Sliding and Opened Doors

Many years ago I watched a movie Sliding Doors.  The premise of that movie is that one small thing that happens in an instant can literally alter the course of your life.  The movie goes on to show both pieces: if that small thing happens, situations and life go this way.  If that small thing doesn’t occur, life goes another way.  

I watched that unfold in my world today.  I arrived at the orphanage a little before 8:30.  I’d taken my time getting ready, and had nothing to hurry there for super early.  I stopped to talk with Teacher Frantz, who thought he was having a toothache, but Dr. Angie diagnosed a problem with this temper mandibular joint (jaw) and gave him a few pointers on how to avoid such pain.  Marie France approached me saying she had an emergency she needed help with.

We went in the office, where she told me that one of our little guys, Sondy, had not been accepted at not one, but two hospitals late yesterday.  Our doctor had suggested a third hospital, but there had not been time to attempt it last night.  The sheet from the first hospital stated he has pneumonia. 

In an instant, one year ago flashed through my mind.  It was exactly one year ago today I met Baby Rudy.  I had tried not to think about it, but once we hit November, I couldn’t seem to help it.  Especially when I look at one of our other little guys, who is exactly the same age as Rudy would be.  I didn’t want to go to a hospital today.  I didn’t want to see babies like Rudy, and be reminded that we lost him. (If you want to read Rudy's whole story, go here, here, here, and here).

Marie France left to go pack a bag for Sondy, and I sat down, said a quick prayer, and called my friend David.  After three rings I was convinced he wasn’t going to pick up, but then he did.  I asked him if the nurse at Child Hope had any connections at one of the hospitals.  He didn’t know, but quickly texted me her phone number.  I called Brooke, who said she didn’t have any connections. 

I decided not to go back to the second hospital from yesterday.  I decided we should go to the one right down the street, which our doctor had suggested as a third option. 

In typical Haitian medical fashion, we were sent to one seat, then given a slip of paper, sent to another seat, told to go pay, seen by a nurse, sent to another seat, then sent to get blood work…you get the picture.

After seeing the doctor (who was the most pleasant doctor I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in Haiti), we were told that Sondy did indeed need to be admitted, but they did not have space for him.  The doctor quickly wrote out a referral for University Hospital, marked the envelope “Urgent” and off we went.  Not University Hospital, anywhere but there.  By the time I got back to the orphanage, I could barely hold the tears in.  I felt like they were going to explode out of me.  I grabbed Marie France’s hand and pulled her into the office, where Pierre was working to get dossiers together. 

I choked out the words, ‘She wants us to go to the University Hospital.  I can’t take him there.  It’s where Rudy died.’  Marie France understood immediately.  Pierre asked what I thought we should do.  I shrugged my shoulders, and tried not to let out a huge ugly choking sob.  After a few deep breaths, I said, ‘we should go where the doctor told us to go.  We don’t have any other options.’ 

As we walked through the front doors of the hospital, I had to keep taking deep breaths as we walked closer and closer to where Rudy had been.  I heard loud sounds of concrete being broken up and when I looked, saw that the entire area where he had been was being ripped apart and redone.  I silently thanked God for his mercy to me that day.  How I did not want to leave Sondy in that same room, and the way had already been prepared for us.

Mommy Murieux and I were turned away at the University Hospital hospital as well.  When we arrived upstairs, they were clearly overcrowded, but that did not ease my frustration.  I held this sweet child in my arms, burning with fever, unsure of the extent of his sickness, and I had nowhere to go. 

I called Brooke, who told me she was at Medishare, the first hospital from the previous night.  She said she’d see what she could do.  I called Beth, who said to go to L’Hopital Espwa, but it would cost money.  At that moment, I understood how a mother would give anything she has to see her child well.  I didn’t care about the cost, I didn’t care what it would take, I just wanted this angelic child to be given proper care.  Beth and the ladies at her clinic prayed with me.  Right there, on the phone, prayed with me.  For obstacles to be moved in Jesus’ name.  For gates to open, and the right people in the right places to care for Sondy.

We left and headed to hospital #3 of the day. 

We were two minutes from L’Hopital Espwa when my phone rang.  It was Brooke, telling me a bed had opened and Medishare had agreed to take Sondy.  We quickly turned around and headed to Medishare.  It was hard to focus on driving, my mind was reeling at God’s hand guiding and directing. 

When we arrived, Brooke met us at the gate and took us to the pediatric unit.  Nurse Cortney and Dr. Camille greeted us.  They assessed Sondy and  looked at the labs and other information I had for him.  They asked me questions about him, and asked to talk to the treating pediatrician.  They were actually gathering information, to prevent starting from square one.  I felt at home.  I finally felt like we were where we were supposed to be.  

I asked Brooke if she volunteered at the hospital.  “No,” she replied, “I had to come bring a four year old and a woman who is HIV positive here today.”  “You mean, you aren’t here on a regular basis?” I asked.  “Oh no,” she laughed.  “So you ‘just happened’ to be here today when I called?” I asked with tears filling my eyes.  “Yep, I ‘just happened’ to be here,” she said.  I don’t know what she said after that because my eyes overflowed a little, and I was silently praising God for his ultimate plan for Sondy’s good.  Thanking Him for every single moment that if it had gone another way, would not have lead to that very moment, with Sondy receiving the care he desperately needed.

All because someone picked up the phone.  Because someone made us take ten extra steps to accomplish something.  Because I paused on the road to talk on the phone instead of driving did the timing turn out perfectly. 

I have to believe that God orchestrated this day.  I believe that with my whole heart, and I am so thankful to have been part of His beautiful plan of sliding doors with Sondy.