Heriberto Guzman is an outstanding volunteer in our community. He is 38 years old, father of 2 girls, and belongs to the liturgy group for Sunday Masses as well as to the group of Oblate Associates of Mary Immaculate.
He has been suffering from a condition in his legs and lower back since he was 22 years old that could leave him paralyzed soon. This is his story.
He is originally from Veracruz, in southern Mexico. From and early age he had to be a strong and responsable young man due to the untimely death of his father. He had to take care of his family at a very young age. He crossed illegally into the United States to seek a better future for his family, fulfilling the promise that he would provide for them. Upon regularizing his status, he worked in a bakery.
He worked overtime and carried heavy sacks like no one else could. He also played soccer in his free time. Since he was never given the necessary equipment to carry heavy loads, he was soon diagnosed with a hernia in his abdomen, affecting his productivity. Months later he underwent surgery to correct this problem, but an undetected malformation in his spine caused him to be affected by other problems because, with the surgery, the nerves in that area began to be compressed.
The actual driving force in his life are his daughters and his wife: he wants them to always see him in good health, because he cannot let himself be seen as sick or down, but he is finding it harder and harder to endure his painful condition.
Every day that passes, his nerves become more and more compressed. He is losing his mobility, his peace of mind, and in time he will be disabled and not be able to walk.
Heriberto has been able to understand that the path to holiness is a path of pain, and that with his example he will be able to bring his family closer to God.
He is very grateful to Dr. Joseline Velázquez (coordinator of the Health Program in the Oblate Mission), who, upon seeing his test results, has encouraged him to continue fighting. She has been a pillar of hope for him and many other people who suffer from a variety of health conditions but do not have insurance or resources to afford the necessary treatment.
The corrective surgery would cost 170,000 pesos, approximately 9,200 dollars. He does not want to give up, but the amount is unaffordable for his economy, and he is afraid of becoming disabled.
He wants to continue working so that he can repay the help he has received from the Oblates, and be the difference for those who need him in the future. His daughters and wife need him to be healthy, so that his whole family can move forward. Thank you for supporting our health program! Please continue to pray for us and for Heriberto who desperately needs support and prayers.
Learn about the history of his entire family from his own voice
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