Renzo’s road to recovery from a serious head injury April 19 has gone considerably better since he began therapy in a Guatemala City hospital in late July.
I visited Renzo yesterday at his home in Panajachel, from which we walked probably a half mile or more to eat lunch at a nice restaurant. Renzo, Viña Studios’ administrative assistant and smooth radio voice, suffered a serious head injury aboard a bus nearly five months ago, returning home from classes in Quetzaltenango, two hours away.
Impact from the blow fractured his skull, pushing a silver-dollar-sized piece inward, coming in contact with his brain. Despite having had two surgeries already, Renzo must undergo another in February to insert a metal plate in his skull where a gap remains.
Specialists at the hospital have given Renzo a variety of physical therapy exercises, tests and training in many disciplines. In some areas, they have said he is fine and doesn’t need any more work, while in others he continues doing exercises to help improve his equilibrium and sense of balance, for example.
One test involved reading some material and answering questions for comprehension. While he was reading, the doctors said, “Wow. You have such a nice reading voice.” Renzo told them, “Well, this is my work.” Prior to his four years at Viña, Renzo, 32, worked nine years in live radio and recording ads.
I hadn’t seen Renzo for quite a while, so it was great to see him again and get caught up. He seemed to be in very good spirits, pleased with how the therapies have helped his recovery. He remains anxious to return to work at Viña; Lord willing, he will return in early October. His girlfriend, Ema, returned to her university studies in Boston, and he hopes to visit her there.
Staying at the Guatemala City hospital helped Renzo see how blessed he is to have his faculties, because many other head-injury patients remain without the use of one side of their body, or can’t concentrate to read, or have difficulty speaking. Others have nearly lost their minds.
Renzo enjoyed the chance to get out and about yesterday, walking to the restaurant, and it was great to hear his plans for the future and hopeful attitude. Thank you for your prayers for his life. I’m sure he could use many more for the challenges ahead.
*****
Psalm 42, it seems to me, serves as good medicine for the soul in need of hope, calling one to remember God’s past goodness.
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
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