Marlie Michelle Casseus

WHO IS MARLIE CASSEUS? HOW DID THE JOURNEYBEGIN?

STORY BY: GINA EUGENE (MARLIE’S CAREGIVER)

My name is Gina Eugene, a retired nurse and founder of GoodSamaritan For A Better Life.

In 2005, during one of my missionary trips to Haiti, I was invited to do an interview at a TV station in Haiti, CANAL 11,to speak about a teenager named Dahana David. Dahana traveled with me to the U.S. and had a facial tumor successfully removed at Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami through the International Kids Fund. Dahana was later granted a visit to the White House by the Make a Wish Foundation. I concluded my interview by singing God Bless America!

On the night before my return to Miami, I was sleeping when a nagging voice woke me up. I heard the voice call out, “GINA! GINA!”. I jumped up out of my sleep and looked around, but no one was in the room. I then went back to sleep. The same voice called out again and said, “GINA! GINA! DO NOT GO BACK TO MIAMI TOMORROW. DO NOT GO BACK. I WANT YOU TO STAY IN HAITI, FOR I HAVE ANOTHER ASSIGNEMENT FOR YOU.” At 5:00 am, I was fully awake,and I knew in my heart that I had to obey that voice. I went tothe American Airlines office and cancelled my flight, and I remained in Haiti to find out what GOD wanted me to do. 

That same morning, I received a phone call from a man who said to me, “Sister Gina, I saw you on TV last night with a teenager who had surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital. You were singing God Bless America. Can you please come to my house and see what you can do to also take my daughter to the U.S. for medical reasons?” I went to the address to see this man’s daughter. When I saw his daughter walking towards me in the dark, I almost passed out. She looked like she had a basketball in her mouth. Her name was Marlie Michelle Casseus. It was at that moment that I realized this was God’s assignment for me. The mission had begun.

I faced many challenges in Haiti with Marlie. In the streets, people were shouting at Marlie and me, saying things like, “KILL HER! KILL HER! SHE SCARES PEOPLE! KILL HER!!” Despite that, there were many other people that came to my rescue and offered to help. After three months of struggling in Haiti, on September 13, 2005, I was finally on an airplane on my way to Miami with nine children that needed life-saving surgeries, some of which were approved by Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston, along with their mothers, thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince for the U.S. medical visas. Marlie Casseus was included in that group. 

When we landed at Miami International Airport, I was welcomed by the media asking questions about the journey in Haiti and about Marlie’s medical condition. At Jackson Memorial Hospital, Marlie was diagnosed with PolyostoticFibrous Dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that destroys the structure of the bones, causing deformity of the entire body. It also caused Marlie to have a 16-pound tumor on her face. Despite her entire body being deformed, Marlie’s mind and thought process remained sharp and alert until the end. 

Throughout the years, many surgeries were performed on Marlie at Jackson Memorial Hospital by a team of doctors fromUniversity of Miami / Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, led by Dr.Jesus Gomez. By the grace of God, Marlie was granted an extended life in the great country called The United States of America. However, as predicted by the surgeons, the facial tumor slowly began to return throughout the years and Marlie continued to deteriorate.

Billy Wyatt, a young man from California who came to visitMarlie at JMH when she first arrived, was always there for Marlie, and they had a solid long-distance relationship over the years after Marlie returned to Haiti. In September of 2022, Billy said to my sister Ginette, “I realize that Marlie’s condition is worsening and she might eventually lose the battle. Can you please help me bring her back to the U.S.?  I don’t think I can bare the pain of seeing her die alone in Haiti. I hope I can hold her in my arms until she takes her last breath.”

With much difficulty and by the grace of God, Marlie was placed in a wheelchair and returned to the U.S. on October 13, 2022 for one last visit. She was so happy to see this great country again, and to also see her longtime boyfriend, Billy Wyatt.

Under the circumstances, my daughter Abighail opened her home in Miramar and offered Marlie and her mother hospitalityin a spare bedroom. It was a big decision for my daughter to make because for two years prior in that same bedroom, we already had another young woman from Haiti, Lynda Abraham,who came to visit me and suffered a massive stroke on the third day she arrived. My daughter provided Lynda with shelter after being discharged from the hospital, unable to speak or walk on her own. Lynda is still with us today nearly four years later.

Marlie and Lynda both needed total assistance with activities of daily living, however, Marlie was the most difficult to take care of because she became totally bedridden. The burden was painfully overwhelming, and my sister and I were exhausted to the point of tears, but God gave us the strength to carry such a heavy cross.

In that same house in Miramar, Marlie celebrated Thanksgiving,Christmas, her 31st birthday, and also her wedding with Billy Wyatt, which gave her the ultimate joy of her life. Marlie had dreams of becoming a U.S. Citizen and a police officer, if she was not so disfigured and deformed. But her dreams did not become reality.

In September of 2023, Marlie was placed under hospice care with VITAS Healthcare, where she was provided with Intensive Comfort Care in my daughter’s home. One day while holding my hand, Marlie said to me, “I think my time has come and I am going to die. Please pray for me.” Marlie was visited by two Chaplains from VITAS and two Catholic Priests from St Bartholomew Catholic Church. They prayed with her and for her, and Marlie was at peace.

In February of 2024, Marlie was placed under 24-hour VITAS Crisis Care, where a nurse was present in our home 24/7.

On March 11, 2024 at 3:00 am, with a VITAS nurse at her bedside, Marlie breathed her last breath.

God’s mission was accomplished! All glory to God Almighty, the Master Builder of such a beautiful and powerful testimony.

Marlie is survived by her husband, Billy Wyatt, her mother, Maleine Antoine, and her two sisters, Stellecie and Stephanie.

We are praying that Marlie’s mother, Maleine Antoine, will be able to make it to the US in time to lay her beloved daughter to rest. Maleine Antoine is currently stuck in Haiti and unable to travel due to the chaotic situation taking place in Haiti.

On behalf of Marlie’s family, we extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to the local and international media, Jackson Memorial Hospital / UM Bascom Palmer doctors and nurses, International Kids Fund, Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston, Nick Gray of Discovery Channel / TLC, all media outlets in Haiti, VITAS Healthcare, Pax Villa Funeral Home, all churches, community organizations, Law Enforcement, Fire Rescue, family, and friends. Thank you for all that you did for Marlie!

May Marlie Michelle Casseus rest in peace!