Reitte Joseph, of Haiti, wasn’t able to blow out her birthday candles when she turned 22, but that doesn’t mean her wish didn’t come true. Now she’ll get a chance to do blow them out on her 23rd.
On Dec. 5, Joseph was in a grueling 12-hour surgery at POH Regional Medical Center to remove a large malignant tumor growing on the left side of her face.
For her first 22 years, she has had to live with the deformity, but doctors said it would continue to grow, putting pressure on her face and eventually cutting off her airways.
That wasn’t in the cards for Johnson, though, as a Lake Orion church was about to change her life.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has taken a mission trip to Haiti for the past several years, and in 2007, Michelle Garland, of Clarkston, and her husband, Eric, were amoung church members that decided to go on the missioin.
Michelle, a nurse, connected with another missionary there, and through her, heard the story about Joseph.
‘It moved my heart,? Michelle said, which prompted her to bring back Joseph’s medical information and x-rays, even though she had never met Joseph while she was there.
Upon returning from Haiti, Michelle knew she wanted to help Joseph, which prompted the church to contact Dr. Baylis, a doctor they had turned to when one of the mission trip members had gotten sick over in Haiti.
Dr. Baylis, after hearing about Joseph, got the ‘ball rolling,? and contacted some fellow medical professionals, which led him to Dr. Stachler, who then led to Dr. Clayman.
Through a board member at POH Regional Medical Center, who’s family is from Haiti, POH got involved and wanted to help. They agreed to take on the case free of charge, and Good Shepherd started the efforts, with POH’s support, to get Joseph to Michigan for surgery.
Joseph arrived in November and lived with the Garlands and their children, Allison, 14, and Ben, 11.
‘I’m just thankful to God that he gave us the opportunity and trust to do his work,? Michelle said. ‘She’s been a wonderful blessing to our family.?
Not only did Joseph befriend the family’s dog, but she also made siblings in Allison and Ben.
Both kids said that she ‘was like a sister to them? and enjoyed experiencing firsts with her, such as Joseph’s first snowball fight and first time decorating a Christmas tree. Ben also made Joseph milkshakes, which mom Michelle said ‘she loved.?
Michelle and Allison will be part of the mission team accompanying Joseph back to her home in Haiti at the end of February, where Joseph will be reunited with her family for the first time in several months.
‘We’re really going to miss her, but we’re happy she’s going back to her family healthy,? Eric said.
Through Joseph’s stay in Michigan, the Haitian Network of Detroit has been very active company for her, as well as providing translation for Joseph to speak, since she does not speak English.
Joseph was accompanied by her translator, Fritz, at Good Shepherd on Sunday, where the church hosted a birthday/farewll celebration for her, and through Fritz, she communicated with the group.
‘She didn’t think the surgery was going to happen,? he translated. ‘She didn’t think all of the goodness from everyone was possible.?
Through her translator, Joseph thanked everyone that had been involved, especially the Garlands and her doctors, as well as God ‘for everything God has done for her.?
‘God will bless you for all the work that you have done for her… for all the goodness she has received in this state,? Joseph said through her translator.
While Joseph has been here, she has been working with one of the individuals from the Haitian Network who was starting to educate her on numbers, letters, etc. When she returns home, Joseph plans on continuing her education, as well as learning English, and ‘hopes to be able to one day be able to thank you in your language,? the translator said.
Since Joseph was not able to celebrate her 22nd birthday on the day of her surgery, the group gathered at Good Shepherd ended her farewell celebration with a a round of Happy Birthday.