A blessing in the Storm
Day 2 Monday, June 15th
James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.”
“What a blessing this is.”
Those were the words Tony, our spiritual guide and volunteer, used to begin this morning’s reflection at 6 a.m once again. He joked that when last night’s thunderstorm woke him, he briefly considered praying but was so tired after the past few days that he simply went back to sleep.
His story brought laughter to the room, but his words stayed with me throughout the day. Even as the thunderstorm brewed outside and new challenges arose inside the hospital, there were blessings all around us.
Five more members of our team joined Sara on the list of those affected by illness. Dr. Joe Austin once again directed their care, ensuring that everyone received the medication, hydration, and attention they needed. Some persevered while others were too ill. Despite working with a smaller team, our team powered through, completing 16 surgical cases across the three operating teams.
One of the first surgeries I witnessed was performed by Dr. Brian Diskin, assisted by Kat Sy, the nurse circulator; Jamie Urquidez, the scrub technician; and Kristina Lacplesis, the CRNA.
A month ago, Edgar began experiencing excruciating pain on his right side. An ultrasound revealed bilateral inguinal hernias. Because of his age, his physician told him that both surgery and allowing the condition to worsen carried serious risks. Ultimately, the physician declined to operate, leaving Edgar to continue living in pain.
Today, Edgar finally received his surgery.
When he awoke, he was grateful to be alive and free from the pain that had controlled his life. He thanked God and the operating team. He shared his goal of eating healthier and taking better care of himself during his recovery. He also hopes to return to his work with the police driver.
Another memorable patient was Deisy, whose smile lit up the operating room. Her surgical team included Dr. Canty Wang, Dr. Angela Nishio, nurse circulator Carissa Jeffery, scrub technician Sherry Shao, CRNA Madeline Lubenow and nurse Jessi Gudgell.
Deisy had waited two years for this surgery while continuing to care for her three children as a single mother. During that time, she also welcomed her first grandchild. Today, she received a total vaginal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy.
When she woke up, she could not stop smiling. After living with pain for so long, she was excited to begin a new chapter without it.
Across the hospital at the mobility clinic, our physical therapy team served 31 people, following the 28 patients served the day before. The team included physical therapists Jany Huynh, Julie Powell, and Elizabeth Gmitter; translators Jeanine Ratcliff, Oscar Haupt, Sue Barahona, and Sarah Dudan; triage volunteer Aiden Brookes; and mobility clinic assemblers Tony Law, Mitchell Lerner, and Veronica Souffront.
Many of the patients I met had lost a leg because of complications from diabetes. Diabetes can damage nerves and reduce circulation, causing small wounds to go unnoticed and develop into severe infections. Access to early care can also be difficult. More than six million people in Guatemala are estimated to lack access to basic medical care, and many patients face long travel distances, limited wound-care services, and delays in treatment. By the time some reach a hospital, an infection may be too advanced to save the leg, and to prevent another infection from happening, they amputate the majority of it.
Samuel had undergone five surgeries but remained strong in his remaining leg and was still able to move independently. The moment he received a pair of crutches, he eagerly began moving around the clinic. He was also given a wheelchair to support him in his daily life. His daughter-in-law remained beside him throughout the visit.
I also met Manuel, a double amputee who arrived with his wife, Jaquiline, and their adorable and camera-ready one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Camilia. Every time my camera was up, she would giggle, and her parents would beam.
Manuel calls himself Spiderman. For the past two years, Manuel had moved around using the strength of his arms. After developing a serious shoulder injury, however, that was no longer possible. He and his family were overjoyed when he received a wheelchair that would allow him to move more safely and independently. Allowing him to work and to be there for his family.
A difficult reality accompanied the joy of helping Samuel, Manuel, and the other patients. By the end of the day, the clinic had run out of tall crutches and medium-sized wheelchairs, with only one walker remaining.
Physical therapist Jany Huynh and the rest of the physical and occupational therapy team faced the painful frustration of having people ready to receive help but not enough equipment available to meet every need. Their experience illustrated how urgent the demand for mobility supplies remains.
Today felt like standing in the eye of a storm. Outside, the rain and thunder continued. Inside, illness reduced the size of our team, and limited supplies restricted how many people we could help.
Yet there were still blessings in every corner of the hospital: 16 completed surgeries, patients waking up without the pain they had carried for years, and people moving forward with the knowledge to take care of themselves, crutches, and wheelchairs they had not possessed that morning.
Throughout the afternoon, new storm clouds began to gather over the hospital. As we boarded the bus, thunder rumbled, and rain began to fall. Despite the illness, exhaustion, and challenges of the day, everyone, including those under the weather, had a smile on their face. We knew that together, we had brought care, relief, and hope to those who needed it.
In the eye of the storm, serving this community was truly
Jessie Lin, Blogger/Photographer
