Boy's condition 'grave', may need transfer

SOLOLÁ — An urgent phone call interrupted our morning prayers today at Viña Studios.

The wife of Isidro, one of Viña’s audio Scripture recording technicians, called from the hospital to say doctors were sending their boy, Juanito, to a hospital in Guatemala. Isidro left in a hurry.

A Viña co-worker who visited the family yesterday at the hospital said Juanito is in serious condition. He is urinating blood and passing blood in his stool. His kidneys appear to be malfunctioning, and his little body has swollen up considerably.

Later this morning, we learned the hospital transfer may not happen. The doctor is leaving it up to Isidro. On the one hand, that may be good, but Isidro doesn't know what to do. He's not an expert in medical questions.

The doctor has had trouble finding a vein to test Juanito's blood or to give him a transfusion.

If Juanito were to die on the way to Guatemala City or in the hospital there, it could be even more complicated and painful for the family than if it were to happen here. We really don't know, though, just how serious his case is. The guys here are quite concerned, and several of us are going to visit the hospital within moments.

Juanito has suffered health problems all of his two brief years of life, and he has been in the hospital for the past three days. He still does not sit up or walk, and he cannot hear or see well.

Please pray for Juanito and for the family. Isidro’s wife sounded quite distressed over the phone from what I could hear.

Isidro and Carlos, Viña’s recording director, are scheduled to begin a new audio Scripture recording project on Monday in San Miguel Chicaj among the Rabinál Achí Mayans.

Here is a photo I took of the family two weeks ago during an excursion across the lake. Juanito appears to be whispering a secret in his father’s ear.