A New Heart for Jeric
By Tanya Mershalova 
The first time I met Jeric was on May 7 at the entrance to the hospital. I was waiting for him and curious what he would look like. I was told that it would be easy to distinguish him from other boys because of the color of his skin. Not because it was dark, but because of the bluish color. Every doctor knows that's a sign of heart disease. Yes, Jeric has suffered from a congenital heart disease for his 7 short years. He was found in a remote mountain province by our missionaries and visiting medical team during their medical outreach trip in July 2011. Since then Jeric’s life has been different.
Wendy, with the help of the visiting medical team, found sponsors for surgery and long preparations were made. When I got to Santiago this past April, Wendy was about to leave to the U.S. and was anxiously looking for someone to take care of Jeric’s case, which was rapidly progressing toward surgery by this point. I volunteered to do that and now I was staying and waiting for our first meeting.
In the busy hospital lobby I noticed a mother with a little boy that looked 4-5 years old. They seemed shy and lost in a different world. They tried to stay out of the way and protect themselves from the people running to and fro who seemed so different than them. I knew this must be my patient, so I went to them with my welcome smile and they smiled back at me. The first step was made.
Very soon I found that Jeric was a brave boy and he quietly endured all the medical procedures. Despite his calmness, I knew it would take alot of effort and adjustments for this family until the operation would be done. Manila is so stressful and different from their quiet place in the mountains of northern, Luzon. The first problem we met was the air conditioning. Maroline, Jeric's mother physically couldn’t bare it. She felt so bad whenever she was in an air-conditioned building or bus. She vomited the whole way to Manila. I felt so sorry for her. The Philippine Heart Center where the surgery was to be done was also air conditioned as well as the taxis and most buses. I was so happy to have any air conditioned place, but sacrifices must to be made. During our many weeks together we traveled in non air-conditioned buses and jeepnies, and in taxis with opened windows, covering our faces from the smoke and smells of Manila.
Our first day in the Heart Center we waited for the doctor’s appointment for 12 hours. I realized this was not going to be easy. Jeric was under the Social Services, charity program so waiting for 8-12 hours to get any paperwork done became our habit. Though it was tiresome, God was doing miracles for us every day. While other charity cases were waiting to process their surgeries for years, we finished within 3 weeks. There were always people sent by God to help us in different ways. Some shared food, others their houses, time, and money. Jeric and his mother could see God's hand working so obviously. All the papers were complete, finances were provided by our dear sponsors, and surgery was scheduled for June 7. That morning I rushed to the waiting area at the O.R. I saw Maroline with her fears and worries written on her face. There was no time to say anything. I just hugged her tight and we cried and prayed together. Eight hours went like 8 weeks until the doctor finally came out and said that the surgery had been successful! We instantly bowed our heads with joy to say thanks and praises to our God. It was Jeric's 7th Birthday. What a wonderful gift from God- a new heart!
The following days were challenging. Jeric was transferred to the intensive care room. In the waiting areas we could see parents and relatives of other children who had undergone surgery. Some were happy and laughing. Others were crying over dead bodies of their precious ones. It was a time for learning dependence on God and much prayer.
At this time Jeric’s father joined us. Dr. Mary (an Adventist Optometrist) and I started Bible studies with Jeric's parents. Other parents started joining us too. They were coming and asking for prayers. We spent many occasions holding their hands and praying with them. In those corridors we all became very close to each other as one family.
The next huge challenge was to find 22 blood donors to replace the blood used for Jeric's surgery! It sounded impossible to me. Where would I find so many donors in a place I was not even familiar? We prayed, and soon we could see what a blessing it is to be a part of the family of God. With the great help of Sofia, a friend and student at AUP (Adventist University of the Philippines) who organized group after group of friends to come and get tested, we ended up replacing not just 22 units but 24!
Finally the time came for Jeric to be transferred to the wards. It seemed that all our worries were behind us, but the struggles continued. For various reasons the doctors were not ready to let us go. They found Jeric’s heart beat to be irregular and it had to be taken care of before he could go. They were considering putting a pacemaker in Jeric's chest, which would mean another surgery! I knew God was in control from the beginning, but this news was like thunder to me from the sunny skies.
We were all so tired and everybody just wanted to go home! But God said, “Not yet…” That same afternoon Maroline began asking me questions, out of the blue, about the Sabbath. She said she was excited to know more about it. She even started to read the Bible Study lesson on her own but couldn’t understand it. She said she couldn't wait for our regular Bible study time with Dr. Mary at 5p.m. In my head I thanked God that now I could see why we couldn't go home yet . She had already accepted God as her Savior, but now she was ready for more truth.
Thank God the doctors decided not to do the surgery but to try medications first. It meant more time for Jeric to be in the hospital but it also gave more opportunity for Maroline to learn more about God.
Weeks went by and Jeric's arrhythmia thankfully resolved on the medication. We got the good news that Jeric would be discharged, but we knew by experience not to get too excited. Sure enough, the discharge was cancelled again when they found his oxygen level was running very low. After more tests, many more days of waiting, and lots of prayers, they said he would be ok and would not need more surgery. (His condition was just so bad to begin with that it was a possibility that everything would not be completely solved with the surgery.)
Finally the day came when the doctors decided Jeric could be discharged even though he still needed oxygen. He would have to have oxygen at home and stay close by to the hospital. About this time some heavy rains caused major flooding in Manila and the discharge was post-poned one last time for a few more days.
Then the day finally came. Wendy was able to go to Manila and work on the process. It took all day to get all the requirements done, the bills paid, the oxygen tanks purchased and everything arranged. But on August 12, at around 8:30 p.m. Jeric and Maroline were finally discharged and free to leave the hospital and go to a relatives' house nearby! It seems unreal and I can't imagine that it's finally over.
But is it really over? Will Jeric ever get off oxygen? How will we keep up with all the expenses and logistics of the oxygen and continued medications and appointments? Will he continually need check-ups and medications for the rest of his life? Will he ever be able to go home to the rest of his family?! I believe that whatever happens, we do not have to worry about anything. God has proved faithful all along the way, and we believe He will continue to provide what is best. God will make a way and most importantly He will do His best to make sure that this family is in heaven with us some day!
Please pray with us that Jeric's family will continue to study and grow in their faith during this time of waiting. For the meantime we pray for the witness of the Adventist community in Manila on this family. And for the rest of the family back in their mountain home, we pray for their growth with the Philippine Frontier Missionaries. (The father actually used to be antagonistic to the work there, but since the surgery, he has been warm and friendly towards their mission!)
I pray that I will not be meeting Jeric and family any more at the entrance of a hospital, but at the entrance of heaven!
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