Maricela:
The young woman could not sleep in the unrelenting rain and harsh winds. Her second pregnancy had only days to go and memories of the first one provoked a deep fear. Maricela's first effort to bring life into the world ended with a still born child. What would happen with this child in her womb? Manuel, her partner, could sense the fear and he had worries of his own: as a Haitian immigrant, dependent upon the good will of the coffee landowner, a new baby might become an unwelcome guest... and what if they get sick?
El Platón:
As he worried, the community of El Platón suffered the ravages of tropical storm Noel. Little did Manuel know that the main country road into Paraíso would be completely destroyed by the time he really needed transportation. El Platón has the unfortunate geographical position of being at the confluence of the Nizaito river's dual channels. Water rushes almost 4,000 feet down steep mountain sides and the river's power moves thousands of rocks.
Four in the morning:
Maricela's labor pains begin in the darkness, after four days of deluge. Manuel doesn't know what to do. His mind is a blank and he experiences a dreadful helplessness. But thanks be to God the neighbors step in. They reach a decision: at first light they will help Maricela to get out of the mountains. But at 6 AM she has no energy to move. The pain in her young body locks her up and she is afraid to walk. The people decide to make a stretcher with a long branch and a bed sheet. They will carry her for six hours until they reach Villa Nizao.
News:
At One PM two young people pound on our rectory door. They demand that the parish help we drop whatever we are doing and help rescue a young woman who is going to give birth at any minute. Soon the three of us are driving the double cabin Toyota truck out of town. We reach the muddy part of the road to Villa Nizao and barely get through. On the way back it will be extremely difficult to climb in the thick mud. Before reaching the village, here come the people carrying Maricela. For the first time I see that the lady's partner is Manuel, our catechist in El Platón. The villagers helping the young woman onto the back seat include four or five Dominican residents, which brings great comfort, since they show support for someone who is not their nationality but is a Child of God.
Mud pushers:
Five men climb on to the back of the truck and when we hit the bad part of the road and get stuck, they jump over the sides and push the truck so we can get out of the mud. It's a miracle that we reach the main road. We drive into Paraíso looking for a doctor but can find none. The group decides that the best choice is to head for Barahona. As we move along, the Dominican lady keeps trying to maintain a conversation with Maricela. She believes that a woman in labor should never sleep because as she says "it turns the pains cold". We finally arrive at the hospital at 5 PM.
Blessed birth:
Doctor Delgado and others assist Maricela and within twenty minutes after arriving at the regional hospital, she gives birth to her little son. We give the doctor a lift back to Paraíso. He tells us that he has four children; that his family lives in Oviedo; that he has taught all of his children how to inject patients. People routinely come to his home and even his nine year old daughter can inject them. He identifies himself as an Evangelical Christian and we admire his deep faith. He assures us that Maricela and the baby are fine.
The next day:
Manuel comes by the next morning, asking if he can call the hospital to find out how his partner and the baby spent the night. A Haitian woman, neighbor of theirs stayed with them in the hospital. We can not get through to the hospital and he leaves the rectory. At ten AM he returns with the totally unexpected: Maricela and the baby. Can you believe it? She gave birth less than twenty hours ago and now she is walking around with her son! They needed a ride out to the end of the road... where the heavy mud begins ... and so off we go. By eleven AM they begin the long walk back to El Platón. With few resources, they believe that the best choice before them was to return to their community as quickly as possible. Thanks be to God the sun shone brightly. Can you place yourself by the truck, watching the couple; another injured Haitian and the woman friends starting out on that long walk? Can you imagine wondering how Maricela could be so strong, and what kind of a mission lies before Manuelito who in less than twenty hours after coming into the world is being carried off, into the wilderness.
