Buenos Días,
After a long first day of operations, the Askenasy team returned to Hospital Hilario ready to resume a day full of life-changing surgeries.
The morning began with a prayer by Brian who filled our days with motivation and the energy to start the day. He put emphasis on one word: Acknowledgement. It is easy to move through life blindly, falling back into cycles overlooking the work people putting in, and the smaller hidden struggles that others face. But as Brian reminded us, this work is always present. Just less noticeable, waiting to be acknowledged. It’s an important realization to have during our trip here; that even though we may not be fully aware of the pain others are enduring, it’s an undeniable reality that demands our acknowledgment and action. This sermon left our volunteers touched, and ready to start the day.
The day started with a similar rhythm: surgeons awaiting their patients, OR’s being set up, instruments being sterilized. All to ensure success for the day. As patients were being processed and taken to their operating rooms, I had the opportunity to speak with some patients in pre-OP awaiting their surgery. One of which’s story impacted my heart. One 21 year old patient, Mayeli Alveno Vasquez, had travelled over 10 hours to receive a gallbladder removal surgery after hearing the amazing news of what this organization had intended to do. She has experienced pain for the past 2 years of her life and has disabled her ability to move and live normally without pain. She sounded enthusiastic about her surgery and the opportunity to live a pain-free life. Her story represents the hardships that people face, and how little access they have to healthcare here in Guatemala, and cities nearby.
I spent some of the morning at the schoolhouse, just a few steps away from the main hospital. This was experience that warmed my heart in many ways that I won’t forget. As we walked in, we were greeted by the sounds of children’s squeals of joy. Their eyes lit up in curiosity and anticipation with an eagerness to see what we had in store for them. The children welcomed us with a song, voices full of innocence and warmth, followed by endless affection and laughs. Once settled, we were able to return their excitement by giving them some toys and coloring books generously donated by some of our team’s volunteers. Watching their eyes widen in joy and hands clench in excitement, it was clear that this small act of kindness was not-so-small after all.
Another impactful moment was visiting the wheelchair assembly and administration room. What struck to me immediately was the sign on the door, “For every wheelchair we assemble, we’re saving a life.” I found these words impactful and ones that spoke the truth. This mission that we are doing here, goes beyond performing surgeries and doing operations. Part of the team is working on the assembly and administration free wheelchairs to people in need of them. Many of these people live with m chronic illnesses, amputations, or other experiences that make walking difficult. These patients will spend their whole life dependent on others to move them around, being in constant pain. This program offers more than just wheelchairs, it almost gives them a greater hope at life. As stated by Raul Mendez, CRNA, “The lives we touch today are important. They will be touched for the rest of their lives, not just for the length of our stay.” To witness those words that held such truth, to witness the joy of someone realizing that from this point forward, they won’t need others to be able to walk, they’ll be free, is extraordinary.
As the day came to an end, a total of 27 cases were completed. Another successful day, of not just administration of medicine. But something bigger. The work that we do here not only impacts the lives of the Guatemalan people, but of those of the volunteers. By providing service to others, we are becoming more aware, and more able to acknowledge the reality of people’s lives, of God at work behind the scenes, and the work by us that still needs to be done.
Valerie Mendez- Blogger
