Can You Pray With Us?

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a young man named Antonio who was desperately sick.  Well, I want to give you an update.  First, his name is Alberto, not Antonio – sorry!  I don’t know how I got the names confused, but I did. 

In my last blog I shared how Alberto was nothing more than skin and bones with a large lump in his stomach area.  He needed to go to the hospital in Coban and that we were going to help his family get there and follow up on his condition.  Well, he went.  He saw a doctor, had some x-rays done and spent the night.  The next morning they discharged him with a prescription for an antibiotic and some pain meds.  Alberto’s mom came here to the mission site to show me the x-rays and the prescription.  Although I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, I looked at the x-rays and saw black spots all over his chest cavity and in his stomach.  I took the mom, Camila, to Chisec and bought the medicine Alberto needed and took her home.  Camila tried to explain to me, through her daughter, what the doctor said and what was wrong with Alberto, but it was really tough to understand and she didn’t really understand.  So, I suggested that after he finished with the medicine we go to the Centro de Salud (health clinic) in Chisec together to see what the next step should be. 

So, they came yesterday and we went to town together.  As soon as the nurses saw how serious the situation was, they ushered us into an office and began to gather information.  The doctor wasn’t in, but they said if we returned at 8am the following day, we could go straight in and talk with the doctor.  As I drove them home, Camila shared with me that her husband is working on a farm and he makes only Q50 a day (about $6).  She said that was just barely enough to pay for their rent and food.  There was no extra for healthcare.  That is the reality for the majority of the people in this area.     

This morning, I picked them up at 7:30am and off we went.  When we got to the clinic, we were able to see the pediatrician right away.  She went over the x-rays and the notes that were taken at the hospital in Coban and then proceeded to tell me what was wrong.  Alberto has cancer.  The huge lump we could see in his stomach region was a secondary cancer and it had already begun spreading throughout the body.  The x-rays didn’t show the primary source of the cancer, but the doctor said there was more cancer than just what we could see, physically.  She said the blood work showed he was also diabetic, but the most pressing problem was the cancer.  She did not believe there was much hope for Alberto, short of a miracle.  She went on to explain that if the family did want to pursue care, they would have to first return to Coban – a 1 ½ hour trip.  But the hospital in Coban is not equipped to deal with cancer patients, so they would send him to the capital, a 5 hour trip.  They wouldn’t have to pay for the medical consult in Coban or the capital, but would have to pay for any transportation, all tests that would be done and for any medication that would be given.  The doctor said that most likely they would only be looking at palliative care in Alberto’s stage of cancer.   

As I listened to all of this, I felt helpless and heartbroken.  This family had waited too long to seek help and now the situation was desperate.  Feeling overwhelmed, I drove them home and went home myself.  I talked to Rocky and we spent the afternoon processing and praying about what we should do. 

I am struggling to process all of this.  I believe that God sent them to our gate and honestly, I just want to make it all better; I want Alberto to be well. But, there are times when we can’t do anything in the physical realm and then, the most valuable thing we can do is pray.  Alberto needs a miracle.  It is as simple as that.  I know my God is big enough to heal Alberto and I am willing to step out, in faith, and pray, trusting that the Lord will move in whatever manner He deems best.  Are you willing to step out with me?  If you are, pray for Alberto.  Pray that God would touch and heal his body of all sickness and disease.  Pray that Alberto would know that he is in the hand of the Almighty and he need not fear.  Pray for peace for the family and strength to continue on.  Pray!