I first met Juan about six months ago in the local hospital
here in Granada. I began visiting him once or twice a week with a couple of
traveling missionaries named Joe and Julie. He never wore a shirt. He stands up
to about my shoulder and I’m 5′ 8″. He’s got a rather sad looking mustache and
is stocky. Joe, Julie and I used to joke about him looking like a Nicaraguan
version of Nacho Libre (stupid movie, but pretty funny).
He was in the hospital receiving treatment for his infected
right leg. The first time I saw it my blood dropped out my head as fast as you
drop on that free fall ride at Six Flags. I very nearly fainted as I looked
past his skin, past his muscles, ligaments and tendons and straight down to his
bone, exposed to the open air by the deep hole just above his knee. He had been
waiting for two months in the hospital to get help and ended up leaving in the
same condition in which he came.
Fourteen years ago Juan received surgery to correct his
bowed legs. His left leg healed fine, his right leg did not. The doctors left a
screw in his bone, damaging it further and the fractured bone never completely
healed. Additionally, Juan has osteopetrosis, a condition of the bone in which
they are abnormally dense and hard, opposite of osteoporosis. The wound in his
leg became infected over time and now has reached the point where doctors at
the hospital joke, to Juan’s great distress, about cutting it off.
It’s kind of strange to think about coming from the
outstanding medical care of the United States. Here in Nicaragua, patients may
wait half a year to get the help they need. Juan comes from a very poor family
and hasn’t been able to work to support them his entire life because of his
leg. He’s in his late twenties I think.
Joe, Julie, another American family and I took it upon
ourselves to help Juan. All of the others have moved on from Granada since
then, but they’ve remained financially and morally supportive despite their
absence. I’ve made several trips to the Managua hospital with Juan, seeing some
of the top doctors in Nicaragua to get help. After many tests, and waiting
patiently, we’ve got an appointment for this Friday for Juan. This is actually
the appointment to set up the appointment for the final surgery.
For fourteen years Juan has been limping around. Once when I
dropped him off at his house he talked about being able to play soccer. And
when I think of it, his legs have always been messed up – either bowed or
broken. He’s never been able to play soccer unhindered! My, the things I take
for granted! Praise God, Juan will be able to play soccer with his kid this
year!
The Lord has awesome plans for Juan. All of us involved are
assured that He has us seeking Juan out specifically to show him God’s
love. And Juan knows it! The last time I saw Juan he was explaining to our cab
driver that he’s a Christian and that God loves him so much that he brought
people along to bring restoration to his life.
Please pray with me this Friday that everything goes smoothly and that Juan’s leg, and life, are restored.
