Blue sky, lush vegetation, and a gorgeous, clear view of Volcáno Aqua create a moment of awe every morning as we step into the courtyard.
Today’s devotion focused on gratitude — what it means to each of us, and how thankfulness impacts not only our own health and well-being, but also the people around us. Gratitude has a ripple effect. What we want to see in the world, we first have to create within ourselves. Hearing our patients’ stories continues to remind us how important it is to be grateful for our health, our opportunities, and all the possibilities we have.
This morning, the doctors made their rounds to check on patients who had surgery the day before, while the rest of the team prepared for another full day of surgeries. It is so rewarding to see patients in recovery feeling better, smiling, and filled with relief.
Two seven-year-old boys, Lester Eduardo and Luis Enrique, had some of the largest tonsils the team had ever seen removed yesterday. Both had been struggling with sleep apnea, frequent sore throats, and difficulty sleeping. Apparently, they slept like babies last night and were excited to return home.
One of the gallbladder patients was the mother of our local coordinator, Fito. His mom, Mirna, is 68 years old and had been living with pain and discomfort for three years. She had been afraid to undergo surgery until now. This morning, she was beaming with relief and gratitude, finally able to imagine life without pain.
We had 17 cases scheduled today, ranging from hernias and gallbladder removals to shoulder and knee repairs, tonsil, ear, and nose surgeries, and a hysterectomies. The general surgery team removed a gallbladder from a 36-year-old daughter whose mother had the same surgery the day before. The OB/GYN team removed a giant fibroid from María Rosario, a 48-year-old woman who had suffered from it for years.
The ENT team’s last patient was Marvin, a 39-year-old man who had been punched in the nose about eight years ago, leaving it completely twisted to the right. The team performed a rhinoplasty and septoplasty to correct the nasal trauma.
It is incredible to witness the resilience and toughness of the Guatemalan people, and how much discomfort they often endure for such a long time. We ended another good day with successful surgeries, full hearts, and deep gratitude.
Beata Pogo, Blogger
