Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, was interviewed this morning on Fox News as Baby Joseph Maraachli was flown home to Canada.
The 15-month-old was transferred from a hospital in London, Ontario, last month because doctors there ruled that to continue to treat his neurological disease was futile, and courts agreed. Plans were in the works to disconnect the breathing tube that was helping him breathe, and to let him die.
Just over a month later, the boy has received the tracheotomy his parents sought and is breathing on his own.
“We knew when he was in Canada … he was mostly breathing on his own,” Father Pavone told Fox News’ Gretchen Carlson this morning. He said the tracheotomy that ultimately was performed at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis “was not extraordinary treatment,’ and had “a high probability of success.”
Father Pavone, who has remained in close contact with Baby Joseph’s parents, Moe and Sana Maraachli, said the parents are excited to be bringing the baby home.
“This is all they wanted,” he said, “to be able to bring him home and care for him for as much time as God gives them together.”
Father Pavone said the family’s tenacity should help empower other families to battle medical bureaucracies, and should encourage pro-life efforts on every front.
“This case should help families to stand up and fight hard,” he said. To pro-lifers, he said, “stay engaged in the pro-life effort because we have more victories to win.”
Baby Joseph, the child of a Muslim father and Catholic mother, was baptized Catholic last month. His transfer home took place on Holy Thursday, just three days before Christians celebrate Jesus’ victory over death.
“Today’s outcome is better than expected,’ Father Pavone said. “What a great way to celebrate Easter.”