By a lot of metrics, the fact that I’m alive today is a miracle in itself. From falling of a two-story house onto rocks, being shot at, being hit by a car, falling off trees, failing brakes down a mountain side, my heart stopping on the table at my c-section, post eclampsia, and the mystery illness that saw me hospitalized for 4 months unable to keep anything down and everything tasting like dirt… I sometimes wonder if like cats I got nine lives.
That last one has left me with some issues, which is why I can’t work a real job. Combined with diabetes, high BD and heart issues which all happened when I got pregnant, I’m a mess somedays. Not every day and as long as I stay quiet not even most days.
So, I’m still alive today, I’m not the picture of health mind you but that’s okay I’m alive. People find it strange that “someone like me” has faith, trust me without faith I’d be dead. Faith keeps me alive. Not faith in the bible no, faith in something greater than myself, yes. Also, i come from a country where natural remedies, voudou, religion are all mixed up with science.
30 odd years ago, the mother was diagnosed with stage 4 intestinal cancer, she was given 3 months to live, she weighed 80lbs and her hemoglobin was 3. Me and the Bro rallied up, we bullied her into a surgery then sent her to the US for chemo. My stepfather called to say that docs said with chemo she’ll die in 3 days cause she was in too fragile a state. We complotted between the 3 of us and told the mother that they said she didn’t need chemo the surgery had removed all the cancer and she returned to Haiti. To this day she’s still alive and kicking none the wiser. My stepfather soon thereafter died of accidental electrocution. Go figure.
It’s all fine and dandy to have faith, but just because one has faith don’t mean one doesn’t also believe in science. If you believe your God created humanity, it follows your God also gave them brains right? So when humans create or discover cures for something that hails you, why not take it on faith that it’s God helping you?
This reminds me of the story of the drowning man refusing boats offering to rescue him and upon dying chastises God for not saving him and God answering, “dude I sent you 3 boats!”. Well friends God sent you scientists. I do a lot of traditional meds, teas, herbal remedies, I also take the damn tablets that keep me alive and have faith that they will work. So far so good.
What sometimes gives me a chuckle, is that people who decry black and white scenarios or binary choices are sometimes the same folks who think it’s either faith or science, can’t be both! Why not? Why not put the most chances on your side?
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That’s it for today, your poet is tired and achy lol have a good Wednesday.
(I’m still out of meds if someone can help I received two 20$ so 40$ so far, also Nate’s BD is Sunday and I want to buy a cake at least)
#TheAmericanHaitianPoet
Muriel Vieux – March 24th, 2026 – ©All rights reserved