Rodel is four months away from his second birthday and his whole family is terrified. The average lifespan for someone with Biliary Atresia is two years and Rodel’s liver is pretty much non-existent, thus the reason for panic. On top of that, since Rodel comes from a poverty stricken area and lives in a country that doesn’t even do liver transplants, his outlook is bleak. I don’t know why things like this happen or why this boy was just born into his situation, but I have to trust that God knows what He’s doing.
When I squatted down beside him, I was amazed that this child that is nearly two years old is smaller than even a small six month old baby. His skin and eyes are a deep color of yellow from the jaundice and I could tell there was nothing about his situation that was comfortable. He just sat in his sister’s lap and ate the food we served just like everyone else. As he just stared blankly into my eyes, I couldn’t help but think of how many kids were born into situations like this one and wouldn’t make it to their second birthday. Only up until now, all those children were just numbers in my mind. Now there was a face and a name etched into my memory.
The practical side of me took over as I talked with some of the men from the area. If he doesn’t get another liver, the disease will win and he’ll die soon. Then I asked the question that I was even a little shocked came out of my mouth, “Is anyone praying for him?” I’ve seen events in some of the poorest areas of the world where doctors and medicine are scare where people have been miraculously healed. When I squatted back down in front of him again, I opened my mouth to pray and nothing came out. I didn’t know what to pray. What can you even say in a moment like this? I just uttered under my breath, “Lord, teach me to pray,” because I had nothing.
I honestly don’t know what I prayed and unfortunately, there wasn’t an immediate healing, but I do believe something could come of it. I remember one of the last things I prayed was, “Lord, make his life count for something.” Many people die everyday chasing a dream that can never fully be attained because it’s based on competition between one another, and they get to their deathbeds wondering if their life really counted for anything. I know Rodel is only two and thoughts like this may never come to his mind, but I didn’t really care about that.
As I prayed for Rodel several more times throughout the day, I realized God was answering my prayer, and He was teaching me how to pray. I’ve seen a lot throughout the world, but Rodel stopped me where I stood and I know I’ll never be the same. I’ll continue to pray for a miracle, but above his own life, I’ll pray his days here change the lives of the people he comes in contact with. May we never be the same…
