“With God, all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26
There was something so intoxicating about Cartier. The vibrant
4-year-old radiated pure energy, a big heart, and lots of love. His laugh even
caused curmudgeons to chuckle out loud.
When the little boy woke up with a fever that quickly
progressed to chills, frequent urination, and lethargy, his parents rushed him
to the ER. Within minutes of their arrival, Cartier plunged into cardiac arrest.
His tiny heart suddenly and unexpectedly stopped pumping blood to his brain and
other vital organs.
But when CPR didn’t revive his heart, Cartier was hooked up to an ECMO machine, which is used temporarily during open-heart surgery to keep a patient’s blood pumping and oxygenated while surgeons operate.
As hours ticked by, concerns grew that his heart would never restart. The ECMO kept Cartier alive for the next 13 hours while doctors fought tirelessly without success.
They warned his shattered parents that it was only a matter of time before artificial life support would reach its limits without a heartbeat. Family members gathered at the hospital to say their goodbyes to Cartier.
With hope slowly fading, his
parents clung to their faith and prayed at their son’s bedside. The roles of
protecting, nurturing, and loving their sweet child would likely give way to
grief and mourning without the ECMO.
As they approached his final
hour, Cartier’s father, Dominque, announced that it was now in God’s loving
hands and encouraged them to pray for a miracle. “It’s time to talk to the
Man upstairs, let’s go to God in prayer,” he urged. “Almighty God, let
them see who You are. Jesus, as you called Lazarus from the tomb of death, please
bring my boy back.”
Within the hour, something incredible happened. After many failed
attempts to restart Cartier’s heart during the previous 14 hours, the youngster’s
heart amazingly started beating on its own.
Shocked by this unexpected turn
of events, the Chief Cardiologist admitted that he’d never seen anything like
that before. It was a miracle, some called it the Lazarus effect! (autoresuscitation)
Despite his heart regaining momentum, doctors feared that Cartier’s
organs may have been damaged due to a lack of oxygen in parts of his brain. They
were wrong! His organs are working perfectly. Amazing things are happening for
him now.
Indeed, Cartier’s journey defied the odds - and some would say science - as his heart now
beats powerfully. Journeys like this change not only those closest to the
survivor but also people facing every situation. So, reach out and grasp the
hope that’s waiting for you. For those who believe in God, there’s always hope,
there’s always a way. He always has the final say.
“Dear God, in this moment of need, I humbly
ask for your intervention. Guide my steps, illuminate my path, and grant me the
strength and wisdom to navigate this challenge. I trust in your divine plan and
pray for your peace and guidance." Amen (Domenic)
