Jan. 27, 2015

The first week of January we were in Senahu, Guatemala.  We went specifically at this time so we could be at the Incaperina distribution to the 100 mothers that came this month.

I sat right beside Yvonne as she checked each child, noting weight gain or loss and looking at each child carefully to see signs of progress or illness.  Careful, detailed information is kept on each child and Yvonne would tell me a little about each.  A child was brought to our table for examination.  Yvonne explained that the mother of the child had died in child birth and this was the 14 year-old sister who was now taking care of the family of 7.  The child was crying and sick looking.  According to the weigh-in, he had not gained weight but had lost 1 kilo.  As we examined Ronaldi closer, we felt that he had a fever and his eyes were watery and not normal.  Yvonne made the decision that this little boy needed immediate medical care.  We ran to find Gordon so that he could transport the baby and sister to the nearest medical facility which was an hour and a half down the mountain at LaTinta.

At the “hospital” Gordon made sure that the child was seen quickly.  The doctor checked the baby and determined that there were many issues that needed attention, including sepsis, severe malnutrition, herpes of the mouth and dehydration. He was immediately started on an IV.  The sister and baby were left at the hospital.

The next day Gordon and Yvonne went again to the hospital to see how the baby was doing and also to make preparation for the sister to have food and a place to stay.  The doctor approached Yvonne and in a scolding manner said, “You have got to get these babies to us sooner!  If this child had come in even 2 hours later, I don’t know that we could have saved him.”

We checked in on the child every day.  Even after we had come home, we checked with Yvonne on his progress.  We prayed for him every day and asked that our family pray for little Ronaldi in Guatemala.

Today we received an email from Yvonne with news of Ronaldi’s recovery.  He was being released from the hospital after 3 weeks.  The photo showed a cute little boy with a huge smile on his face.  He looked strong and better.

I know that had his sister not brought him to the Incaperina distribution that day…and had Yvonne not been alert to the child’s condition…and had Gordon not been ready and available to IMMEDIATELY take the child to the hospital, this child would not have survived.  We know that there was a miracle that took place that day.  A miracle to save a life in the mountains of Guatemala.