him back in April because she was so angry with the parents for neglecting to return with him when he had an appointment for further treatment. We tried to get his medical records so US doctors would have a better understanding of what had already been done, but all we were given was a brief report. In the meantime, Muraelle has been getting worse and worse. He has been refusing to take his medicines and has been vomiting and in great pain. Two weeks ago, I taught the parents how to trick him into taking his medicine by putting it in juice and giving it to him in a sippy cup. Now, his senses are so heightened that he tastes the medicine in the juice and will not take it. Our friend Debi says the vomiting is perhaps because of increasing intracranial pressure due to enlarging tumor mass. The consensus is that little Muraelle will probably not live much longer and he desperately needs inpatient palliative care.
I went to talk with the doctor personally last week and what started out rather confrontational, eventually worked around to a pleasant and agreeable conversation. She informed us that she had given Muraelle an appointment to come in two weeks. I wrote that on my calendar and today we sent him with his uncle to the hospital for his appointment. At first he texted me and said they refused to take him. I decided to get on my computer and find every name I could find associated with that hospital and BEG them to take him in. In the meantime, I wrote to Real Hope for Haiti (the place where we took the two malnourished boys a couple of weeks ago) and asked if they might be able to take him if the hospital still refused. Tonight I received a text from his uncle saying, “Praise God, the hospital finally took him in!” He is now safely resting in the hospital on IV antibiotics and pain meds and if they can locate a doctor to remove the eye for palliative care, they will do so. I also received word from Real Hope for Haiti saying that if the hospital discharges him again, let them know, and they will take him and take care of him until the end.
Psalm 22:24 says, “For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” We know that God has heard our cry and He is moving. We will simply continue to trust in Him. My last post said that God was opening doors for Muraelle, and today He once again opened a door to get him admitted into the hospital. Soon he will part the great doors of Heaven for this sweet boy, and there will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more sippy cups with yucky medicine in them….only the comforting arms of Jesus. That indeed is an answer to prayer. Again, this is not how I wanted it to all work out, but I know that our Father is waiting with open arms for little Muraelle, and soon he will be able to see clearly and run straight into our Father’s arms, leaving that pesky face mask behind and smiling with his whole sweet little face.
Keep on praying for the doctors and for Muraelle and for his family. Thank you all so much for your prayers.
haitiwest 