One Request

I received a call late Sunday night with a request from Refuge International founder, Deb Bell, who oversees the Guatemala trips. A boy named Edgar was being checked-in to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Dallas. His father, Hector, had been by his side ever since they had flown on their first airplane from Guatemala to Texas the week before. Edgar is a sweet boy, just about to turn nine in a couple weeks, but his big brown eyes and contagious smile cannot hide the fact that he is about the size of a five year-old. Hector is by Edgar's side because he needs support as he walks on his ankles and the side of his feet. Edgar was born with bilateral club feet, his feet are turned on their side and he has hip displacement as well. He and his family have live in a small village outside of San Raymundo, where I just came from a medical mission.

So my job on Monday was to be with Hector and Edgar on the day of surgery. In Guatemala, when you go to Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala City, the likely chance of you surviving surgery is slim. As an operating room nurse I see people when they are nervous before surgery, but in Guatemala, it is always a tearful good-bye. At our village hospital, the family is always so anxious until the surgeon reports that surgery is finished and the patient is recovering well. So anytime, Edgar’s father, was asked if he had any questions- his only request, was “To take care of my son.” He was told nine years ago, when Edgar was born, to bring him back to the hospital, but he never did until now with the help of many people. Dr. Birch and his team performed a five-hour operation to straighten Edgar’s feet. It will take numerous castings and at least one more surgery until Edgar can walk on his feet again. What a joy it was to be there to blow bubbles with Edgar and then to feed him ice chips in the afternoon when he woke up from surgery. With my limited Spanish I helped Hector find his way around the hospital in elevators (new to him and scared Edgar his first ride!). I was there to support Hector so he can support his son as he has a long road of recovery ahead of him. Edgar came back to the room and I could see relief in his father’s face as he looked at his son’s blue casts. Relief that he may be able to play like a normal boy and not be teased anymore and grow up to be a young man and able to provide for his family one day. Relief that we fulfilled his one request- "to take care of his son."