Last night, Team Askenasy made it to Retalhuleu after an eight-hour bus ride following our two-hour flight from Houston to Guatemala City. We began our early morning of Day 1 with a moving rendition of ‘Honey in The Rock,’ emphasizing how God provides for us, even in unexpected places. Dr. Askenasy delivered a devotional, drawing parallels between our work and mowing grass, reminding us that despite our efforts, there’s always more suffering left behind when we depart.
We arrived at the clinic just after 7:30 AM to set up a fully functional medical facility complete with an operating room, a patient waiting area, a recovery section, and a wheelchair clinic. Suitcases and trunks full of medical supplies were unloaded, wheelchairs were built, rows of chairs were wiped down, and all patients were cleared for surgery for the rest of the week. The team, 40-strong, worked like a well-oiled machine, despite this being the first trip for many of us. Within a few hours, we were ready as the Guatemalan patients began to arrive. Our wheelchair clinic saw a particularly high volume of activity, as we fitted each individual with the appropriate wheelchair or pair of crutches, providing physical therapy as needed.
Dr. Lee and Dr. Michelle met María Rivera Vicente, a 73-year-old woman facing foot pain and mobility issues. Her health had been on a decline for the past three years, beginning with the tragic murder of her brother during a home invasion to rob him of his money. María had been her brother’s primary caregiver. Her already-weakened health took a turn for the worse when she fell 11 months ago in her tortilla tienda or store. Guatemalan doctors initially diagnosed her with poor circulation and prescribed antibiotics, but they proved ineffective. Over time, her condition worsened, and scleroderma began affecting her leg circulation, ultimately leading to gangrene taking hold of her feet.
This example sheds light on both the stark health disparities and the dangers of living in Guatemala. In the United States, this condition could have been diagnosed early and treated with medications to slow the progression of scleroderma and improve blood circulation to María’s feet. Unfortunately, María lacks access to quality and dependable healthcare, and today, our only option was to break the difficult news that both of her legs will require amputation. Thankfully, we identified the illness before the infection could spread throughout her body. For now, our clinic has provided her with gauze and care instructions to prevent further complications.
This first day brought us stories that were profoundly heart-wrenching, but we continue to spread God’s eternal love and message of hope, even in the most challenging situations. We hope to continue to make people’s lives a little better, one patient at a time.
-Audrey Nguyen
Así es la salud en Guatemala, muy difíciles las condiciones y el apoyo del cual podemos beneficiarnos, Dios los bendiga y los abraze siempre. Gracias a Dios y al hospital Hilario Galindo.