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Emmanuella Michel, 5, is so lively that it’s hard to picture how thin and fragile she was only two months ago. She is pictured with her aunt Checelie Michel and host brother Caleb D. Emmanuella came to the United States from Haiti for heart surgery in October and has been staying with Caleb and his parents Rick and Darla D. of Washington state. Because of this family, 5-year-old Emmanuella Michel of Haiti received a priceless holiday gift — a life-saving open heart surgery.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” said her host mother Darla . “She’s just like a normal child now.”
During an interview just before Christmas, it was hard to imagine that the robust child bouncing around the newspaper office was gravely ill just a few weeks ago — until she lifted her shirt to show off a 6-inch scar down the middle of her chest.
Emmanuella now has a chance at a normal life because Rick, Darla and Caleb D. made it their mission to help Haitian children. The idea started when Caleb met a schoolmate who was born in Haiti.
“I met Joshua P. He was friends with Caleb at Whitney,” Darla D said. “I knew in my heart this was something I wanted to do.”
Not in a position to adopt, the D family, who attend The Bright Christian Fellowship, found another way to serve.
“Our family wanted to help children with medical needs,” D said.
Through the organizations Partners in Health in Haiti and The Medical Advocacy Team, a program of Remember International, INC. in the United States, they learned about the gravely ill Emmanuella. At 5, she was unable to walk and suffered terrible chest pain.
“They would just pray over her because she could not move. God sure answered those prayers, huh?” Darla said, getting a nod of agreement from Emmanuella’s aunt, Checelie Michel.
Emmanuella’s family saved up enough money to get her to a Partners in Health doctor, whose diagnosis was Tetralogy of Fallot. This is a combination of heart abnormalities, two of which are particularly dangerous: a hole between the ventricles and an obstruction of blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs, according to the American Heart Association. Because blood can’t get to the lungs easily, it doesn’t pick up enough oxygen.
For Emmanuella, it meant she had no energy to grow and thrive — or even to walk. The D’s agreed to host her and Checelie while she underwent open-heart surgery. Medical and travel costs were covered by volunteer doctors, Partners in Health and The Medical Advocacy Team.
After she arrived at the end of October, the first order of business was to get Emmanuella seven immunizations that were required before surgery. The D's did this with the help of Rod Dalseg, Island Hospital’s director of diagnostic imaging. Darla said she was working at Calico Cupboard when a group from Island Hospital came in for a meeting. She asked if they knew of anybody who could give immunizations as charity, and Dalseg said he’d find out.
“He called me later and said ‘I have it handled.’ So that was a miracle,” Darla said.
Dr. Jeanne Olmsted at Fidalgo Medical Associates did the job. Emmanuella had heart surgery at Emmanuel Children’s Hospital in Portland two weeks later.
“She’s been a little trooper, and so has my husband Rick,” she said.
Many have chipped in to help Emmanuella and Checelie. People from The Bridge Christian Fellowship brought them clothes, and many have come into Calico Cupboard and offered money, clothes and food, she said. The owner of Papa Murphy’s gave them free pizzas.
“Pizza is their favorite food here,” Darla added.
Checelie is making headbands and selling them for $10 each to raise money to take back to Haiti. She said the money will help her and her fiancé build a house. Darla said anyone who wants to buy one can email for more information.
The D's family has appreciated being of service, and the experience has made them more appreciative of life in our country.
“You just think, you’re so grateful for what we have,” Darla said.
Please meet Varney. Varney and his Mom are from Liberia. Varney has been suffering from hydrocephalus for a long time. His entire life we presume.
Varney and his Mom went many places in Liberia looking for help. They finally found a doctor to see them. This doctor has done some VP shunts in the past but after examining Varney- he felt that he was too far gone for surgery. This doctor also informed Varneys Mom that he doesn't even have the VP shunts were he willing to operate on Varney. He also admitted that sometimes the patients die- because he isn't really a neurosurgeon. He told Varneys Mom to bring him home- for soon- he would die.
Six months has passed since that time and Varneys Mom has cared for him with loving hands and a faithful heart. Varney continues to live and bless so many people with his presence. Soon with prayer and some fundraising we will be able to bring Varney and hopefully his Mom to the USA for lifesaving surgery. Supplies will be brought over for Varney and his Mom while they wait for all the paperwork to go through so that he will be able to be more comfortable and so that the sores on his head can be kept clean. If he gets an infection he could die very fast.
I know that these pictures are difficult to look at. They were hard for me at first to look at too. I can feel the pain in his eyes and the sorrow in his mothers eyes just from the pictures. Varney's head size is massive. Bigger than the worse case I have ever seen. And its imperative that we pray for him and his Mom.
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