Renzo ordered home for another month’s rest

Renzo’s quick return to work shifted gears last week after doctors at Guatemala’s worker’s compensation program evaluated him and ordered him to return home and rest for at least another month.

As Viña Studios’ administrative coordinator and radio voice, Renzo had hoped to return quickly from his April 19 accident. He came to work last Monday, just three weeks after a heavy blow in a nasty traffic accident partially crushed his skull on the left side. Viña’s staff happily welcomed him back to work, but by that evening he was exhausted. He worked a half day Tuesday before going home with his father.

I visited Renzo on Sunday afternoon, and he looks much better and seems to be well on his way to recovery. But his injury was so serious that state doctors — upon seeing X-rays of his skull — almost automatically ordered him home for another month, saying more may be required.

Renzo showed me the X-rays and medical evaluations. It was sobering to see where a piece of his skull was broken and pushed inward, and to be sitting next to him, talking with him.

It’s difficult and humbling to realize just how weak and frail we are. Sometimes we don’t realize how badly we’ve been injured until we try to resume our former activities.

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them,” Psalm 103:15-18.

Interestingly enough, Renzo said he doesn’t remember anything from his accident. He said he called his fianceé in America from Quetzaltenango, where he was attending a class, and he was trying to decide which bus to board for the trip home. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital.

Renzo is looking forward to seeing his fianceé, Ema, on Tuesday, as she will return home from Boston, where she is studying international relations.

Renzo will be reevaluated on June 13. Please pray for his recovery, to regain strength and for God’s blessing on his life.

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I included some photos of Renzo at his parents’ house, where he is convalescing, and a photo from last year when he was in better health, working in Cobán on a project for Viña.