Monday morning, November 18, 2024, alarm is ringing but I was quick as a cat to turn it off in hopes of a few more minutes of sleep. So much is going through my mind from these past few days….
We were locked in Thursday, so I took the day to rest and ease my mind, I take a shower, and then prepare a mug of green tea, while I wait for the 8:10pm mark to call mom. It’s nearing 7:45pm and I hear the officer calling out, “Valdes, Eduardo to the Lieutenant’s office”, I jump up, head to my room, drop off my tea mug, and my radio, grab my I.D., put on my shoes, and head out of the unit.
“You have a medical trip tomorrow, wanna go”, the LT asks me.
“Yes of course”, I respond.
“Ok you have to go NPO so you can’t eat anything after midnight”, she tells me.
“That’s no problem, thank you” I tell her as I am about to walk away and she replies,
“Wait, don’t go anywhere we need to put you in the SHU (Special Housing Unit) to make sure you don’t eat”.
I then ask, “Can I head back to the unit to lock my things up?”
“We will call and ask someone to do it for you”, she tells me as she grabs her radio to call over to my unit.
Thank God Mr. Aquino is trustworthy and I know he will put my things away neatly and take care of my property. The compound officer comes over, and walks me over to the SHU. As we get to the entrance, he asks me to place my hands behind my back so he can handcuff me.
“So I am basically going through the process of someone who gets punished?” I ask him.
“Yes unfortunately, this is what they want us doing for all NPO’s. This is why most guys just refuse these type of medical trips” he tells me.
In the SHU I was given a set of orange clothes. A pair of shorts, t-shirt, boxers, and rubber shoes. I was one big orange man. The cell I was put in, there was one bunk bolted down to the center of the room, with a piece of foam in a plastic, that was half the size of the bedframe, one blanket, one sheet, both orange, one book and a rubber cup in case I wanted to drink water from the sink. It was cold, I started pacing around the room. At one point I grabbed the blanket and put it around me, and I sat down to read the book. I got through a few chapters right before count time, and when I finally saw the officer, I asked if I could get a pair of socks.
I feel better with the socks on, I am going to try and sleep. I prepare the bed space, place the book under the head area, and on top of the book I put my rubber shoes which allowed me to sleep with my head elevated rather than flat on the bed. I tossed and turned all night, but I did dream that I was sitting at a round table, my dad to my left and a good friend of mine to the right of me, we were eating something and just talking amongst each other, I don’t quite remember about what. Morning time came and I use the toilet, come to find out I do not have any way of flushing the toilet until the officer comes around to press the flush button on the outside of the room. Thank goodness it was just “#1” because I was not given toilet paper either.
The officer arrives, and pushes my regular clothes through the feeding slot in the door so I could change out of the orange clothing. I change clothes, step backwards towards the door and slip my hands through the feeding slot so they could handcuff me, they open the door, and I walk backwards out of the room. I am heading out on my medical trip soon.
We arrive at Larkin Hospital in Miami, FL. The officer returns the vehicle after going inside and finding out that there was nothing on the schedule for me, and asks if I would like to get a CT Scan done.
“I was supposed to be scheduled for a PET SCAN, not a CT SCAN.” I tell him.
“Well someone messed up because you weren’t scheduled for neither, and they don’t have what you need for the PET SCAN, so they are trying to fit you into the schedule for a CT SCAN”, the officer replies.
“Well is it at least a CT SCAN with contrast? Because if not, then the whole reason of going to the SHU and not eating would have been useless” I tell him.
“They will do a CT SCAN without contrast” he responds.
“I have no other choice I guess, and better something than nothing, this just means that I have to go through this whole process again once the PET SCAN is scheduled properly”, I mention.
They walk me into the hospital and once in the room they remove the handcuffs and waist chain, and they ask me to lay down on the machine. Once the test completed, the test professional brought me two small sandwiches since I had not eaten in over 14 hours. We head back to the car, I hear that the officer was on the phone trying to get the PET SCAN resolved for me so we did not waste the trip, but he was unable to get it done. No worries, we will try again next time, all I can do is be patient and hope for the best, it is all in God’s hands.
The rest of the day went smooth, upon arriving at the unit we were being “Shaken Down”, which means, the whole unit is being searched for contraband, one room at a time. I’m not worried, I don’t have anything in my room that should not be there and neither does my roommate. I head to the chapel and help with the afternoon Muslim services, and then the Jewish services in the evening.
Saturday morning, I eavesdrop on a few guys talking about a loud noise as if something crashed onto the roof of the building at 1:30am. We have not been unlocked yet, so I take advantage that most guys are sleeping and head to the toilet. I hear a lot of talking and some commotion out in the main floor of the Glasshouse. I hear them talking about a drone and several sealed packages that are being taken down by several officers using a crane-lift that was wheeled over to the unit. I missed the whole thing but I am happy I did, I want no part of that. Luckily by 9:30am the chaplain was able to call the Jewish community and me over to the chapel for their prayer, bread and juice. After the 10am count though, we stayed locked in throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening into Sunday.
Sunday morning, it’s our scheduled visit day, and mom is waiting for my call to confirm. I hear the officer yelling “REC MOVE”, and I jump out off my bunk, to head to the phone and call mom to let her know we are unlocked and we should be having visit. Thank God they did not keep us locked in and today I will be able to see my family. I head to my room to get ready, I decide to have some cereal with milk just in case there is no food in the vending machines that they have in the visiting room. The officer has called a few guys already to visit, so I know we are good to go. At 8:30am my name is called and off I go!!!!
