Monday - Friday 08:00 a.m - 06:00 p.m

A Light in Guanacaste

In a small community in Guanacaste, where the warmth of the sun and the whisper of the trees accompany the days, the Gutiérrez family eagerly awaited the arrival of Christmas. In their humble home, decorated with handmade garlands and filled with the aroma of Christmas tamales, a mixture of joy and concern lingered in the air. 

Don Ernesto, the pillar of the family, had been feeling weak for weeks. His energy, always unwavering, now seemed to fade. Two days before Christmas Eve, the results from the local hospital arrived with devastating news: prostate cancer. The news struck like lightning in the midst of the festivities. 

“What do we do now?” asked Ana, his wife, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at their children, Natalia and Gabriel. Both young, just starting their lives, felt their world tremble. 

That night, instead of crying, they decided to unite. Natalia suggested they bring Christmas to their father in a special way. 

“Dad always says Christmas isn’t just about lights; it’s about hope. Let’s remind him of that,” she said, inspired. 

The next day, while Don Ernesto rested, the Gutiérrez family began working in secret. Gabriel went to a nearby thicket and brought back branches to make a small nativity scene, while Ana prepared arroz con leche, Ernesto’s favorite dessert. Natalia decorated the space with candles and jocote leaves and wrote a letter on behalf of the family. 

That Christmas Eve, when Don Ernesto woke up, the room glowed with a warm light. At the center stood a small nativity scene made of branches, and around it, his family smiled, holding the letter. 

“Dad, this Christmas is special. The road ahead might be hard, but you won’t walk it alone. We’ll be with you every step of the way,” said Gabriel as Natalia handed him the letter. 

Ernesto couldn’t hold back his tears. In that moment, he realized that while his body faced a tough battle, his spirit was surrounded by love, strength, and unity. 

That night, under Guanacaste’s starry sky, the Gutiérrez family shared a simple dinner filled with hugs and words of encouragement. The cancer was still there, but so was hope. Because in the heart of Guanacaste, the true gift of Christmas wasn’t decorations or presents, but the certainty that together, they could face any challenge. 

Share:

Share this post
Prevention campaign

Help us save lives
yes to health

Schedule an appointment
You need a medical
consultation with Dr Loría
You can make an appointment now