Baby Joseph is on his way to a hospital in St. Louis.
The baby who was hours from being pulled off life support at his Canadian hospital has been rescued by the national director of Priests for Life and taken to the U.S. for treatment.
Thirteen-month-old Joseph Maraachli, who is currently kept alive by a respirator and was recently denied a transfer to a Michigan hospital to undergo a tracheotomy, arrived in the U.S. early Monday morning with Fr. Frank Pavone and other Priests for Life staff.
“Priests for Life staff toiled through the night for many nights, working in concert with dozens of people to make this possible,” Father Pavone said in a statement. “Now that we have won the battle against the medical bureaucracy in Canada, the real work of saving Baby Joseph can begin.”
Maraachli was on his way to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo., a non-profit health-care facility open to all children in need of medical care.
Priests for Life has a press release about it if you’d like to check that out as well.
March 14, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Praise God! And many glorious thanks to Priests for Life! We will continue praying for Baby Joseph.
March 14, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Indeed, thanks be to God. lois in Indy
March 14, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Thanks God. God bless baby Joseph and Priest for Life!!
March 14, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Wonderful news, and let us keep praying for baby Joseph's health to improve!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14, 2011 at 5:53 pm
I am not comfortable with the claim that Priest for Life ( specifically Fr Frank Pavone has saved Baby Joseph. Many people work to help this little one, including the Franciscan Brothers of Peace! We don't see them blowing their horn at this moment!
I am always a bit troubled by priests that clamor for notice in a process like this. The photo I've seen with the baby look's like a fundraising tool to me. Is Fr Frank is becoming another Celebrity priest?
God bless all those that have strived to help this little one. Especially his parents that have never stopped fighting for his well being.
March 14, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Wonderful work! I think it is important that people know about pro-life victories. Sometimes, it feels like we never win anything. When people come together, through works, prayers and, yes, money, good things can happen.
In addition, sometimes, good doesn't happen unless the culprit knows people are watching. I think that played a big part here. PFL was huge in getting the word out about this situation. It quickly became a PR problem for Canada, and I think that may have been a main reason why Joseph was released.
March 14, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Lili, relax. It seems to me that Fr. Pavone is acting as, among other things, a spokesperson for the family.I heard him this morning on Catholic radio and he clearly spoke of all those who have helped this little baby reach safety. I highly doubt that he is "clamoring for notice" for his own gain. An insulting remark to be sure. I'm sure if the Franciscans wanted to speak they would be more than welcome to. Me thinks you seem more put out than they.
March 16, 2011 at 2:31 am
I appreciate you comments, Maria, I sincerely hope I am reading his behavior wrong. It's just that I work with a group of pro-life priests in my diocese and also know the Franciscan Brothers. All of these men are very humble in their tireless pro-life efforts.
The Brothers have used facebook to keep folks praying and writing authorities about all of this in Canada. yet I don't see any boasting now.
It's just a bit unnerving when the only face that we ever see of "PRIESTS for Life' is Fr Frank's? He seems a bit too comfortable as a superstar. After the Fr Euteneuer saga recently it makes me nervous.