Day 6 – Mirelez Team
May 7- Retalhuleu, Guatemala
As we reach midweek, the weight of our efforts is beginning to show. Some of us are feeling the exhaustion, others perhaps a touch of homesickness. Yet there’s a shared sadness that our time here is starting to wind down. During this morning’s devotional, Pastor Jimmy reminded us not to lean on our own understanding but on Jesus, who promises rest for the weary. His message was grounded in Matthew 11:28, and we were invited to take a few quiet moments to rest in the presence of the Lord. A simple, peaceful pause that filled our hearts.
Then, in the middle of dismissal, a joyful surprise — it was Dr. Hambric’s 55th birthday! Someone began to sing “Happy Birthday,” and the whole group joined in. He stood there smiling, touched by the moment. It was a small but memorable celebration.
After rounds, Pastor Jimmy and Hector, our translator, made their way through each recovery room, praying over the patients ready to be discharged. They then continued to the pre-op waiting area, praying for each person and their families. One woman was concerned that her loved one had been missed, but it turned out he hadn’t — he was hard of hearing and blind. Her love and care for him was moving to witness.
Julie and Diane, two of our volunteers, brought joy to the children waiting by handing out goody bags filled with candy, coloring sheets, crayons, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. As word spread, more and more children appeared — and the supplies quickly ran short. They made several trips back to the wheelchair clinic for more, and in the end, even when only basic items remained, the children still received them with gratitude and wide smiles. A very special thank you to the anonymous volunteer who donated these gifts. Your generosity brought light to so many.
Later, a few team members brought an El Chavo piñata to the on-site daycare, which cares for children ages 1 to 6. The children were making handprint aprons for Mother’s Day when we arrived, and they sang songs for us. We returned the favor with a couple songs of our own. It was precious. When it was piñata time, the little ones had some trouble breaking it, so a few of our volunteers gave it a gentle assist. Once it burst open, the kids dashed for the candy, their laughter echoing through the space. After a final song and hugs all around, we returned to our work — hearts full.
Back at the wheelchair clinic, a group from Almolonga, Quetzaltenango had arrived. The women wore stunning, handmade traditional dresses. Those in need of mobility aids were supported by several loved ones — some carried into the clinic, others helped carefully along. Our team worked all day fitting patients with custom-sized wheelchairs and walkers. Physical therapists assessed each patient’s needs, sometimes adding extra padding or making adjustments. If any other medical concerns were noticed, patients were referred to Dr. J for further evaluation.
One such patient came in for a wheelchair, but during the exam, his daughter mentioned he had a dialysis catheter that looked infected. Upon inspection, Dr. J discovered it was a non-tunneled, uncuffed catheter going directly into his internal jugular — a temporary solution that had been in place for over a year. This posed a severe risk of life-threatening infection. The cost for proper treatment was quoted at 15,000 quetzales (around $2,000 USD), which was far out of reach for the family.
Moved by the urgency, Dr. J spoke with Dr. Whitehead and Jay, our team lead. As providence would have it, the team had brought one AV graft for just such a case. The patient’s labs confirmed an elevated white blood cell count (17,000), pointing to serious infection. He was consented, seen by anesthesia, and added to the surgical schedule.
That surgery went smoothly. An AV graft was placed in his left forearm, and the dangerous catheter removed.
As the rest of us returned to the hotel around 8:00 p.m., a dedicated part of our team stayed behind to complete the final surgery. We missed the chance to thank them in person, so let us do it here:
Thank you, Dr. Steve, Sylvia, Megan, Ramiro, Carlos, Dr. Arredondo, JJ, Dr. VanDeGraaf, Sam, Stephanie, Tonya, and Angelico. You are all truly amazing!
Tomorrow is our final day of surgery. We don’t know what it will bring, but we trust in God’s plan.
Please continue to pray for our volunteers and for every patient we serve.
Corrina Caldera, Team Blogger
