Arturo died this past week. He was a selfless, courageous boy who lived with dignity up to his last hours. On Monday his father passed quickly by our house to tell us that they had just taken Arturo home from the hospital. The doctor's had no hope, no cure. They gave him three days to live. Why not suction his lungs like last time? That would buy time, prolong the agony; avoid the inevitable a little bit longer. No, the family is a humble family. They don't have the resources. Who will pay for a tracheotomy, or later, that life-saving respirator? Let Arturo die in peace.
Arturo wanted to see us, his godparents. We left the house immediately and took the toll road which saved us 25 minutes of precious time. We sat by Arturo's bed as other visitors arrived, family and friends who he also had called to his bedside. We watched as he struggled to breathe. At first he seemed lifeless, but as people arrived he gained strength to speak, even sit up and drink some water and chicken broth.
I sat next to him touching his hand. What should I say? He knows he is dying, and I will not lie like others and say, "You'll get better." Arturo always spoke the truth. When his cousin, Karina, almost died from epileptic seizures he insisted on seeing her. "Fight hard", he told her, "I can't walk, but you can walk again." How sad he was, to see her suffering.
"We're here", we told him. "We love you. You are like an angel, God's special messenger to us." It's true, Arturo with his child-like wisdom and daily struggles, taught us many important lessons. He never complained, instead he felt concern for everybody else. In February, I visited him in the hospital and he apologized to me for being an inconvenience!
The Franciscan nuns were brought to administer Holy Communion. Arturo took the opportunity to thank everyone individually for coming to visit. He was saying good-bye. I have never heard such an eloquent speech from such a young person. "I know that you are not all my blood relatives, but you have cared for me as if you were my family, thank you."
Turning to Tacho he said, "Godfather, I'm dying. Thank you for adopting me like your son. When I am gone, adopt another boy just like me."
.
I was not as strong as Arturo, "Don't cry, godmother", he whispered.
On Wednesday, Arturo's mom called. I feared the inevitable and ran to answer the phone. "Arturo is not doing well and is asking about his friend, Michael," she said.
"I'll be right there," I told her. Michael was an American boy who had befriended Arturo during vacation Bible school. This was Arturo's last wish, to say good-bye to his friend, Michael. He always thought of others. I called Michael and took my cell phone. I'd let him hear Michael's voice one last time.
Upon arriving, the doors were closed. They were administering some type of herbal tea. "Limpiezas" or cleanings is a common practice to rid a person of any evil spirits which may be causing an illness. Maybe that was what they were doing? I told his mother I would come back within an hour.
That hour turned out to be his last, when I returned Arturo had already slipped away. His father met me with tears in his eyes. "My wife is in the kitchen. Go see her," he told me.
Embracing her, we cried together for almost an hour reliving our fondest memories of Arturo. "He was more intelligent and wiser than me. Tell me what to do. Give me some words of comfort," she sobbed.
There was nothing I could say except that he was with God. What Arturo couldn't do on earth; he was doing in heaven. We suffer, but Arturo is free of the illness that enslaved his body. His short fifteen years of life impacted many people teaching us more than we could teach him; comforting us more than we could comfort him. He was God's messenger to us.
Arturo
Born December 11, 1991--
Born anew July 18, 2007
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 ARTURO'S
STORY
Arturo is a
12 year old boy with muscular dystrophy. We met him in the summer of
2004 while at VBS. He had many needs, but the most pressing was for a
new wheelchair. The Calvary Lutheran Church group (Golden Valley, MN)
raised an offering and we were able to buy him an all-terrain
wheelchair. Thanks to your offerings, Arturo has been able to attend
school on a regular basis this year. Now that the rainy season is almost
over, we are helping his family to build a ramp in front of his house
for easier access with his wheelchair. Arturo and his family are blessed
to have a new baby boy.
Article
from Summer of 2004
Last Thursday we were able to take Arturo and his parents to the
Foundation Bertha in San Juan del Rio (about a hour and a half drive) to
buy his wheelchair. The Foundation Bertha is a non-profit organization
which makes wheelchairs for people with limited economic resources. They
spent a couple of hours with us trying different wheelchairs to see
which would be the best fit for him. We were pleased to find an
all-terrain wheelchair which is especially designed for rural areas. It
did not cost as much as anticipated, only $160 dollars, so we will also
be able to buy material to build a ramp in front of his house.
Arturo was very happy with his new wheelchair, although he said he was
going to miss his old one. We decided that he would be able to give his
old chair to somebody else in need. Arturo shared with us that his
uncles told him that he shouldn't accept any help from us (Christians)
because we were bad people, but Arturo told them that he thought they
were the bad ones because all of these years they have known him, but
have not done anything to help him, yet we who have just met him have
decided to help him and make his life better. So, we thank all of you
for your generosity. You have made a huge impact in the life of this
child and his parents because through your actions you have shown them
Jesus.
Arturo is 12 and will be starting 5th grade this year (2004). We are
challenging him to finish his elementary school. His mother says that it
lifts his spirits whenever he goes to school. Last year his mother
pushed him to school everyday, one hour each way. But she is expecting
her third child in September and will not be able to take him to school.
Unfortunately, he has been held back a couple of years because of his
illness and lack of economic resources. It would cost about two dollars
a day to have a taxi pick him up and bring him home from school. We told
Arturo that his muscles may be weak, but his mind is not, so if he
wanted to finish elementary school we would find a way to pay for his
transportation. If you would like to continue supporting Arturo please
let us know.
2006
Graduation
In 2006,
Arturo graduated from 6th grade! MVM Director Sally Dominguez was
asked to be Arturo's honorable "madrina" (godmother) for the
celebration.
Spring
2006
Top
Left: Arturo's 6th Grade Graduation Ceremony.
Top
Right: Arturo with his family.
Bottom:
Arturo with his godmother "madrina" - Sally.
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