An Easter Blessing: "Baby Joseph" Returns Home

By 

Jay Sekulow

|
June 26, 2011

3 min read

Pro Life

A

A

We told you about the story of "Baby Joseph" - the child from Canada who suffers from a chronic and serious illness.

As you may recall, we were retained by the child's parents to assist in exploring options to get their son medical treatment in the United States. 

Last month, Joseph Maraachli was transferred from a hospital in Canada to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Now, some incredible news.  "Baby Joseph" is returning home to Canada after completing a successful tracheotomy and now breathing on his own.  That's right, doctors and staff at the Missouri hospital completed the medical treatment and care that "Baby Joseph" so badly needed and deserved.

Our senior attorney, CeCe Heil, worked diligently on this case and expresses the joy we all embrace with this great news.

"This is such a joyous time for the family and those who worked to ensure that 'Baby Joseph' received the medical care and treatment he needed and deserved. We are so thrilled that 'Baby Joseph' is safe and sound at home with his family.  He is truly a miracle, as he continues to defy doctors, now breathing on his own for two weeks. We are honored to play a part in giving this little boy a chance to live, and can't thank Cardinal Glennon and Dr. Wilmott enough for what they have done.  It is fitting that this celebration of life unfolds during Easter week."
 
Calling the operation "a success," Dr. Robert Wilmott, the chief of pediatrics at the hospital, made this announcement:  "We wanted to ensure that Joseph was as comfortable and as secure as possible.  By providing him with this common palliative procedure, weve given Joseph the chance to go home and be with his family after spending so much of his young life in the hospital."

We worked closely with Priests for Life on this case and assisted in a variety of capacities including aiding in the facilitation of the transfer of "Baby Joseph" to the Missouri hospital as well as working to ensure there were no legal impediments in the transfer process.

The child's father, Moe Maraachli, said in a statement that he was grateful for all of the support in recent weeks.

"So many people from the United States and Canada and all around the world have reached out, sent letters and called my family to let us know they were praying for us and thinking about us," Maraachli said. "This has really helped our family through this hard time, to know there is so much kindness in the world."

What an Easter blessing!  "Baby Joseph" back home with his family - breathing on his own.