It has been a busy few days practicing with the worship band as much as possible. This past weekend was a nice visit with mom, a great English and Spanish Christian services, and the cleaning a few of us went through in the chapel after the large amounts of water that filtered into the chapel both Saturday and Sunday.
Today Wednesday May 7, 2025, I was up early and getting ready to start my day. Dressed and ready to go by 7:15, I visited my case manager in his office to say hello, and the work-call was called out. I arrive at the Education building, say hello to others as I walk through, and get to the back where I sit to wait for “Nic”, my supervisor.
“Compound closed”, I hear them yell from afar; I look at my watch and see it is 8am. I help a little in the Leisure Library, I offer my help in the Law Library and the clerks as I wait.
9:45am, we are all sent back to the units. This is where the gossip begins amongst everyone wondering what is going on that we are recalled at this time. I listen to what is being said, but don’t act on it. What is said around the compound usually is not the truth of what is going on, so I continue on my walk back to the unit. Whatever God has planned for this day, let it be, He knows what He is doing.
In the unit I hear a few guys saying lunch will be “grab-n-go” so I sit down to wait, and grab my books to read my daily devotionals. Constant faith is the subject for today, “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me- a prayer to the God of my life.” [Psalm 42:8]. Once again, it slaps me on the face, if I would have allowed myself to be directed by His love, and have His songs with me at night, it would have drawn me away from any wrongdoings either during the day or at night when many regrettable things are usually done. I thank God for saving me from something worst, and allowing me to see that He has something great in store for me going forward as long as I am on the path He puts me on.
Rivero is still in bed, not in any condition to be getting up to go anywhere. He is on day 9 now of not being able to go shower himself. I try so hard to encourage him but the pain he is feeling is unbearable he says and has a fear of falling again; I don’t blame him, and at his age, even more. Campos needs a push to the dining room so he gets ready and I get his wheelchair ready. I hear them call “Chow” and we are on our way. Once in the dining room, we are handed two lunch trays and we head back to the unit. No bread for me today on these hamburgers, but I did eat the fries that were in the tray.
I drink some water and wait some time to see if they will call a move, so I sit in my room with my roommate, Bon-Bon and Campos just talking amongst us when we hear the counselor yell “lockdown” and everyone heads back to the rooms. I think it is time for a quick nap.
The counselor came into the Glasshouse yelling Rivero’s roommates name. He is told to pack his things, he is moving to another unit. I get out of bed and head over to his room to help him with his things. This gentleman is over 60, legally blind, and even so has been a huge help with Rivero being he has a medical experience; of course it would make sense to move him to another unit (Sarcasm). We place all his things into a laundry cart, advise the counselor we are ready, and I offer to help him take his things and set them into his room, and in doing so I was able to bring the cart back to our unit so he wouldn’t have to do it.
Time for count, the officer goes around locking the doors. I put my shorts on, and my rec sneakers to be ready for the first move. I hear Peru raising his voice at Rivero, encouraging him to get up out of bed so we could change his sheets, so he could shower, and be refreshed. As the officers conclude their count in the Glasshouse, I wheel Rivero over to the shower, and Peru takes advantage and cleans Rivero’s room for him. Once at the shower, I set his chair inside, hang his towel, help him into the shower, then I hang-out right outside the shower with his clean clothes, ready for him.
Thankfully he did not sound to be in much pain, he completed his shower, and took his time to dry himself making sure he doesn’t fall. I hand him his clothes, one article at a time, then I help him out of the shower and back into his wheelchair. I wheel him back to his room, and Aquino comes over and helps by sticking some lidocaine patches on the painful areas while I go back to the shower to grab his dirty clothes and chair. Back in his room I place his dirty clothes into his laundry bag, let him know I will be going to recreation; he lays down on his fresh sheets, as I leave on the next move.
At recreation, I spent the time in the music room with Bear, P.K., Spell, and Miles. I controlled the soundboard while they played. The music was excellent, and we had a great time, but the two hours flew by and we headed to the main gate for the move back to the unit. As I approach the unit, the officer calls me over to her, and asks me to empty my pockets. I pull out my pen and identification to show her, and she lets me continue to the unit.
As soon as I walk into the unit, I drop off my things in my room and head to the phone to call mom. No answer, so I head back to my room, grab my radio, go check on Rivero, he is laying down, face up, eyes closed, mouth open, belly inflating and deflating, so I know he is good, then I go sit down to watch some television. Fifteen minutes to nine I call mom, and blow by nine minutes. I head back to Rivero’s room, grab his laundry bags, tie them up and place them in the laundry cart. Campos arrives in Rivero’s room and we prepare him some oatmeal with crackers. Rivero was able to sit up and eat, with not as much pain as he has usually had. Those lidocaine patches seem to be helping him, so tomorrow I will try and ask for some new ones for him.
I have yet to shower, doors are locked, count is about to come through, and once it does I will jump in the shower and end the night.
Thank you God because everything that happened today happened perfectly. Because of the lockdown I was able to help Albert. Because I was able to help Albert, I was able to help Peru with Rivero. Because I helped Rivero get to the shower and back to his room, I was able to make it to recreation at the same time with the guys to help them with the soundboard. Thank you for continuously guiding me in my every day movement. Thank you for constantly protecting my family, and for building my faith daily. Thank you God for all you do. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
May 7, 2025
22:23
