Monday: Adapt and Overcome — A Day of Firsts, Faith, and Fortitude
Morning Reflections and a Sacred Trust
The day began with quiet reflection and warm drinks. At 6:00 a.m., our team gathered for coffee, tea, and a devotion led by Sarah. Her message focused on faith, trust, and belief. A reminder of the sacred responsibility we carry. The people of Guatemala have placed their trust in us, inviting us into their lives and allowing us to care for them. That trust is not taken lightly. We are here not just as medical professionals, but as stewards of hope.
After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed to Hospital Hilario Galindo. The first day of surgeries is always the most stressful. There are systems to learn, spaces to navigate, and equipment to test. Everyone was focused, double-checking supplies, reviewing protocols, and slowly building trust in the processes we had set in motion. The motto for the day quickly became clear: adapt and overcome.
A Brave Beginning
Our first patients of the week were also our youngest and oldest — a five-year-old child and a 78-year-old adult — both scheduled for procedures in separate operating rooms. With the team still adjusting to the environment, the stress was higher than normal. Pediatric and geriatric cases always carry extra weight, and in a new setting, every detail matters. Safety checks were completed, extra hands were on standby, and quiet prayers filled both rooms. Despite the nerves, both procedures went smoothly. The patients recovered well, and the team exhaled. That double success set the tone for the day. As the operating rooms began to turn over and prep for the next cases, the team’s confidence started to build. The space began to feel less foreign and more like a place of purpose and precision. We were finding our footing.
Finding Our Rhythm
With the morning jitters behind us, the team found its rhythm. Surgeries began rolling in across both operating rooms. The day’s cases included turbinate reductions, adenoidectomies, tonsillectomies, hernia repairs, and laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Each patient brought a story, a need, and a quiet courage. Most had traveled from across Guatemala to receive care, many staying at the Casa de Milagros: a place of rest and refuge before and after surgery. By the end of the day, we had completed nine surgeries. Each one was a testament to the team’s growing coordination and the trust built between us and our patients. Around noon, we paused for lunch. To our surprise, the hospital food was not only nourishing but genuinely delicious! A welcome comfort in the middle of a demanding day.
Storms, Power, and Preparedness
The afternoon brought new challenges. As the skies darkened, we prepared for what we’d been warned about: daily power outages triggered by the storms. The hospital has generators, but they take time to activate. Some equipment has battery backups, but not all. Obviously, during surgery, a blackout is far from ideal, but we had plans in place and made sure everyone was on the same page.And then it happened. Right on cue, the first outage flickered through the building. One operating room was mid-procedure. The ventilator held steady on battery backup. Staff quickly responded, using phone flashlights to illuminate the surgical field. The generator came online, and the procedure continued without incident.A second outage came later in the afternoon. This time, we were not stressed. Confidence was growing. Systems were holding. The team was adapting.
A Day Well Spent
It was a day filled with challenges, but also with triumphs. Every patient treated, every procedure completed, every moment of calm in the face of uncertainty was a testament to the strength of this team and the spirit of this mission. By the end of the day, we were tired — but fulfilled. We packed up, returned to IRTRA, and gathered for dinner: grilled chicken, vegetables, and a well-earned dessert of ice cream and brownies. Around the table, there was laughter, reflection, and a quiet sense of accomplishment. We had overcome the day’s challenges together.
We came here to serve. Today, we did just that. See you tomorrow for more!
Austin, Blogger
