Guest Experiences
Life-changing Surgery Brings Hope to Girl from Ecuador
Sometimes courage comes in a small package. Little Lizbeth Guzman, who just celebrated her fourth birthday, has won the hearts of volunteers and staff who have come to know her over the past eight months while she and her mother, Narcisa Guzman-Chiriboga, have been guests of the House.
Lizbeth was born in Ecuador with a rare condition called bladder exstrophy, where the bladder is outside the body. With the help of the organization Healing the Children, Lizbeth was brought to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where Drs. Robert Weiss, Joseph Shin, and Harris E. Foster would be able to perform complex reconstructive surgery.
After arranging for transportation and locating doctors with experience in treating Lizbeth’s condition, Healing the Children called the Ronald McDonald House to ask us to provide accommodations for the family. When Manager of House Operations Janet Hanscom received the call, she immediately reserved a room for a long-term visit.
Lizbeth is friendly and outgoing, with an infectious smile and such expressive eyes that language is no barrier to communication.
Narcisa is quiet but loving and steadfast in her determination to do whatever it takes to ensure that Lizbeth enjoys a full life. Narcisa’s training as a nurse’s aide has helped her cope with her daughter’s medical problems.
While the hospital has provided medical translators whenever possible, Housekeeper Maria Perez has offered the day-to-day translation from Spanish to English which has helped Narcisa and Lizbeth feel right at home. The three of them
can usually be found having lunch together, talking and laughing. Lizbeth is a frequent visitor to all the offices, where
she loves to draw pictures with the help of Michael Rohde, help Claire DiMartino with her computer, and chat with
Janet Hanscom. She’s become a favorite of volunteers and guests as well. She has especially enjoyed playing with other
Spanish-speaking children who have stayed at the House. Lizbeth has joined
in our Halloween festivities, made friends with Ronald McDonald, experienced
her first snowfall, sat on Santa’s lap and helped light the Christmas tree
for Lights of Love.
She’s learned some English along the way, too, sometimes surprising us with an unexpected remark. It hasn’t been all fun and games, however, for Lizbeth and Narcisa, who have made many visits to the hospital for evaluations, surgery, and other treatments.
The House staff always makes sure that Narcisa and Lizbeth do not
have to face these visits alone. At Narcisa’s request, Claire DiMartino stayed
with her during Lizbeth’s nine-hour surgery.
Narcisa speaks of the House in glowing terms, grateful for the many acts of kindness extended to her. She never expected to be away from home for so long, and her eyes tear up when she talks about missing birthdays for her other two children who are staying with their grandmother in Ecuador. To combat inevitable homesickness, the House staff has helped the family maintain connections to Ecuador, introducing them to St. Rosa’s Church in New Haven and to another Ecuadorian family brought to New Milford by Healing the Children. Michael Rohde also found a restaurant serving the traditional foods of the country, where Lizbeth was treated to a birthday meal.
Lizbeth is expected to be discharged from treatment at Yale-New Haven
Hospital soon and will return home with a good prognosis. She and her mother
will be missed! If another trip to New Haven is needed, Lizbeth and Narcisa
will be warmly greeted. After all, they’ll be coming back to their home away from home.
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