Up early for breakfast.
Still locked in; fourth day in a row.
“VALDES!”, I hear the officer calling my name. “Get ready”, he tells me.
I think to myself, “What do I get ready for? Work? Do I put my uniform on? Is it a medical trip, just brush my teeth and go as is because they give me clothes to go out with?” Why can’t they be a little more specific. Security risk is the answer to my question; I organize my bed, brush my teeth and wait. I see officer Ferguson with a file in hand, immediately I know it’s a medical trip, so I put my shoes on, and head to the door to meet him.
Changed into R&D clothing, shackled up, Ferguson walks me to the main lobby, they “identify” me and take me to the transport vehicle. This must be a follow up oncology/hematology visit, we’ll see.
Arrived at Larkin Hospital, walked up to the waiting room. One inmate from the Florida Department of Corrections sitting waiting, we are the second to arrive. I take a seat, and we wait. A third inmate arrives, this one is from the Federal Detention Center, then a second inmate from FDOC arrives. We all wait, and one of the nurses arrives with four trays of food for us. A few slices of ham, two boiled eggs, two french toast looking slices of bread, a pack of maple syrup and a small bowl of oatmeal, then a small apple juice cup to wash it down.
“Valdes?” one of the federal officers from the detention center calls to me.
“Yes sir?” I reply.
“You were at FDC right?” He asks me.
“Yes I was”, I tell him.
“You were in unit F-E; one of the orderlies; I remember you”, he tells me.
“Yes sir, good memory, I was the food service orderly there over two years ago”, I respond with a surprised smile on my face.
“Uh oh, that’s not good, remembering him like that”, one of my officers responds.
“Oh no, he was excellent, never a problem, very respectful, and always helpful”, the FDC officer says.
“Thank you sir, I work with the Re-Entry Coordinator now at FCI”, I tell him.
This was a good feeling. As I have always told myself, “my goal here is to make a positive difference, and guide others to do the same”, and with that, it lifted my spirits, knowing I was remembered by some with a positive outlook on my time there.
I met with the M-D, gave me results to my Pet Scan and CT Scan from February, referred me to see a cardiologist, and dispatched us.
Back at the facility, as soon as I walked into the unit, the officers were passing out lunch trays, they handed me one and let me into the Glasshouse. I went directly to my cube and sat down to eat my fish patty.
I throw my disposable tray in the trash and go back to my cube; I get up on my bunk, grab my daily devotionals and get to reading.
“From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
[John 1:16]
Endless grace is what we get from God on a day to day basis. I heard a song on K-Love the other day, by Micah Tyler, titled “People Like Us”. What an amazing song, now that I actually sat down to write out the lyrics and paid attention to the words. Take a few minutes to read the lyrics while listening to the song. God doesn’t care who you are, where you have been, what you have done, “God loves people like you (me)(us)”. Even after redemption, we continue to sin, yet he continue to provide us His grace.
Count cleared, they unlocked everyone’s door in the main unit, seems like we are off lockdown, I hope that means we have visit Monday, I can’t wait. Besides that, the evening is over, no moves called for our unit. Watch television, shower, and go to sleep when I get tired.
Thank you Father God for your grace. Thank you for the constant love and care you have for me each and every day. As the song says, “If your(I am) thinking that it ain’t true, ‘cus how can anybody love you (me), but here is the good in the good news, You (God) have never left your (my) side”. Again Lord thank you for never leaving my side, thank you for always guiding me, protecting me; putting good people in my life, and removing the negative, and always loving me no matter what. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
June 13, 2025
10:58pm
