Rhone Cypher Roxas was a bubbly eight-year old boy oozing with energy and vigor. His zest for life was rudely interrupted when he contracted viral encephalitis, a debilitating illness that leads to total loss of memory and cognitive skills. He has been in that awful condition — wasting away– for the last two years, and he is now 10 years old!
We came to know Rhone’s case through his mother’s persistent prayer request for his healing. Moved by compassion for a mother’s urgent plea, we, at the NOONTIME INTERCESSORY MINISTRY visited the Roxas’ family in Camarin, Caloocan where they live, late last year. We brought diapers, fruits and Pediasure+3-10, his main food fed through N.G.T.
Lying on an old sofa by the doorway was a tiny, emaciated child, with eyes moving sideways continuously like a pendulum. With tube attached to his nose, his mother patiently fed him with thoroughly-blended mixture of fruits, vegetables, rice and milk. The only sign of life in that child was his shallow breathing, the continuous eye movement, and the constant seizures affecting his right hand. Since his brain was affected by the disease, he couldn’t recognize any sound, he could not see though his eyes were open. In fact, his five senses have become totally dysfunctional. We prayed for his complete healing, and for sustenance of their financial needs. More importantly, we led his parents to Christ.
That first visit was followed by a few more visits and prayer meetings.
We have been greatly encouraged by the remarkable improvement in Rhone’s condition since then. God has answered our prayer: Rhone has gained weight, he could smile now, he is starting to recognize the voice of his mother, and once in a while he could laugh and produce a sound when his parents tickled him. Due to financial constraints, however, his parents could not bring him to his neurologist for the much-needed check-up, and possibly rehab and physical therapy.
But we continue to pray for Rhone’s complete healing, believing that one day, God will raise him up from that decrepit sofa and make him walk again! To God be the glory!—Rose B. Mangahas
Postscript:
Rhone needs donation of wheelchair , supply of Pediasure+3-10, and disposable diapers (large size).
