Welcome to 2-2-2 Tuesday!
Here are 2 cultural highlights, and 2 quotes, and 2 brief stories for you to enjoy.
2 Cultural Highlights:
1. Underserved Guatemalans Appreciate Healthcare:
Esmeralda was my first patient last week. An absolutely charming woman full of smiles and colorful clothing. Turns out, she got up two hours before the sun came up to get ready for the clinic. She put on her best clothes, dressed her two young boys, and walked a few miles to reach our makeshift clinic that didn’t exist the day before. The clinic consisted of baby blue bed sheets, which served as dividers of the “exam rooms.” As Esmeralda sat on the collapsible fold-up exam bed, she smiled and thanked me several times for seeing her.
As Farah and I have worked the clinic the last two weeks, this level of sacrifice and gratitude has been typical of the patients. Patients waited hours to be seen, many with acute conditions beyond the scope of treatment we could provide with our limited resources. They didn’t complain. A stark contrast from my experience as an ER provider in Arizona over the last decade. Farah and I feel super grateful to connect with this population. Cheers to the Guatemalans for their hospitality and kindness despite poor circumstances.
2. Fresh Goat Milk Squeezed on Demand:
Every morning at around 7 am, I look forward to what I call the “goat truck.” Like clockwork, goats hop down from a small truck bed on our street. Seconds later, an adorable older Guatemalan woman eagerly watches as a young man milks goats on the side of the road. He fills a couple of large mugs of fresh foaming goat milk.
It’s udderly impressive!
2 Quotes to Consider:
1. “Every man has two lives. And the second starts when he realizes he has just one.” – Confucious
2. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
2 Brief Stories:
1. Venicio: The Guide Who Took Led Us To Lava
There’s no way he weighed more than 130 lbs or stood above 5’4. Yet, Venicio was an absolute beast. At 26 years of age, he became a hero of mine after leading us through brutal conditions to the glory of Volcano El Fuego. He carried a pack larger than his body in size and weight while insisting to carry the gear of a struggling hiker.
Under perfect conditions, this hike is a significant challenge for elite hikers.
Our conditions were terrible. No visibility due to heavy fog. Frigid temperatures. Wind. Rain. Steep inclines with loose ground basically the entire way. He fell multiple times. I wanted to help, but I knew I physically couldn’t do much more than man my own pack and keep climbing. Despite the pain, he made jokes the entire journey.
We hiked through the dark, and eventually reached our camp on top of Acatenango (over 13,000 ft). ** He built a fire, cooked for everyone. He packed a bottle of whiskey to share even though he doesn’t drink alcohol. We retired to our tents feeling a bit disappointed in zero visibility. It’s hard to describe the frustration of hearing and feeling massive earth shaking eruptions from a Volcano just hundreds of meters away without being able to see the lava.
He stayed up all night to check weather conditions to let us know if the clouds cleared. At 4 am, the weather finally let up. Clear skies with a beautiful blanket of stars. El Fuego rumbled, shook us, and erupted several times before the sun came up. The lava was incredible. Awe inspiring. We were so close.
While hiking down the next day, we learned more about Vinicio. This was his third trip of the week. He had a minimum of 700 trips under his belt since he started guiding seven years earlier. He always stays up all night to report conditions to his guests.
**Note** In order to approach the base of El Fuego, one must summit Acatenango, which is a massive dormant neighboring volcano.
2. Babies Need More Than Bananas and Water:
I almost missed it. Luis was a chubby-cheeked 1-month-old Guatemalan male brought in by his Aunt, Fernanda, for a wellness check. The clinic was busy, and I was seconds away from sending the baby boy home with a clean bill of health after a brief history and exam. That changed in an instant when I asked about the boy’s feeding.
Fernanda, the infant’s aunt and current caregiver, started sobbing unexpectedly.
She explained the baby boy’s daily intake was only a piece of mashed up banana with water. She elaborated. The mother had been hospitalized three days earlier with a hip fracture caused by the abusive husband. Bad news turned worse when she explained the mother was stuck in the hospital unable to walk or obtain surgery. Why? She couldn’t afford surgery, so she was just lying in bed. Alone.
Acting as quickly as possible, we sent a nursing student to the pharmacy where she was able to secure 3 month’s supply of formula. Later that night, a fundraiser was initiated to help the mother get the operation as soon as possible. It was a roller coaster of emotions for everyone involved. Fernanda was extremely grateful. The baby boy, Luis, was totally unaware and completely calm. A happy ending to a crisis, and a better chance at a longer, healthier life.
My heart is so full reading this and seeing the pictures! I’m so glad you two have this opportunity. You’re blessing the lives of others and being so blessed yourselves in the process!