After three months of treatment, including being moved to intensive care, the doctor in charge told the family to expect the worse. “Nothing is working,” he said. “One possibility, however, is if you were able to come up with $150,000 pesos (about $11,000 U.S.) the boy could be taken to Mexico City or Monterrey where they have more specialized machines which are not available here in Juarez.” So this very poor family, with barely enough to live on, frantically tried to raise the money.
Hearing
of their plight, Carmen, one of their neighbors who comes regularly to the
Lord’s Food Bank, brought them the prayer card of Father Thomas. She told them,
“Look, let’s start asking Father Thomas for help.” The family knew Father
Thomas – in fact, Alfredo’s mother had made her First Communion at the Food
Bank when she was a young girl. Carmen went on, “I’m going to pray this prayer
for Alfredo every day with my children.” And the Rodriguez family all agreed
that they would pray the prayer also.
A
few days later the doctor told them, “I don’t know what happened, I don’t
understand, but the boy is fine now. We don’t have to take him to Mexico City.
Why should we take him to Mexico City, when there is nothing wrong with him? I
can’t explain what happened – but the child is fine. We’re going to keep him
here two more weeks to make sure, but then I am going to send him home.” When
they removed the tracheotomy tube, the hole in Alfredo’s throat had healed by
the next morning. The doctor was very surprised at that because he had told the
family it would take 3-4 days for the opening to heal.
Alfredo’s family brought him to the Food Bank soon after he had been released from the hospital, so they could give thanks to God. Everyone was thrilled to see Alfredo so happy and healthy. He is eating fine, talking normally, and after receiving some physical therapy for his weakened muscles, he is back to walking again. Thank you Jesus!
