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By Kelly Jerome

A little girl from Haiti has inspired people in mid-Michigan to allow God to work through them to improve her life.

Johane Dort's father first brought her to the Halos Medical Mission in July of 2007. Her malady was obvious - one of her eyes was a typical, healthy brown, the other was milky white and blind. At the time, Halos was unable to provide optical care, but the family was told to return in November when an optometrist would be available.

In November, Johane returned to Halos, but the medical missionaries discovered her eye was too damaged to be repaired in Haiti. Her only hope was surgery in the United States, requiring a trip that demands arduous amounts of paperwork, patience and money, said Jennifer Jordahl, director of Halos Medical Mission.

Cynthia Kreil, a family nurse practitioner who had met Johane in July, surprised herself by immediately committing to find a way to bring Johane to Midland and provide her with a temporary home.

"My hand went up and my mouth opened, and I thought 'whoa, what did I just do?'" Kreil said.

From that moment, when she opened her heart and home to a poor, half-blind Haitian girl, Kreil said God has guided her path and opened every doorway.

As an example of God's hand at work, Kreil points to the relative ease she had securing a medical visa for Johane. Before a visa is granted, the U.S. government requires proof of funding for all possible medical procedures, Kreil said. At the time, she didn't know how she would get the funding, but she trusted God to find a way.

God responded in a way that continues to awe her.

The blessings began when Kreil's husband, Dennis Kreil, asked his men's prayer group to pray about the issue. One of the men, Kevin Ullom, a special procedures nurse at Covenant in Saginaw, asked a hospital chaplain how someone might attempt to secure donations of doctors' time, medications and more.

"They just grabbed the ball and ran," Ullom said. In a short time, an entire surgical package had been assembled for Johane.

Meanwhile, Kreil asked her family optometrist, William Houser of Houser Optometry in Midland, if he would consider donating Johane's preliminary eye exam. Houser came back with an emphatic "yes," and said he was on board for whatever else Johane needed from him, as well.

"My husband and I just cried, because we never asked. God was doing all that behind the scenes through other people," Kreil said. "That is the most important part of this story. It's not my story. It's not Johane's story. It's God's story.

"Every time we needed something, God has sent the right person to come along side us."

With medical funding in place, the U.S. government granted the visa and Kreil brought Johane to Midland on Feb. 12. Since then, Johane has experienced things she would never see in her home country, including the Detroit Zoo, a Great Lakes Loons game and horseback riding. Amenities Americans take for granted, such as bathtubs and light switches, amaze her.

"She was surprised you didn't have to fill a bucket to take a bath," Kreil said.

Operation not possible

After Johane's eye was thoroughly examined, the medical team was forced to come to the conclusion that even in the United States, Johane was not a good surgical candidate. It was originally believed the problem was a simple cataract, but Johane also had a damaged cornea and a detached retina.

But the fact that surgeons could not help did not mean the trip was a failure, Kreil said. Dr. Houser found a solution that, while not giving Johane vision, allowed others to see her as a normal little girl. He fitted her with a brown contact to match her normal eye.

Once the contact was in, Kreil said Johane was delighted with her reflection in the mirror.

"She was so excited. She had never seen herself with two brown eyes," Kreil said.

While others were disappointed that things did not go as they planned, Kreil said the trip went exactly as God planned. And, Johane could not be happier.

Kreil relayed what she believes Johane feels about the situation: "Why are people sad? Look at me. All I ever wanted were two brown eyes."

"The brown contact made her feel beautiful, probably for the first time in her life," Kreil said.

Homecoming delayed

Kreil had planned to return Johane to her family in Haiti on April 19, but political unrest in the country forced them to delay the trip. She now has tickets for May 20 and hopes for Johane's sake the country will be calm by then.

Johane took the bad news well, but was concerned about missing her ninth birthday party with her large family, including eight children. It would be the first time she spent her birthday away from her twin sister. Kreil said God came through again to make Johane's birthday special, despite being a world away from her home.

Denise O'Keefe, a member of Kreil's Church, Messiah Lutheran, volunteered to put together a birthday party at the Midland Gymnastics Training Center.

Johane entered the party room on Sunday with a giggle and a massive smile. She admired a white, castle-shaped birthday cake and goggled at the pile of gifts. She and other girls at the party played on the gymnastic equipment, squealing joyfully as they bounced off a long trampoline into a pit of cubed foam.

Johane seemed to find wonder every minute of the party, especially when it came time to open her gifts.

"Oh my goodness," Johane said, pulling a Barbie doll from a gift bag. She examined and appreciated each present.

When Johane returns home, she'll bring these gifts, as well as a spare brown contact and memories of a Mama and Papa who took care of her for a few months and helped to give her a normal appearance and life.

Dennis and Cynthia Kreil agreed that it will be difficult to send her home, but they feel good knowing she's going to a family who loves her deeply. Dennis said having Johane in his home has brought multiple blessings, and one of the biggest blessings was to witness how God works through people to meet needs.

"It's just so awesome to see God's people rally around with that kind of love for someone we don't even know," he said. "It's awesome to see God work."

Cynthia has kept a blog detailing the experience, which can be found online at Johane's Journey. She said one of the things Johane enjoys most about America is getting mail. It is suggested that sentences are kept in short, simple English, and the blog has several phrases in Johane's native Creole. Anyone wishing to give Johane a belated birthday card or gift may send it to Johane Dort, c/o Messiah Lutheran Church, 1550 S. Poseyville Road, Midland, MI 48640.

The Halos Medical Mission at Three Angels Children's Relief has a long list of items it needs to become even more successful in Haiti. If you are interested in donating or want more information, see Three Angels.