Not one thing to buy in the seven vending machines, the air temperature felt below freezing, but man was I happy to hug my mom and say hello to some other guys’ families who I have met during visit. After a few hours with mom, we decided it was okay to go. She left and I went back to my unit to wait for lunch. Mr. Rivero was dressed and ready to head to visit himself, so he was not interested in going to lunch. We had chicken breast bites with sliced seasoned potatoes and some apple sauce. From the dining room I go quickly back to my unit, grab my water bottle, a small cup of coffee, and head to the chapel. In the English Christian service we had an outside volunteer, and our lovely Chaplain Muccuthi Ng’ette gave communion to those who receive it. Later in the evening we had our Spanish Christian service led by a custody, and then headed back to our units.
Today was a successful and smooth going day. After getting up and organizing my things in case of an inspection, I head to the chapel at 8am but no chaplain available. Back in the unit I make myself a cafecito, and sit down to read my daily devotionals and Bible, then head back to the chapel at 9am. Chaplain Hostler is here today, I knock and am let into the office, and ask if he could open the main door so that some guys could watch some movies and another who wants to read in a peaceful environment. Once I set the two guys up with their movies, I grab my cleaning supplies and head to the restroom and leave it nice and clean with a brand new toilet paper roll, then fill out my maintenance cleaning log.
I head to Chaplain Hostler’s office, to see how he is doing and give him a few updates on a supposed new hire for the chapel. This new candidate arrived at the chapel to look around and get a feel of what we do on a daily basis. Once going over they daily routine and everything that is expected of our work in the chapel, he tells me, “I am not going to do all that, I’m sorry this is not for me”. I continue on the hunt for possible help in the chapel, until then, I will continue my seven day shift making sure the chapel is always top notch for everyone’s use and that everything is organized and on-point for the chaplains.
Back in the unit, it’s almost time for lunch. I am in my room, and I hear Mr. Rivero’s voice approaching. I step out of my room and see him stop at Mr. Campos’ room.
“Are you going to lunch today?” I ask him.
“What are they serving”, he asks.
“The menu shows southwest chicken wrap”, I respond.
“I am good, I don’t care for that” he tells me, and as soon as they call “CHOW” I am first out of the unit and around the lake into the dining room. The chicken was quite good, but the tortillas were cold and stale, they broke apart as soon as I folded them with the chicken and corn in it. I enjoyed the lunch, even with its faults.
On to the chapel I go, today we have Buddhist services at 1pm, and the last class for the “Embracing Interfaith Cooperation” class at 2pm. Two new guys arrived at 1pm for Buddhist service. The chaplain opened their locker, they grabbed their meditation cushions, and a few other items. They were provided an incense and I lit it for them then returned the lighter to the chaplain, gave them the sign-in sheet, and closed the door to the classroom. At 2pm, the Buddhist left the chapel, and the guys attending the class begin to arrive.
Class is over, now I am ready for the upcoming classes so I could help the chaplain in teaching the course. Once everyone leaves, I organize a few things around the chapel, turn off the lights and head back to my unit to wait for count. I climb onto my bunk to check some papers I need to make copies of, and hear my name being called. The officer is passing out mail; good thing my roommate is near him and grabs the envelope and brings it over to me. I open it up and see they are the pictures my mom sent me from my sisters wedding and a few others. As I am looking through them and sharing them with my roommate, I come across the picture of my sister in her wedding dress, and immediately choke up and tears start dripping down my face. She looks so beautiful, I am so happy for her, she only deserves the best in life, and so far, with the husband she now has, and the path her life is taking, we could not be anything but happy for her.
“VALDES!!!!!!”, Mr. Campos yells.
“BRING YOUR BOWL!!!!!”, he follows up.
I quickly open my locker, grab my bowl and skip on over to his room. He is serving roast beef, rice and beans, with a side salad. It looks amazing but doesn’t seem like enough to fill me up.
I can barely breathe from how full I was, and the food was excellent, so as they say, “looks can be deceiving”. I head to the restroom to wash my bowl while the officers are counting, I am able to finish before they came into the Glasshouse. As soon as count clears, I call my dad to say hello, then head on over to the chapel on the first move. The Muslims have their study group tonight, so I set out the sign-in sheet and go to my desk to put together a few letters I am writing to send out.
After the study is over, I grab my things, and head back to the unit but not before saying goodbye to the chaplain and excusing myself.
Once back in the unit, Mr. Gibson sees me and comes over to talk, asks me to meet him at his room when I have a chance. I prepare myself mentally before going over to him. With his early signs of dementia, he repeats himself several times, and doesn’t realize it. Best or worst part about it is I repeat my responses to him, trying to find the best response that could steer him away from hopefully bringing up the same topic. This man has a special place in my heart. He is not easy to be around, no one gets along with him. He is truly a “grumpy old man”, but when I am with him, he is a completely different person, and is able to express himself in ways I do not see him expressing himself with others, so I will continue to help him however I can.
Time to shower, then call mom and that is it for me today.
Dear God, help me to be a good servant, help me to stand strong despite suffering for Your sake. Please Father God do not let me become distracted by the cares of this world. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
November 18, 2024
22:16
